Armature and Character Template for Motion Animation Sequence Generation

• US 20160019708A1
• Filed: 07/17/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: META Platforms Technologies LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Crayola LLC (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Inventors: MOLL, JOSEPH THOMAS, NEMECKAY, BRIAN EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US14/802,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20160019708A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/20 3D [Three Dimensional] animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/44 Morphing

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed an animation kit including a template page with at least one template design, an armature that moves between at least a first position and a second position, and an animation application that generates an animated segment corresponding to the template design and at least one pose of the armature. In further embodiments, a method for generating an animated segment is provided. In another embodiment, a system for generating an animated sequence includes a template design and an application that receives an image of the template design and animates at least one three-dimensional image corresponding to the captured template design.

Claims

1. A system for generating an animated sequence comprising:

an animation-generating application executed by a computing device having a processor and a memory, the animation-generating application comprising;

(1) an image receiving component configured to receive an image captured by a camera of the mobile device,

(2) a template content component configured to apply a received image of colored two-dimensional template image content corresponding to a user-selected character,

(3) a transition component for generating one or more transition poses corresponding to two or more received character poses, and

(4) a sequence compilation component; and

one or more coloring pages having template content configured to receive one or more colored markings printed thereon, the template content comprising at least one view of a two-dimensional character image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image receiving component scans the template content to read the two-dimensional character image and the one or more colored markings.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sequence compilation component is configured to apply the one or more colored markings to generate an animated character based on the two-dimensional character image.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an accessory component configured to provide one or more accessories corresponding to the user-selected character.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the template content component is further configured to apply a received image of a colored environment template to a sequence animation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional character image is shown at a perspective with respect to the two-dimensional template such that portions of the front and side of the two-dimensional character are visible.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the sequence compilation component is configured to playback one or more colored character images and one or more transition poses in an animation series.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional template image is associated with a three-dimensional animation template stored in animation-generating application.

9. A method for generating a customized animation sequence comprising:

providing an indication of a character selection to an animation application;

positioning an armature in two or more poses;

positioning a camera of a computing device in proximity of the posed armature to capture an image of the two or more poses, wherein the computing device is executing the animation application;

coloring in a two-dimensional template image comprising one or more views of a character image; and

positioning the camera of the computing device in proximity to the colored template image to capture an image of the one or more views of the character image, wherein the computing device is executing the animation application, wherein the animation application is configured to;

(1) receive the captured images of the two or more poses of the armature,

(2) receive the captured image of the colored two-dimensional template image,

(3) generate an animation comprising a three-dimensional animated character based on the received captured images of the two or more poses and the colored two-dimensional template image,

such that the three-dimensional animated character is positioned to correspond to the two or more poses and colored to correspond to the colored two-dimensional template image, and

(4) animate the three-dimensional character.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

coloring a two-dimensional image comprising at least one animation environment template; and

positioning the camera of the computing device in proximity to the colored animation environment template to capture an image of the colored animation environment template,

wherein the animation application is further configured to animate the three-dimensional character in context of the colored animation environment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the received images are captured automatically by the computing device camera.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the colored three-dimensional image comprises one or more portions of character colored in by the animation application based on the received captured images.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the animation sequence comprises one or more special effects.

14. A three-dimensional animation kit comprising:

one or more template coloring pages, wherein each of the one or more template coloring pages comprise a two-dimensional template image corresponding to an animation template of an animation application; and

an armature moveable between one of multiple positions, said armature configured to be secured by an armature stand;

wherein a computing device executing the animation application is configured to;

(1) capture an image of a colored template coloring page,

(2) capture two or more images of the armature in posed positions;

(3) generate an animated sequence based on the captured colored template coloring pages, the captured two or more images of the armature, and the corresponding animation template.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the two-dimensional coloring image depicts a character having a front view and a back view.

16. The kit of claim 14, wherein the one or more template coloring pages comprises a character two-dimensional template and an environment two-dimensional template.

17. The kit of claim 14, wherein the animation template of the animation application includes one or more predetermined poses for animation of the character.

18. The kit of claim 14, wherein the image of the colored two-dimensional template image is captured automatically in response to detection of a plurality of indicators associated with a particular template page.

19. The kit of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of indicators comprises indicator content corresponding to an animation template.

20. The kit of claim 14, wherein the animation application is further configured to generate one or more transition poses corresponding to the captured two or more images of the armature in posed positions.