No / In this work we propose a modelling technique for producing cyclic motions of human body. The surface of the human body has been created from a set of pre-configured curves that were used as the set of boundary conditions to solve a number of partial differential equations (PDE). These boundary curves are attached to a skeletal system that holds the animation for cyclic motions. An important function of the method described here is the use of mathematical expressions within Maya software for generating the cyclic motion leading to a very realistic movement. Thus, the user can interactively manipulate the position and movement of various body parts to achieve various cyclic motions. Finally the animation can be transferred to either the original mesh model from where the boundary curves associated with the PDE surface were extracted or to another mesh model with equivalent topology.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The requirements for a computer package for the graphical animation and visualization of scientific data are discussed. It is concluded from the analysis of these requirements that simplicity of implementation, interactive response and FORTRAN compatibility are features that are strongly desired by users. These features have a major impact on the design of the graphical library. The handling of graphics resources is further complicated by the need to remove the details of resource management from the FORTRAN programmer while at the same time maintaining some degree of flexibility and efficiency. A “black box” system of graphics library primitives has been constructed to conform the needs of the FORTRAN programmer. The library primitives are constructed from a lower-level commercial graphics library to simplify resource management and give the library a FORTRAN ‘flavor’. A modular style of programming that emphasizes event-driven passing of program control is developed to guide the FORTRAN programmer. A User’s Manual containing a series of instructional tutorials as well as a routine-by-routine description of the library is included along with a code listing. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Susannah is the opera written and composed by American composer Carlisle Floyd in 1955. The opera is based on a story from the Biblical Apocrypha. For the live performance of this opera at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, I designed the animations that projected onto a screen which was designed and fitted as a part of the set design. I created the series of animations that enhanced the story of the entire length of the opera. This project was in collaboration with Opera Roanoke's 2016-2017 season. Carlisle Floyd's Susannah was performed at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, Virginia on April 28 and 30, 2017. / Master of Fine Arts / Susannah is the opera written and composed by American composer Carlisle Floyd in 1955. The opera is based on a story from the Biblical Apocrypha. Susannah’s story covers the issues of cultural, social, and religious beliefs. For the live performance of this opera at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, I designed the animations that projected onto a screen which was designed and fitted as a part of the set design. I created the series of animations that enhanced the story of the entire length of the opera. This project was in collaboration with Opera Roanoke’s 2016-2017 season. Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah was performed at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, Virginia on April 28 and 30, 2017. Opera Roanoke’s Principal Guest Conductor, Steven White led the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and an outstanding cast, including Danielle Talamantes, a Virginia Tech grad, under the stage direction of Artistic Director, Scott Williamson.

Crowd Simulation and Visualization are an important aspect of many applications such as Movies, Games and Virtual Reality simulations. The advantage with crowd rendering in movies is that the entire rendering process can be done off-line. And hence computational power is not much of an overhead. However, applications like Games and Virtual Reality Simulations demand real-time interactivity. The sheer processing power demanded by real time interactivity has, thus far, limited crowd simulations to specialized equipment. In this thesis we try to address the issue of rendering and visualizing a large crowd of animated figures at interactive rates. Recent trends in hardware capabilities and the availability of cheap, commodity graphics cards capable of general purpose computations have achieved immense computational speed up and have paved the way for this solution. We propose a Graphics Processing Unit(GPU) based implementation for animating virtual characters. However, simulation of a large number of human like characters is further complicated by the fact that it needs to be visually convincing to the user. We suggest a motion graph based animation-splicing approach to achieving this sense of realism. / Master of Science

Just like other artistic disciplines, animators are tasked with bringing characters to life through movement, whether for personal or professional motives. Games are a diverse field that sees a wide range of animation needs, but there lie consistent threads that lead to the success of a video games movements aesthetically and functionally. For aspiring animators there remains one consistent question: what does it mean and entail to create animation in the highly competitive game industry? This culminating experience paper aims to discuss the similarities and differences between student and professional work to highlight the importance and what it entails to work within creative restraints to create quality gameplay animation on demand. By analyzing animations, game development, and personal experience animating in different roles and scenarios, this paper seeks to highlight studio workflows, challenges, and steps to see to the success of an animation while adhering to quality and creative standards.

For my capstone project, I made a short animated film. In this film, we follow the journey of a young writer facing the pressures of a project deadline. As she sits in her home office, the character struggles to concentrate on her work amid some distractions. From the outside noises filtering through the window to the persistent drip of water in the bathroom and a bug buzzing around her face, a series of obstacles disrupt her focus. The writer wants to eliminate each obstacle, actively working to create an ideal environment conducive to productivity. As she successfully tackles each issue, she gets a sense of accomplishment. However, just when it seems like victory is within reach, an unforeseen challenge emerges. The story invites us to reflect on the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of adapting to unforeseen circumstances. In this paper, I document my journey of creating my short animation, discussing the process and workflow I used, highlighting the challenges, and difficulties that I encountered along the way. And I will also talk about why I wanted to make a short film and what inspired me.