Framestore recently relied on Vicon’s T40 optical camera system during the pre-production and pre-visualization stages of Paddington. The system was used to explore the movements of Paddington bear, providing the animation team with real-time feedback and allowing them to visualize and develop the interactions between the cast and the animated bear.
“The Vicon cameras enabled us to act out entire scenes in real time during the pre-visualisation stages,” explained Gary Marshall, motion capture supervisor at Framestore. “This provided us with the flexibility to guide the creative process and produce key poses and illustrate movement with greater accuracy. Using the system gave the team instant feedback on what scenarios were working well in a shot, and also how the timing and performance of the different mocap performers vastly affected the character of the bear, ultimately advancing the character development of Paddington.”
Paddington, directed by Paul King and co-written by original creator Michael Bond, was released in the U.S. on Jan. 16 and held the number one spot at the U.K. box office for two consecutive weeks. The film follows Peruvian bear, Paddington voiced by Ben Whishaw, as he journeys to London and finds a new home with Henry Brown (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins).
