A new real-time animation system was presented a few weeks ago during the Weird Market festival. This new interactive digital animation device with a human touch, called HaMo, was presented at the event through the character ‘Mr Weird’, designed specifically for the occasion.
During the event in Valencia, the friendly character, based on the edition’s poster designed by Mr Klaus Studio, served as the main thread throughout the event, as the event’s host. Thanks to its technology, Mr Weird was able to interact in real time with the speakers and the audience, adapting to the needs of the live event.
HaMo is a real-time motion capture system for 3D animation based on inertial systems. The technology uses Unreal Engine to transfer the physical movement of the operator to the CGI image of the character, taking advantage of real-time rendering. This allows not only efficient real-time character animation with full control of the image, but is also intended for use in live performances, facilitating the interaction of a digital character with the audience, a speaker, etc.
The versatility of this system allows the creation of different formats beyond the classic TV programme, opening the door to different ways of exploiting IPs.
The most unique aspect of the system is that, unlike other forms of motion capture, which require a controlled environment and special cameras, INERTIAL MOTION CAPTURE can be used in any environment, making it ideal for outdoor shoots or other difficult locations. The system can be used in a variety of environments, not just in the studio, facilitating the recording of material for broadcast, as well as live production for live or online audiences.
This allows HaMo’s usability to cover a wide variety of formats and situations such as live events (promotional events or product releases); interactive online video (live news, influencers, youtubers, e-sports); broadcast content (both online for platforms and TV; IPs with characters designed specifically for the system); educational content, and much more.
HaMo technology aims to revolutionize the implementation of animated content in real time, drawing on the traditional art of muppets fused with the latest technological advances in motion capture. An innovative concept that, unlike what is most common in new technologies, does not aim to replace or eliminate what it is inspired by, but rather to increase its possibilities, as it is a technological proposal that needs traditional manipulators to work. In the words of Alfonso Fulgencio, one of the creators: ‘it is to recover the manipulators but with a digital approach. A puppet 2.0’.
Those interested in testing the HaMo technology, please contact directly at kasia@paramotionfilms.com