Physical, Behavioral, and Sensor-Based Animation

An important part of the current animation consists in simulating the real world. To achieve a simulation, the animator has two principal techniques available. The first is to use a model that creates the desired effect. A good example is the growth of a green plant. The second is used when no model is available. In this case, the animator produces "by hand" the real world motion to be simulated. Until recently most computer-generated films have been produced using the second approach: traditional computer animation techniques like keyframe animation, spline interpolation, etc. Automatic motion control techniques have been proposed, but they are strongly related to mechanicsbased animation and do not take into account the behavior of characters. However, high level animation involving human beings and animals may be produced using behavioral and perception models.