Cubic Motion service

For immediate release:

1st October 2010. Daresbury, UK

Cubic Motion today announced the launch of a rapid-turnaround facial animation service designed to help game developers generate high-quality animation at all stages of production. After registering rigs with Cubic Motion, developers can subsequently send audio files and (optionally) performance notes from which Cubic returns detailed facial animation curves, including lip-synch, eyes and complex believable facial expression for $600 per minute or less. Volume permitting, data is usually returned in less than 24 hours. Clients can access the service on a simple pay-as-you-go basis with no contractual commitment or minimum

volumes.

Cubic Motion’s Dr. Gareth Edwards explained the benefits of the service: “Facial animation is often treated as something too complex or too expensive to produce to a high standardthrough all stages of development. This means that early tests often have little or no facial animation of good quality – it’s something people usually address much further into production. We’re trying to change that perception by giving developers facial animation of the same quality expected in the end-product, at a price that’s affordable at all stages of development. Most importantly, it’s got to be simple for clients to use. Once a developer registers their rigs with us, they simply need to upload audio files and we return extremely high-quality animation curves, usually overnight, ready for use. There are no integrationissues – the client gets back a set of animation curves in their package of choice on their ownrig controls. The same fundamental process is carried through all stages of production, where clients can continue to work with audio data and - if the project demands - also move on to using video-based performance driven animation.

We want developers to know that outsourced facial animation doesn’t have to involvecomplex contractual arrangements or changes to existing workflows. Cubic Motion is here to stand alongside your team at all stages of development, offering easy access to expert resources for important and time-critical animation.”

About Cubic Motion

Cubic Motion is a specialist supplier of products and services for facial animation. Cubic is run by a mix of scientists, artists and producers - all with extensive experience in movies, video games and television. Cubic Motion was founded in 2009 by Mike Jones, Doug Tate and Dr. Steven Dorning. The team is led by CEO Dr. Gareth Edwards, co-inventor of the Active Appearance Model. Research and development is led by Dr. Steve Caulkin. The company's advisers include Professor Chris Taylor FrEng OBE, Associate Vice President of Research at Manchester University, and Andy Wood, a games industry veteran and director of Peter Gabriel's Real World.