Rotomation

Rotomation sits at the intersection of camera tracking, matchmove, layout and character animation. Reliable character animation begins long before the first keyframe, with an accurate camera solve and a well-defined 3D scene. When the camera or scene reconstruction is inaccurate, animators often end up compensating for technical errors instead of refining the performance itself.

Every project starts with building a character that fits naturally into the shot. Accurate proportions are essential, whether working with production assets, client rigs or custom internal rigs. While a single plate can sometimes provide enough information, photogrammetry, 3D scans and on-set reference photography often allow proportions, scale and placement to be recreated with far greater accuracy.

Beyond precise motion matching, rotomation frequently involves adapting performances to characters whose anatomy, proportions or joint placement differ from the original actor. Our internal rigging tools include flexible proportion and volume controls that help accommodate different character types while preserving the intent of the original performance.

Rotomation also extends beyond skeletal animation. Many productions require blendshape sculpting, facial adjustments, cloth and material interaction, or secondary animation that cannot be achieved through body tracking alone. Depending on the project, the original performance may serve as a reference rather than a limitation, allowing animation to refine timing, eye direction, body mechanics and character acting while remaining grounded in the live-action footage.

Over the years, we’ve contributed to projects ranging from detailed body and facial rotomation to complex character interaction, face replacement and performance-driven animation, often combining tracking, rigging, custom workflows and animation into a single production pipeline.