NaturalMotion is providing a free version of its Endorphin 3D character-animation solution. The Endorphin Learning Edition is fully functional and unrestricted by time, according to the manufacturer, and includes “all relevant” parts of the product documentation. Motion-file export is disabled, however, and commercial use is prohibited.
Endorphin is used by companies including The Mill, Sony Computer Entertainment and Namco. The system is based not on conventional techniques such as keyframe animation or motion capture, but on artificial-intelligence controllers that imitate the human nervous system. NaturalMotion’s Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) uses the computer’s CPU to simulate the brain and body of 3D characters, allowing animators to generate human movement in real time. The manufacturer claims this produces characters that effectively animate themselves and perform lifelike movements, greatly reducing the production time for animation assets.
The learning package contains all the features of Endorphin 2.0, including support for Avid’s Alienbrain Studio asset-management system, and can be downloaded from http://www.naturalmotion.com. The full version of Endorphin costs US$12,795.
