Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 24, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
“We have maintained a special, longstanding relationship with Autodesk and rely on its software and custom developments for many projects,” said Jim Mainard, Head of Research and Development at DreamWorks Animation Technology. “Without Autodesk technology, the magic mirror in Shrek the Musical could not have achieved its high level of perfection, interactivity and credibility.”
For Shrek the Musical, Autodesk developed a system that captures actor John Tartaglia’s facial expressions in real time and animates them in the Magic Mirror. This live stage performance is the first of its kind in a Broadway musical. NBC presented the magic mirror on The Today Show on December 8, 2008, where host Meredith Vieira tested it.
Shrek the Musical is based on the story and characters of renowned cartoonist William Steig. DreamWorks had previously produced the Oscar-winning animated film. Shrek the Musical premiered at New York’s Broadway Theatre on December 14, 2008.