Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a method for writing, by a computing thread, data to a ring buffer is disclosed. The method includes determining whether the ring buffer is full. If the ring buffer is not full, the method further includes: reserving an element of the ring buffer for writing the data, wherein reserving the element includes incrementing a size variable corresponding to a number of stored elements in the ring buffer; reserving a portion of the ring buffer at which the data is to be written; and determining whether a state of the portion of the ring buffer is in change by at least one other computing thread. If the state is not in change, the method further includes: marking the state of the portion of the ring buffer as being in change by the computing thread; and writing the data to the portion of the ring buffer.

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a method for generating a mesh deformation of a facial model includes: generating a first plurality of deformation maps by applying a first plurality of neural network-trained models; extracting a first plurality of vertex offsets based on the first plurality of deformation maps; and applying the first plurality of vertex offsets to a neutral mesh of the facial model to generate the mesh deformation of the facial model.

Abstract: A method of transmitting rendering data of a computer image to a client terminal via a communication channel includes: receiving rendering results of the computer image from at least one computer of a plurality of computers; identifying a partial region of the computer image based on transmission information; processing a subset of the rendering results, the subset corresponding to the identified partial region of the computer image; and transmitting, at a particular time, the processed subset of the rendering results to the client terminal via the communication channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a command stack for an application are disclosed and an embodiment includes receiving an input for executing a first command of the application, initiating execution of the first command, executing one or more second commands which are set to execute based on execution of the first command, completing execution of the first command, and including the first command in the command stack such that an association is defined between the first command and the one or more second commands. In one embodiment, defining the association in the command stack between the first command the one or more second commands may include generating a first nested command stack associated with the first command, including the one or more second commands in the first nested command stack, and including the first command and the first nested command stack in the command stack.

Abstract: A method for rendering a computer image includes, for each pixel of a plurality of N×M pixels forming a tile, determining a plurality of masks for the pixel, wherein N and M denote integers larger than 1, and wherein each mask identifies a respective subset of the pixels that are equidistant from the pixel and located at a respective distance from the pixel. The method further includes: determining an active mask for the tile, the active mask identifying active pixels of the pixels, each of the active pixels being determined as having color information; based on the active mask, identifying an empty pixel of the pixels, the empty pixel lacking color information; and determining at least a first nearest active pixel that is nearest to the empty pixel. The determining includes comparing the active mask with at least one mask of the masks for the empty pixel.

Abstract: A method of controlling rendering of computer images includes: providing first instructions to be processed at first computers, for rendering a first computer image; providing second instructions to be processed at second computers, for rendering a second computer image; receiving a user request for a change; and in response to receiving the request: regenerating the first instructions; providing first delta information to be processed at the first computers, reflecting one or more differences between the provided first instructions and the regenerated first instructions; regenerating the second instructions based on the request; providing second delta information to be processed at the second computers, reflecting one or more differences between the provided second instructions and the regenerated second instructions; receiving first rendering results from the first computers corresponding to the first delta information; and receiving second rendering results from the second computers corresponding to the se

Abstract: A method of transmitting rendering data of a computer image to a client terminal via a communication channel includes: receiving rendering results of the computer image from at least one computer of a plurality of computers; identifying a partial region of the computer image based on transmission information; processing a subset of the rendering results, the subset corresponding to the identified partial region of the computer image; and transmitting, at a particular time, the processed subset of the rendering results to the client terminal via the communication channel.

Abstract: A method of facilitating an interactive rendering of a computer image at a remote computer includes: at a first time, obtaining first information of the image, including pixel information of the image at the first time; and, at a second time after the first time, obtaining second information of the image including pixel information of the image at the second time. Delta pixel information is generated by comparing the pixel information of the first information with the pixel information of the second information, to include one or more portions of the pixel information of the second information updated since the first information was obtained, and to exclude one or more portions of the pixel information of the second information unchanged since the first information was obtained. The method further includes: transmitting the delta pixel information in a lossless format to a front-end client to enable reconstruction of the second information.

Abstract: A method of controlling rendering of a computer image at a plurality of computers includes: controlling a first computer of the plurality of computers to identify a pixel of a tile of the computer image, wherein the identification of the pixel is based on an inter-pixel order; controlling the first computer to identify one or more locations of the pixel, to facilitate sampling of the pixel at the one or more locations thereof, wherein the identification of the one or more locations is based on an intra-pixel computational order corresponding to the first computer; and receiving rendering results corresponding to the one or more locations of the pixel.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method of composing an animation scene in a computer-generated animation. The method includes receiving a user input requesting to perform an operation on at least one computer-generated asset in the animation scene. The method also includes determining, based on the user input, a type of operation and at least one attribute associated with the at least one computer-generated asset in the animation scene. The method further includes, in accordance with the determination of the type of operation and the at least one attribute, processing representations of one or more instances of the at least one computer-generated asset; and projecting the processed representations of the one or more instances of the at least one computer-generated asset onto the animation scene to perform the operation. The method further includes generating metadata associated with the manipulated representations of the one or more instances of the at least one computer-generated asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a command stack for an application are disclosed and an embodiment includes receiving an input for executing a first command of the application, initiating execution of the first command, executing one or more second commands which are set to execute based on execution of the first command, completing execution of the first command, and including the first command in the command stack such that an association is defined between the first command and the one or more second commands. In one embodiment, defining the association in the command stack between the first command the one or more second commands may include generating a first nested command stack associated with the first command, including the one or more second commands in the first nested command stack, and including the first command and the first nested command stack in the command stack.

Abstract: Processes for reviewing and editing a computer-generated animation are provided. In one example process, multiple images representing segments of a computer-generated animation may be displayed. In response to a selection of one or more of the images, geometry data associated with the corresponding segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be accessed. An editable geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation may be displayed based on the accessed geometry data. In some examples, previously rendered representations and/or geometric representations of the same or other segments of the computer-generated animation may be concurrently displayed adjacent to, overlaid with, or in any other desired manner with the displayed geometric representation of the selected segment(s) of computer-generated animation.

Abstract: A method for composing a scene using a data module includes: receiving, from a user, an instruction to instantiate the data module to produce at least a first instance of the data module in a second data module; receiving, from the user, a first override for modifying the first instance of the data module; receiving, from the user, a second override for modifying the data module; identifying a conflict introduced by the first override or the second override; configuring a display interface to display an indication informing the user of the identified conflict; configuring the display interface to display one or more options for resolving the identified conflict; receiving, from the user, a selection of an option of the one or more options; and in response to the selection of the option, resolving the identified conflict by deleting the first override or the second override.

Abstract: A rail manipulator indicates the possible range(s) of movement of a part of a computer-generated character in a computer animation system. The rail manipulator obtains a model of the computer-generated character. The model may be a skeleton structure of bones connected at joints. The interconnected bones may constrain the movements of one another. When an artist selects one of the bones for movement, the rail manipulator determines the range of movement of the selected bone. The determination may be based on the position and/or the ranges of moments of other bones in the skeleton structure. The range of movement is displayed on-screen to the artist, together with the computer-generated character. In this way, the rail manipulator directly communicates to the artist the degree to which a portion of the computer-generated character can be moved, in response to the artist's selection of the portion of the computer-generated character.

Abstract: Systems and processes providing a tool for visualizing parallel dependency graph evaluation in computer animation are provided. Runtime evaluation data of a parallel dependency graph may be collected, including the start time and stop time for each node in the graph. The visualization tool may process the data to generate performance visualizations as well as other analysis features. Performance visualizations may illustrate the level of concurrency over time during parallel dependency graph evaluation. Performance visualizations may be generated by graphing node blocks according to node start time and stop time as well as the level of concurrency at a given time to illustrate parallelism. Performance visualizations may enable character technical directors, character riggers, programmers, and other users to evaluate how well parallelism is expressed in parallel dependency graphs in computer animation.

Abstract: A method for generating a user-customized computer-generated animation includes receiving digital content and determining a modifiable portion of the digital content. The digital content includes a computer-generated animation. A design template is received, where the design template includes a representation of the modifiable portion of the digital content. Template image data is generated by performing image analysis on the representation of the modifiable portion of the digital content. A revised portion of the digital content is generated based on the template image data, where the revised portion is a revised version of the modifiable portion of the digital content. Updated digital content that includes a version of the computer-generated animation with the revised portion of the digital content is generated and displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically animating a character based on an existing corpus of animation are described. The character may be from a previously produced feature animated film, and the data used for training may be the data used to animate the character in the film. A low-dimensional embedding for subsets of the existing animation corresponding to different semantic labels may be learned by mapping high-dimensional rig control parameters to a latent space. A particle model may be used to move within the latent space, thereby generating novel animations corresponding to the space's semantic label, such as a pose. Bridges may link a first pose of a first model within the latent space that is similar to a second pose of a second model of the space. Animations corresponding to transitions between semantic labels may be generated by creating animation paths that traverse a bridge from one model into another.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an animation rig using scripted reference modules are disclosed. An embodiment includes obtaining a first reference module for generating a first node of a dependency graph, where the first reference module is a precomputed rig module corresponding to the first node, obtaining a second reference module for generating a second node of the dependency graph, where the second reference module is scripting language data executed for generating the second node, generating an association between the first node and the second node in response to an input defining the association, generating the animation rig using the first node and the second node, and providing the generated animation rig to a rig interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods deforming a mesh of a target object in real-time in response to a collision with a collision object are disclosed. An embodiment includes determining an inwardly deformed position of a first vertex of the mesh based on an intersection point of a boundary associated with the collision object with a ray, the ray connecting a point of an internal element of the target object with a reference position of the first vertex, wherein the inwardly deformed position of the first vertex corresponds to a first deformation magnitude of the first vertex from the reference position to the inwardly deformed position.

Abstract: A virtual reality system includes a platform, a headset, a mount, and a control unit. The headset includes a motion-sensing unit and a display unit configured to display a video of a virtual environment. The mount is positioned on the platform and configured to releasably engage the headset. While the headset is engaged with the mount, the headset is positioned in a first position. While the headset is disengaged from the mount, the headset is positioned in a second position. The control unit is connected to the headset and configured to receive first data representing the first position and associate the first position with a predetermined first perspective of the virtual environment. The control unit is also configured to receive second data representing the second position, determine a second perspective of the virtual environment corresponding to the second position, and provide video of the virtual environment from the second perspective.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a pixel of a computer-rendered image is a firefly includes: dividing a plurality of samples originating from the pixel, into first and second subsets; identifying whether the pixel is an outlier based on variance data of the first subset; identifying whether the pixel is an outlier based on variance data of the second subset. The pixel is determined as not a firefly in response to both the pixel being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the first subset, and the pixel being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the second subset. The pixel is determined as a firefly in response to the pixel being not identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the first (second) subset and being identified as an outlier based on the variance data of the second (first) subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for traversal selection of components of a geometric model are disclosed. An embodiment includes displaying a plurality of components corresponding to a geometric model, selecting a first component, receiving a first input indicating a first direction for selecting a next component, wherein the next component is connected to the first component by an edge, identifying one or more candidate edges connected to the first component for selecting the next component, determining an angle between an indicated direction vector corresponding to the indicated first direction and each of the one or more candidate edges, and selecting a second component as the next component, wherein the second component is connected to the first component via a particular candidate edge forming a smallest angle with the indicated direction vector.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for placing a window object within a computer-generated scene. The computer-generated scene includes a pair of stereoscopic cameras adapted to capture an image of at least one computer-generated object and the window object. A left portion and right portion of the image along the left and right edges of the image are obtained. The nearest computer-generated object to the pair of stereoscopic cameras within the left and right portions of the image is identified. The window object is placed between the identified computer-generated object and the stereoscopic cameras at an offset distance from the identified computer-generated object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic contour volume deformation are disclosed. An embodiment includes applying a deformation to a point of a volumetric mesh, wherein a plurality of tessellations of the volumetric mesh are identified and wherein each tessellation is a tetrahedral mesh, identifying a deformation point associated with a first polyhedron of the volumetric mesh, determining a barycentric coordinate representation of the deformation point with respect to each tetrahedron of the plurality of tessellations, determining, for each tessellation of the first polyhedron, weight values with respect to the deformation point for vertices of each tetrahedron which correspond to natural vertices of each tetrahedron, and determining, based on the determined weight values, a new position of the identified deformation point represented as a weighted sum determined from the barycentric coordinate representations.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a technique for rendering a pre-visualization image representative of a 3D object to be printed by a 3D printer. The technique accesses a geometric digital model of the 3D object and receives one or more printer characteristics of the 3D printer. The one or more printer characteristics are associated with settlement of added material to the 3D object by the 3D printer. The technique further receives one or more material parameters of a volume of the added material that forms the 3D object. The technique further generates a digital aggregate build-up model of the 3D object using the geometric digital model, the one or more printer characteristics, and the one or more environmental parameters. Then the technique renders a pre-visualization image representative of the 3D object as the 3D object would be printed by the 3D printer based on the generated digital aggregate build-up model.

Abstract: An electronic device with a display screen provides drawing directions to guide a user to create artwork on a physical medium. The electronic device displays a first drawing direction for drawing a portion of a subject on a physical medium, and prompts a user for a user input indicating completion of the first drawing direction by the user. Upon receiving the prompted user input, the electronic device displays a second drawing direction for drawing another portion of the subject on the physical medium. The subject may be based on a computer-animated movie title. The first drawing direction may include a representation of a virtual host, which is also based on a computer-animated character from a computer-animated movie title.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for approximating mesh deformations for character rigs are disclosed. An embodiment includes applying a first deformation function to one or more mesh elements to determine an intermediate position based on a transform to a first structural element, wherein the one or more mesh elements are assigned to the first structural element, generating an offset based on a second deformation function for the one or more mesh elements using a deformation function approximation model, wherein the offset is a positional offset of the one or more mesh elements from the intermediate position to a target position corresponding to the transform applied to the first structural element, and generating a combined mesh deformation for the one or more mesh elements by combining the intermediate position and the offset.

Abstract: A skin deformation system for use in computer animation is disclosed. The skin deformation system accesses the skeleton structure of a computer generated character, and accesses a user's identification of features of the skeleton structure that may affect a skin deformation. The system also accesses the user's identification of a weighting strategy. Using the identified weighting strategy and identified features of the skeleton structure, the skin deformation system determines the degree to which each feature identified by the user may influence the deformation of a skin of the computer generated character. The skin deformation system may incorporate secondary operations including bulge, slide, scale and twist into the deformation of a skin. Information relating to a deformed skin may be stored by the skin deformation system so that the information may be used to produce a visual image for a viewer.

Abstract: A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with computer-generated elements and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first computer-generated element and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first computer-generated element for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the designated value associated with the first computer-generated element.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a facial performance using facial capture of two users includes obtaining a reference set of facial performance data representing a first user's facial capture; obtaining a facial capture of a second user; extracting a second set of facial performance data based on the second user's facial capture; calculating at least one matching metric based on a comparison of the reference set of facial performance data to the second set of facial performance data; and displaying an indication of the at least one matching metric on a display.

Abstract: A method of composing an animation scene in a computer-generated animation includes receiving a user input requesting to perform an operation on at least one computer-generated asset in the animation scene. The method also includes determining, based on the user input, a type of operation and at least one attribute associated with the at least one computer-generated asset in the animation scene. The method further includes, in accordance with the determination of the type of operation and the at least one attribute, processing representations of one or more instances of the at least one computer-generated asset; and projecting the processed representations of the one or more instances of the at least one computer-generated asset onto the animation scene to perform the operation. The method further includes generating metadata associated with the manipulated representations of the one or more instances of the at least one computer-generated asset.

Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph to render three-dimensional (3D) graphics using constraints. Two virtual 3D objects are accessed in a virtual 3D space. A constraint relationship request is received, which identifies the first object as a parent and the second object as a child. The technique verifies whether the graphs of the objects are compatible for being constrained to one another. The first object is evaluated to determine its translation, rotation, and scale. The second object is similarly evaluated based on the translation, rotation, and scale of the first object. An image is rendered depicting at least a portion of the first virtual 3D object and at least a portion of the second virtual 3D object.

Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph having one or more temporally dependent variables. The temporally dependent variables may include variables that may be used to evaluate the dependency graph at a frame other than that at which the temporally dependent variable was evaluated. One example process may include tracking the temporal dirty state for each temporally dependent variable using a temporal dependency list. This list may be used to determine which frames, if any, should be reevaluated when a request to evaluate a dependency graph for a particular frame is received. This advantageously reduces the amount of time and computing resources needed to reevaluate a dependency graph.

Abstract: A connected guest platform receives information identifying a user's planned visit to an entertainment attraction that is located at a physical location, the user's biographical information, and the user's shopping preferences. Features of the attraction are customized based on the user's information. Goods created at the attraction can be stored with the connected guest platform. Third-parties may purchase items from the user's wish list for pickup at a physical merchant located adjacent to the attraction. The user's experience at the attraction and shopping history are stored to inform future interactions with the connected guest platform.

Abstract: A system and method provides a computer-implemented messaging service. Users subscribe to message channels. A message queue buffers messages to a router. The router determines whether characteristics of a first message match criteria specified in subscription requests, and may route the first message to one or more sending agents based on modes of communication specified in the subscription service requests. The sending agent(s) generate a second message formatted for the specified modes of communication based on the first message. Message load balancing, message queuing, message routing, and message sending services may all be independently scaled to adjust for demand.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-representation dependency graphs are disclosed. A first representation of a dependency graph may be accessed using a processor. The first representation of the dependency graph may have a first type and include a plurality of nodes. A transition of the first representation of the dependency graph from a first state to a second state may be detected using the processor. In response to a detection of the transition of the first representation of the dependency graph from the first state to the second state, a second representation of the dependency graph may be updated. The second representation may have a second type different than the first type and include a plurality of tasks corresponding to the plurality of nodes. The second representation may further include one or more dependencies corresponding to one or more of the connections of the first representation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically animating a character based on an existing corpus of animation are described. The character may be from a previously produced feature animated film, and the data used for training may be the data used to animate the character in the film. A low-dimensional embedding for subsets of the existing animation corresponding to different semantic labels may be learned by mapping high-dimensional rig control parameters to a latent space. A particle model may be used to move within the latent space, thereby generating novel animations corresponding to the space's semantic label, such as a pose. Bridges may link a first pose of a first model within the latent space that is similar to a second pose of a second model of the space. Animations corresponding to transitions between semantic labels may be generated by creating animation paths that traverse a bridge from one model into another.

Abstract: Systems and processes provide network clients on various platforms a customized file system experience on demand while managing files (e.g., computer animation files) across a variety of storage devices spread across a network of arbitrary size (local area networks, wide area networks, worldwide networks, the world wide web, etc.). Clients may specify a set of requirements for an instantiation of a file system interface or object for a given application. Such requirements may include storage location, file quality, capacity, scale, permanence, speed, and the like. The system may then provide to the client a customized file system interface with particular hardware resources allocated to satisfy the designated file system requirements. The file system interface may coordinate file delivery, allocation, tracking, transportation, caching, deletion, and the like. The system may manage and allocate hardware resources ranging from a local client computer to distant hard drive banks across the world.

Abstract: One exemplary process for animating hair includes receiving data representing a plurality of hairs and a plurality of objects in a timestep of a frame of animation. A first tree is populated to represent kinematic objects of the plurality of objects and a second tree is populated to represent dynamic objects of the plurality of objects based on the received data. A first elasticity preconditioner is created to represent internal elastic energy of the plurality of hairs based on the received data. Based on the first tree and the second tree, a first set of potential contacts is determined between two or more hairs of the plurality of hairs or between one or more hairs of the plurality of hairs and one or more objects of the plurality of objects. Positions of the plurality of hairs are determined based on the first set of potential contacts and the first elasticity preconditioner.

Abstract: A virtual reality ride system including a headset, a control unit, and a dynamic platform. The headset includes a display unit configured to display a video of an animated virtual environment. The control unit includes one or more processors configured to perform render processing that renders the video of the virtual environment; event motion processing that generates first data representing motions associated with events in the virtual environment; and low-frequency motion processing that generates second data representing low-frequency vibrations unrelated to the events in the virtual environment. The dynamic platform is configured to produce the motions associated with the events in the virtual environment based on the first data, and to produce the low-frequency vibrations based on the second data. The low-frequency vibrations include a frequency between about 5 Hz and 70 Hz.

Abstract: A virtual reality system includes a platform, a headset, a mount, and a control unit. The headset includes a motion-sensing unit and a display unit configured to display a video of a virtual environment. The mount is positioned on the platform and configured to releasably engage the headset. While the headset is engaged with the mount, the headset is positioned in a first position. While the headset is disengaged from the mount, the headset is positioned in a second position. The control unit is connected to the headset and configured to receive first data representing the first position and associate the first position with a predetermined first perspective of the virtual environment. The control unit is also configured to receive second data representing the second position, determine a second perspective of the virtual environment corresponding to the second position, and provide video of the virtual environment from the second perspective.

Abstract: A method of scheduling and performing computations for generating an interactive computer-generated animation on behalf of a client device to achieve a desired quality of service includes generating a computational configuration of computations that, when performed, produce the computer-generated animation with the desired quality of service. The configuration includes an identification of a first computation that outputs first data, a first start time for the first computation, and a first end time, where the first computation is to end before the first end time. The configuration also includes an identification of a second computation that depends on the first data, and a second start time for the second computation. The first computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the first start time and the second computation is performed in response to an occurrence of the second start time.

Abstract: Using curves to emulate soft body deformation in a computer-generated character is disclosed. A method can include accessing a reference model mapped to one or more deformation curves for the character. The reference model can include a mesh of vertices representing a soft body layer of the character. The deformation curve can include multiple sample points selected for mapping. Each mesh vertex on the model can be mapped to each sample point on the curve to establish a relationship between them for deformation. The method can also include receiving a movement of one or more sample points on the curve to a desired deformation position. The method can further include calculating primary and secondary movements of the mesh vertices on the model based on the movements of sample points. The method can move the mesh vertices as calculated to a desired deformation position and output the reference model with the moved vertices for rendering to emulate the soft body deformation of the character.

Abstract: Systems and methods for traversal selection of components of a geometric model are disclosed. An embodiment includes displaying a plurality of components corresponding to a geometric model, selecting a first component, receiving a first input indicating a first direction for selecting a next component, wherein the next component is connected to the first component by an edge, identifying one or more candidate edges connected to the first component for selecting the next component, determining an angle between an indicated direction vector corresponding to the indicated first direction and each of the one or more candidate edges, and selecting a second component as the next component, wherein the second component is connected to the first component via a particular candidate edge forming a smallest angle with the indicated direction vector.

Abstract: Computer animation tools for viewing, in multiple contexts, the effect of changes to a computer animation are disclosed. An artist configures multiple visual displays in the user interface of a computer animation system. A visual display shows one or more frames of computer animation. An artist configures a visual display to reflect a specific context. For example, the artist may assign a particular virtual viewpoint of a scene to a particular visual display. Once visual displays are configured, the artist changes a configuration of the computer animation. For example, the artist may change the lighting parameters of a scene. In response, the visual displays show the visual effects of the configuration (e.g., lighting parameters) change under corresponding contexts (e.g., different virtual camera viewpoints). Using multiple visual displays, which may be displayed side-by-side, an artist can view the effects of her configuration changes in the various contexts.

Abstract: A method for generating stereoscopic images includes obtaining image data comprising a plurality of sample points. A direction, a color value, and a depth value are associated with each sample point. The directions and depth values are relative to a common origin. A mesh is generated by displacing the sample points from the origin. The sample points are displaced in the associated directions by distances representative of the corresponding depth values. The image data is mapped to the mesh such that the color values associated with the sample points are mapped to the mesh at the corresponding directions. A first image of the mesh is generated from a first perspective, and a second image of the mesh is generated from a second perspective. The first and second images of the mesh may be caused to be displayed to provide an illusion of depth.

Abstract: A virtual reality ride system includes a platform having at least one seat, a first headset, a second headset, and one or more rendering processors. The first and second headsets each have a motion-sensing unit and a display unit configured to display animated video. The one or more processors are configured to render a first animated video of a virtual environment from a perspective based on the physical location and orientation of the first headset, and to render a second animated video of the virtual environment from a perspective based on the physical location and orientation of the second headset.

Abstract: An animated special effect is modeled using a fluid dynamics framework system. The fluid dynamics framework for animated special effects system accepts volumetric data as input. Input volumetric data may represent the initial state of an animated special effect. Input volumetric data may also represent sources, sinks, external forces, and/or other influences on the animated special effect. In addition, the system accepts input parameters related to fluid dynamics modeling. The input volumes and parameters are applied to the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations as modifications to the initial state of the animated special effect, as modifications to the forcing term of a pressure equation, or in the computations of other types of forces that influence the solution. The input volumetric data may be composited with other volumetric data using a scalar blending field. The solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations models the motion of the animated special effect.

Abstract: A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with visual characteristics of a computer-generated character and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first visual characteristic and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first visual characteristic for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the value associated with the first visual characteristic.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for training includes, in some embodiments, a first group of icons arranged about a first axis, where the first group of icons corresponds to computer-generated animation concepts. The GUI also includes a second group of icons arranged about a second axis that intersects the first axis at a particular icon along the first axis. The second group of icons corresponds to videos that illustrate the computer-generated animation concept associated with the particular icon on the first axis. The GUI can also include a third group of icons arranged about a third axis that intersects the first axis at another icon along the first axis. Horizontal correspondence between icons along the second and third axes indicates logical relationships between the corresponding training content.