Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus wherein physics models are integrated with motion capture animation to allow for variability in animations, dynamic response, such as animating events different from those for which motion capture data was obtained, including changes in character purpose and collisions. The physical model may include sets of internal forces and/or external forces. To facilitate the integration of mo-cap animation data with physics models, mo-cap animation data is played back using forces on physical models rather than directly setting joint angles or positions in a graphical skeleton, which allows the animation to be dynamically altered in real-time in a physically realistic manner by external forces and impulses.