Abstract: An animation rig is displayed in a plurality of reference poses. The animation rig has a pose deformation in each pose. A refinement deformation for each reference pose is received. Each refinement deformation is mapped to a respective point in n-dimensional space. A complex is built in the n-dimensional space. The complex includes a mesh of simplices, each corner of each simplex associated with one of the deformations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed for animations that simulate skin deformation relative to a muscle. Displacement of a skin representation in response to deformation of a muscle representation and sliding of the skin representation over the deformed muscle representation can be determined quickly and interactively by monitoring changes in position and scale of defining ring elements of the muscle representation's geometry. The determined in displacements can be constrained to prevent portions of the displaced skin representation from sinking into the underlying muscle representation's geometry.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method performed by one or more processes executing on a computer system, the method includes displaying in a user interface at least a portion of a 3D object model and one or more surface controls that collectively and implicitly define a control surface that is positioned in 3D space relative to, and capable of deforming, the 3D object model, each surface control having a single associated direction, directions of deformations of the control surface based on the associated directions. The method further includes receiving input from a human animator defining a change to the implicitly defined control surface relative to the 3D object model. The method further includes in response to the received input, updating the user interface to display the 3D object model as deformed by the changed implicitly defined control surface.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes receiving a model that represents the geometry of an animated character and represents a primary deformation applied the geometry of the character. The applied primary deformation is relative to a rest geometry of the character. The method also includes applying a secondary deformation to the geometry of the received character model. The applied secondary deformation is relative to the primary deformation applied to the geometry of the character.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed for animations that simulate skin deformation relative to a muscle. Displacement of a skin representation in response to deformation of a muscle representation and sliding of the skin representation over the deformed muscle representation can be determined quickly and interactively by monitoring changes in position and scale of defining ring elements of the muscle representation's geometry. The determined skin displacements can be constrained to prevent portions of the displaced skin representation from sinking into the underlying muscle representation's geometry.