• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.1245-1257
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• 2008

The establishment of a production pipeline imported 30 computer graphics is suggested in this paper to improve the efficiency of existing production pipeline of clay animation. The point is that the process of building clay characters that remains labor intensive among the existing procedures is replaced by the process of creating computer generated characters. In order to create characters out of clay by means of 30 computer graphics, a diffuse map and displacement map are made of an oil-based clay according to the UVW coordination of polygon modeling, which is the same color and kind of clay used to make a clay character. In addition, a panoramic HDRI recording system is developed to record the lighting information of shooting environment for miniature sets, which is imported in 3D computer graphic tools as digital light source. On account of the new production pipeline, a hyper realistic rendering image can be produced, and at the same time it improves the traditional pipeline of stop motion animation that is know-how based procedure of a complete artist by the engineering approach to the automatic process.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.37
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• pp.491-508
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• 2014

As number of making 3D feature animation films is increasing, 3D production pipeline become more complicated and more artists are needed than before. Major studios in foreign countries, in burden of producing high quality films with limited amount of budget and time, have been handling such difficulties by hiring technical directors in each department such as animation, rigging, cloth hair, and effect. Technical director is new occupation which appears after trend of producing animation is changed from 2D to 3D. Importance of technical director is increasing in respect to studios' needs which are related to complication in production time, manpower, budget, and production pipeline. This research is based on the researcher's work experience as an animation TD at Walt Diseny Animation Studio and Sony Pictures Imageworks, interview with working professionals, and related books and thesis. It focuses on the role of animation technical director in Disney's 3D feature animation film from two perspectives, 'Designing Production Pipeline' and 'Analyzing Problem of Shot'. Animation technical directors design and test production pipeline so that they can detect and solve problems that may arise in production process as early as possible. They not only analyze numerous problems of characters or shots limited to animation department but also in other departments such as modeling, mapping, character rigging, cloth, hair, lighting, rendering, software development in order to support artists to complete their shots according to the production schedule. In accordance with recent trend of increasing number of 3D feature animation film production in South Korea and collaboration with foreign studios outside of South Korea, it is vital to train animation technical directors who can develop production pipeline, analyze various problems of shots and characters to escalate efficiency in production.