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Solutions

Animation / Virtual Reality

Your Requirements

  • You want to record full-body data from one or more performers to animate lifelike CG characters in Unreal, Unity, MotionBuilder, or similar software.
  • You need software specifically built for entertainment workflows that keeps your production pipeline as efficient as possible.
  • You want to save setup time per performer – ideally with real-time calibration or no markers and suits at all.

Our Solutions

Markerless Motion Capture

With Vicon Markerless (Vanguard cameras), you capture authentic performances with no suit or markers required – giving your performers complete freedom of movement. The system is compatible with our optical Vicon systems, so you can capture unmarked performers and marked props in the same recording.

High-Resolution Camera Systems

Our Valkyrie cameras capture markers at up to 26 megapixels and 2000 fps, IP65-rated for demanding conditions like smoke or outdoor locations. Combined with robust occlusion handling and fine-detail finger tracking, you get raw data in the best possible quality.

Real-Time Retargeting

Shōgun software handles retargeting in real time: a performer’s data is automatically mapped onto a CG character with entirely different proportions – ready to stream directly into your game engine.

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Fabian Bleiker
Technical Sales Manager
If you need any help or advice regarding our products and services, our dedicated Support Team is here to help.
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Recommended setup

Markerless Motion Capture

With Vicon Markerless, you can capture performances without the need for markers or a suit, allowing performers to retain complete freedom of movement. The system integrates seamlessly with optical Vicon systems such as Valkyrie or Vero, enabling performers and marked props to be captured together in a single shot. Shōgun processes the data in real time.

Large-scale motion capture studio

Vicon is used in renowned film and games studios worldwide. To capture multiple performers simultaneously, Valkyrie cameras with up to 26 megapixels are used, which reliably capture even highly detailed marker sets. Shōgun efficiently processes raw data into production-quality data in real time or after minimal clean-up.

Virtual Reality (LBVR)-System

Vicon Origin is a comprehensive, location-based virtual reality (LBVR) system. The hardware and software have been specifically developed for LBVR applications. With Origin, multiple participants can be tracked simultaneously as characters in an LBVR environment using fully animated avatars.

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References

Caecilia Charbonnier - Founder, President, Research Director

“Ci dedichiamo allo sviluppo e alla promozione della motion capture. Se pensate quindi di poter trarre vantaggio dalle nostre attrezzature e dalla nostra esperienza, non esitate a contattarci. Saremo lieti di aiutarvi a sviluppare il vostro progetto.”

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Alexandre Messier, technical director at Ubisoft

“Most of our game teams need real-time pre-visualization. With Shōgun’s auto skeleton calibration, we can stream accurate data into 3rd party’s solution in seconds. Shogun is adding speed to our data processing pipeline without sacrificing any data quality and exceeding what we’re producing with Blade.”

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Karl Abson, Lecturer in Creative Techology

“The most notable industry standard hardware we invested in is the Vicon motion capture system. Students walk away with a mixture of industry specific skills based on their experience throughout their degree, academic skills, as well as a good level of knowledge in regards to the industry itself. This gives students the tools for a successful career.”

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Brands

Why prophysics AG?

Cross-vendor integration

Instead of isolated, stand-alone systems, we offer you a comprehensive solution tailored to your specific needs, in which all systems from different manufacturers are precisely coordinated and work together seamlessly.

Consultancy, Training & Support

In addition to consultancy, training and support, we also offer bespoke services. These include, for example, planning your setup or integrating it into your existing software environment.

Extensive network

You’ll benefit from our extensive network of researchers and practitioners from academia and industry, who meet regularly at user meetings to exchange ideas – ensuring that practical insights and best practices are passed on directly t

FAQs

I want to establish a motion capture studio. How many cameras do I need?

The number of cameras required depends on the size of the mocap volume (recording volume), how many performers are to be recorded simultaneously, and whether face and finger mocap are also planned. A small volume (around 20 m²) allowing freedom of movement for 1–2 people can be covered with as few as 8 cameras. For a large volume (>200 m²) incorporating facial and finger motion capture, however, 50 or more cameras are required. We would be happy to advise you on the most suitable configuration.

How much processing time should I allow for each recording?

This depends on the complexity of the movement, as well as the number of markers and performers. With marker-based motion capture, the Shōgun software calculates the skeleton in real time – even with complex movements and heavily obscured markers. With Vicon Markerless, the need for clean-up is eliminated entirely, as no physical markers are required. Both options can be streamed directly into game engines such as Unreal or Unity.

Can I combine motion capture and Virtual Reality?

There are several ways to use mocap data in VR.
- The simplest method is to track rigid objects and transfer their positions and orientation directly into VR, for example to track a person’s hand or head position.
- Such objects can also be used to control a VR avatar by tracking the position of the hands, feet and head.
- With full-body tracking, you can generate a very realistic avatar and then use it directly in VR.

What software packages can I use to process my data?

The workflow of the mocap system and the Shogun software is optimised to either stream the data in real time or export the recording to your production software as quickly as possible. Our software offers interfaces for the most widely used character animation software packages, such as Unreal, Unity, Maya, 3D Studio Max and MotionBuilder.

How does the software let me clean up data when markers are occluded?

The Shogun software features a skeletal solve algorithm which, despite significant marker occlusion (<50% of markers occluded), is still able to automatically deliver high-quality skeletal data – both offline and in real time.

Does the Vicon System also allow me to capture face data?

For detailed face capture, there is a specialised portable solution that can record all facial expressions in 3D from the front using 1–4 cameras. The facial data can also be captured simultaneously with the full-body data to generate even more lifelike CG characters.

What is the difference between markerless and marker-based motion capture – which one is right for my project?

Optical, marker-based systems (Valkyrie, Vero) offer the highest precision for professional studio productions. Markerless systems (using Vanguard cameras) are particularly well-suited to rapid iteration and scenes where freedom of movement is paramount. Both methods can be combined in Shōgun; you can even capture unmarked performers and marked props simultaneously in the same shot.

Does the system also support pre-visualisation and virtual production (LED wall, SimulCam)?

Yes. With LED wall integration and SimulCam, you can visualise complex sequences in real time and make creative decisions directly on set. This reduces production costs as issues are identified at an early stage – resulting in fewer reshoots and faster iteration in film and TV productions.