A Photorealistic CGI TV Series Coming Real Soon Now 259
ziggy_zero writes "SoulPix has revealed their project named "SoulFire", a photorealistic computer-generated TV series created entirely with 3ds max. Here's a trailer (it's in German). Looks pretty cool, better than those CGI cartoons I've seen - although definitely not even Final Fantasy quality. Note - apparently the DivX version was encoded using a weird codec that doesn't work on all players, so you might be better off getting the Quicktime version."
photorealism (Score:5, Interesting)
What's the point... (Score:5, Interesting)
The details (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Final Fantasy Quality (Score:3, Interesting)
It wouldn't be immediate, but the Simpsons started out looking terrible. Even South Park has had noticable improvement over time.
Re:photorealism (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:photorealism (Score:5, Interesting)
The grandparent's point still stands. We've seen 3D renderings of animals, including furry animals, that are good enough to stand up to moderately close inspection. We have never seen a 3D rendering of a human face that could pass even the most cursory glance.
Re:Final Fantasy Quality (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:BitTorrent Mirror (Score:3, Interesting)
I still prefer Blizzard North... (Score:2, Interesting)
The Soul Fire characters aren't nearly polished enough. Stiff limbs, odd walk, no blinking...
Nay, my breath is held for if (when?) Blizzard North makes a full-motion picture.
-- Tino Didriksen / ProjectJJ.dk
Re:photorealism (Score:2, Interesting)
Hmm... If not using a top model for your shots, it will be a long while before a 30 minute photographing session (with some Photoshop touchups later) will be more expensive than months of meticulous work in creating these 3D models.
Using life human actors is still, for the most part, a lot cheaper than CG.
Re:Final Fantasy Quality (Score:4, Interesting)
My girlfriend is not a sci-fi geek, doesn't play videogames, isn't interested in fantasy at all. She was easily able to grasp the FF plot, and thought it was really quite good. The critics might not have gotten the plot, but if you tried to put it in a Japanese context, it made a lot of sense. Gaia, life force, spirits - not Western concepts, but if you know of them, the story made lots of sense.
I own the DVD, and it is one of our favorites. I don't regret the buy at all.
-Erwos
Re:photorealism (Score:3, Interesting)
Our brains are wired to recognize faces which makes recreating one especially difficult. The limits to doing a face now are mostly artistic. Most of the professional software these days has passed the point where it limits the artist. (Whether it can do it in time for a production deadline is another matter.)
Things that make a face not work are:
-Perfect symmetry. (check out Cameron Diaz's nose for how far you can go and still look beautifull)
-Not enough articulation in the forms. (Poser people are getting better but still look like mannequins - too much symmmetry also)
-The eyes and mouth look dry. No meniscus of water at the lids or on the teeth.
-Simple skin textures. The values and color of real skin have quite a range and more variation than most faces are textured/colored.
If you want to see how subtle expressions are, try doing a portrait in paint or pencil and change the shape of the mouth by 1mm or 2. See this [gladwell.com] link for a really cool article on how subtle and complex facial expressions are. (Bill Clinton makes a guest appearance)