Automatic Animation System Using Shot Sheet Parsing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Creating animation projects is an expensive and time-consuming process, requiring vast computational resources and technical expertise, making it impractical for novices and small teams to compete with large studios due to the complexity of existing software systems.

Innovation Solution

An automatic animation system that uses a client-server architecture with a graphical user interface to generate animation files based on shot sheets, which can be parsed to generate instructions for animation programs like Blender, Unity, or Unreal, allowing users to create synchronized video and audio projects without extensive knowledge of animation software.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional animation software systems are used, then animation quality can be high, but the complexity of operation and computational resources required become prohibitively high for novices and small teams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidsoftware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (automatic animation program, shot sheet parser, and template system) between the user and complex animation software. Users interact with simplified shot sheets and templates rather than directly with complex animation software, resolving the contradiction by mediating the interaction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service automation where the animation program automatically generates animations from shot sheets without requiring manual intervention in complex software operations. This allows users to bypass complex manual processes while maintaining high-quality output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If traditional animation software systems are used, then detailed control over animation can be achieved, but the time and expertise required to learn and use the system become prohibitively high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanimation creation speedVSAvoidlearning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action through pre-defined shot sheet templates that contain pre-configured animation parameters and settings. Users simply fill in basic information rather than learning complex software from scratch, dramatically reducing learning time while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses templates as reusable copies of common animation patterns and shot sequences. By copying proven templates rather than creating animations from scratch, users achieve professional results quickly without extensive training.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional animation software systems are used, then high-quality animations can be produced, but the computational resources and cost become prohibitively high for small teams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanimation qualityVSAvoidcomputational resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the animation creation process into distinct components: shot sheet definition, template selection, automatic generation, and rendering. This segmentation allows efficient resource allocation and optimization at each stage, reducing overall computational requirements while maintaining quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11762716B2Automatic animation system and method
Publication Date: 2023.09.19 ROWOLDT JASON MICHAEL
  • US11762716B2 patent drawing
  • US11762716B2 patent drawing
  • US11762716B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system includes a memory storing computer-readable instructions and at least one processor to execute the instructions to receive a shot sheet comprising data and metadata associated with an animation project, parse the shot sheet to generate instructions associated with at least one shot in the animation project, send the instructions to an animation program using an application programming interface (API), generate the animation project based on the instructions using the animation program, render the animation project into a video, and store the video in a database and generate a uniform resource locator (URL) for the video.