Single-Image Human Body Animation With Real-Time Mobile Effects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for animating a single image of a human body are limited in creating realistic and interactive animations without requiring server-side computational resources or internet connectivity, and lack the ability to apply various effects in real-time.

Innovation Solution

A mobile application utilizing neural networks for segmentation, pose estimation, and 3D model generation, allowing users to select motions, apply effects, and generate videos of the animated human body on-device, with features like customizing clothes, backgrounds, and hair animation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing methods for animating a single image are used, then animation can be created, but the computational resources are required to be server-side and internet connectivity is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanimation generation capabilityVSAvoidcomputational resource dependency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile application integrates multiple functions (image segmentation, pose estimation, 3D model generation, animation creation, and effect application) into a single device, eliminating the need for external server-side processing and internet connectivity. The application performs all animation generation tasks locally on the mobile device, making the system self-sufficient and independent of external computational resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If existing animation methods are used, then basic animation can be produced, but real-time effect application is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanimation generation speedVSAvoideffect application capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The application pre-processes the input image by segmenting the body portion and generating a 3D model in advance, storing these processed elements for rapid animation generation. This preliminary processing enables real-time animation creation and effect application without requiring extensive computational resources during the animation phase, thus achieving both high productivity and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The application implements dynamic effect application where users can select and apply various effects (clothes substitution, background replacement, illumination effects, object addition) to animated characters in real-time. The system dynamically adjusts the animation parameters and effects based on user selections, enabling versatile effect application while maintaining real-time performance through optimized local processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If detailed body segmentation and 3D model generation are performed, then photorealistic videos are produced, but computational overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo realism qualityVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The application segments the input image into distinct body portions and background portions, processing each segment separately. This segmentation allows the system to focus computational resources on the essential body regions for photorealistic rendering while simplifying or pre-processing the background, thereby reducing overall computational energy consumption while maintaining high video realism quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The application creates a 3D model copy of the input image that can be reused across multiple animations and effect applications. Once the detailed 3D model is generated from the segmented body portion, this model serves as a reusable template for generating various animations and applying different effects, significantly reducing the computational energy required for subsequent processing while maintaining photorealistic quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3980973B1Entertaining mobile application for animating a single image of a human body and applying effects
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 SNAP INC
  • EP3980973B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3980973B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3980973B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are systems and methods for animating a single image of a human body and applying effects. An example method includes providing, by a computer device, a database of motions; receiving, by a computing device, an input image, the input image including a body of a person; receiving, by the computing device, a user input including a motion selected from the database of motions; segmenting, by the computing device, the input image into a body portion and a background portion; generating, by the computing device and based on the body portion and the selected motion, a video featuring the body of the person repeating the selected motion; and displaying, by the computing device, the generated video; receiving, by a computer device, a further user input including clothes, scene, illumination effect, and additional objects; and, while generating the video, modifying frames of the video based on the further user input.