15-462 Computer Graphics I
Guest Lecture
Dynamics in Monsters, Inc.: Papers to Product to Productions
David Baraff, Pixar
Abstract
Dynamic simulation had a major role in shaping the final look of
Monsters, Inc.'s main characters, but from the start, it was set in
stone that simulation could only be used if it didn't interfere in
Pixar's traditional creative process. This talk gives a candid
behind-the-scenes look at the core physical simulation technologies
employed to create Monsters, Inc., describes the balancing of creative
and technical needs due to simulation, and reveals the difficult
effects that were easy, and the simple shots that were hard.
No matter what your current or future interest in computer graphics
is---student, researcher, developer, end-user---you'll also have a
chance to see all the aspects that can be involved in a career in this
area. This talk will pull back the curtain on the development process
itself, with an opportunity to follow the evolution of the key
technology from its research origin at CMU ("papers"), to an initial
commercial implementation in Alias|Wavefront's Maya animation system
("product"), and then to its current role at Pixar Studios
("production").
Links
Speaker Bio
David Baraff joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1998 as a Senior
Animation Scientist in Pixar's research and development group. Prior to
his arrival at Pixar, he was an Associate Professor of Robotics, and
Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. David Baraff received
his Ph.D. in computer science from Cornell University in 1992, and his
Bs.E. in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania in
1987. Before and during his graduate studies, he also worked at Bell
Laboratories' Computer Technology Research Laboratory doing computer
graphics research, including real-time 3D interactive animation and
games. In 1992, he joined the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University. In
1995, he was named an ONR Young Investigator. His research interests
include physical simulation and modeling for computer graphics and
animation.
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