Virtual character in Virtual Production

Virtual character is a Performance Capture term in filmmaking. In virtual production, the nuances of this term take on special meaning. Here, we break down the definition to give you a starting point.

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Basic Definition:

What is Virtual character in virtual production?

A virtual character, sometimes referred to as a digital actor or avatar, is an animated humanoid, animal, or other living creature whose movements are created in real-time using the input of a human operator via performance capture. Virtual characters have been used for decades and are now becoming increasingly popular due to advances in computer technology. 

Creating a virtual character for virtual production requires several steps. First, the designer creates a 3D model of the character from scratch. This can be done either by hand or through software. Once the model is complete, it needs to be "rigged" with bones and joints so that the character's movement will be realistic when animated. Next, motion capture records the performer's body movements which then translates into animation data. Finally, this animation data is combined with facial expressions and lip-synching to create the desired effect. 

Some famous virtual characters include Gollum from The Lord of the Rings films, King Kong from Peter Jackson's classic movie remake, Chappie from Neill Blomkamp's sci-fi epic, and Max Headroom from the 80s TV show. However, one of the first notable virtual characters was Mitsuko from Softimage's 'Ikarus' in 1989, which featured groundbreaking animations created entirely on computers at the time.  

Virtual characters provide filmmakers with a unique way to bring their stories to life, allowing them to produce incredibly lifelike performances without having to use expensive physical sets or large cast members.