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We are one of the few companies worldwide to offer the full 3D character creation pipeline under one roof.
Facial Motion Capture in the Mimic Studio, Berlin
Scanning
3D character creation with 3D photogrammetry scanning for the face, body, expressions, and objects.
Animation
3D character creation with shading, lighting, camera animations, and rendering for final production.
Model/Texture
Dynamic motion capture animation clean-up and keyframing for the face and body as part of 3D character creation.
Hair/Cloth
Quality 3D character creation with 3D cloth and hair production, including modeling, texturing, and dynamic simulations.
Rigging
High-quality 3D character modeling and texturing from scans, reference images, or concept art.
Realtime Assets
Optimized 3D character assets for real-time integration and performance in 3D character creation.
Motion Capture
3D character creation with Optitrack and Xsens body motion capture services, as well as facial motion tracking.
Rendering
High-fidelity blend-shape facial rigging, body rigging, and dynamic cloth/hair rigging for seamless 3D character creation.
Equipped with state-of-the-art motion capture and scanning technology, Mimic offers world-class 3D character production and post-production services.
Photogrammetry scanning in the Mimic studio, Berlin
3D SCANNING
3D Scanning is the perfect solution when re-creating photo-real 3D characters in the digital realm. Our world-class photogrammetry system combines the best technology for the capture of high-resolution topology, as well as extremely detailed texture maps. A fully portable system, we can scan your talent either in our studio in Berlin or on-site at your production location.
We also offer 3D Facial Scanning to reproduce highly realistic and organic blend shapes for your facial rig. Our founder has personally directed world-renowned talent such as Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, and Anthony Hopkins, capturing their unique facial dynamics - so you can trust you are in good hands!
MODELLING + TEXTURING
Our in-house artists specialize in both fictional and photo-real 3D character modeling, created either from scan data, reference images, or concept art. Combined with high-resolution texture maps, pore-level definition, sweat, and natural blemishes are at the heart of realism in 3D character creation, and it is this artistry that we have refined over the years at Mimic. Our services include the full development of realistic skin textures both with and without the use of a 3D scanner, which means our clients can expect realism in a fictional (or even deceased) 3D character creation.
FACE + BODY RIGGING
One of Mimic’s greatest strengths is in the creation of highly realistic and dynamic blend-shape-based Facial Rigs. Utilizing the experience gained by our Founder and CTO, David Bennett (who managed the Facial Animation team for huge blockbusters such as Avatar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Tin Tin), we have produced a rigging pipeline which is second to none.
Whether produced from expression-scan data, developed from reference imagery, or extracted from a generic expression set, we offer Facial Rigging solutions for all budgets. Mimic specializes in the creation of blend-shape-based Facial Rigs, Body Rigs, and everything in between. For the highest quality animation, we build Blend-Shape Facial Rigs based on actor Expression Scans - this pipeline creates the most realistic and personalized rigs available today in 3D character creation.
MOTION CAPTURE
Body motion-capture or performance capture greatly simplifies the process of capturing movement by recording the position of optical markers placed on your actor and faithfully transporting this data onto a 3D skeleton. This information is then re-targeted onto the 3D character of your choice, essentially giving organic movement to a digital being.
Facial motion capture is also one of our greatest strengths. Our Founder was the Manager of the Facial Motion Capture Department for multiple blockbuster movies, such as Avatar, Tin Tin, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, to name a few. We can capture uniquely subtle movements, as well as highly dynamic expressions - from a simple blink to the complexity of emotive lip synchronization for your 3D character creation.
FACE + BODY ANIMATION
Our skilled artists have provided body animation for the most complex movements - from swimming and flying, to object interactions and finger animations. We offer services in the “clean-up” of mocap data or keyframing. We are equally experienced in both processes, ensuring an efficient process and effective final result for your 3D character creation.
Our facial animation services also include facial mocap “clean-up” - essentially taking the captured performance and ensuring that every unique element is retained. This can include organic and beautiful details, such as a deep breath through the nostrils, a nervous swallow, or the rolling of eyes underneath closed eyelids. We believe it is these subtle details that truly give life to your 3D character creation, and our skilled animators are constantly seeking to honor these organic and real moments in your actors’ performance.
HAIR + CLOTH DYNAMICS
There are several different strategies used to model and animate hair or cloth. The first is Dynamic Simulation, which is used to create lifelike, dynamic hair or cloth and is commonly used in high-end animated films. Over the years, Mimic has created these systems for multiple high-end fashion productions for 3D character creation.
Another strategy is Bone-Driven Hair or Cloth, where visually the clothing or hair moves with the body/head animation. We are experienced in all simulation strategies, so depending on your vision, budget, and time frame, we’d be happy to advise and create your ideal 3D Hair or Clothing solution for 3D character creation.
REALTIME INTEGRATION
At Mimic Productions, we specialize in 3D character optimization for leading realtime game engines, including Unity and Unreal. We produce authentic assets with flawless textures, shaders, and rig integrations as well as high-fidelity real-time animation for 3D character creation.
With extensive experience in developing over 50 human 3D characters for the Unreal Engine, we have cultivated a particular expertise in achieving cutting-edge realism and maintaining an unwavering commitment to exceptional quality in 3D character development.
Furthermore, we have developed realtime facial and body motion capture systems to enable you to take your 3D character creation outside the gaming experience to perform in a live, realtime performance.
RENDERING
Rendering is the final phase that occurs in the animation production process. In general, the density of the modeling and the more detailed the textures, materials, and quality of the animation, the longer the render time of each frame. We offer in-house rendering on small projects and coordinate the outsourcing of rendering on larger projects. We will advise you as to the most economical rendering solution for your project.
Alongside Rendering, we also offer services in Lighting, Camera Animation, and Environments, providing the necessary final touches in your 3D character production.