From Jurassic World to Paddington Bear, animal motion capture technology is finding its own place in the ever-evolving world of visual effects in TV and film industries. This feature will give everything you need to know for fans of behind-the-screen work and those dreaming to make a career in the animation industry.

Those who have watched the Lion King (2019) should find it hard to forget the adult Simba coming in with a mighty roar that echoes through the Pride Lands declaring his dominance. It’s hard to conjure up images of the hard work that goes on behind these wonderful performances. But when you look back at the visual effects in King Kong (1933), you will realise the huge advances in technology and the maturity of the use of visual effects on animals. Thanks to advances in biomechanics, computer graphics, and their complex mixture with narrative, we see birds and beasts come to life on the big screen today. Animal motion capture (mocap) is at the heart of many of these creations, but how to capture the raw power of a tiger, the grace of a flying bird or the twitch of a dog’s tail?

Motion capture has long been used to animate human characters in a variety of film and television projects. This technology records the movement of a subject, whether human or animal, and translates it into a digital frame. Traditional human and animal motion capture begins with a special costume equipped with sensors that track an actor’s movements. However, animals bring unique challenges to this process.

Dr. Bodo Rosenhahn from the Max Planck Institute says: “Animals don’t follow scripts or hit specific marks. They behave unpredictably, which is why traditional mocap systems can be limiting when working with them.”

How it works:

Traditional motion capture methods rely on placing reflective markers on an animals’ body. High-speed cameras track these markers and specialised software processes the data to create a 3D representation of the animals’ movements. In the case of animals, this technique has been widely used in projects that require precise biomechanics, such as studying canine gait or horse movements.

However, there are limitations to this approach. Placing markers on animals can be challenging, especially for wild animals. The markers may fall off during movement, or the animal may become stressed or distracted by the device.  Dr. Rosenhahn says: ‘Traditional motion capture is suitable for controlled environments such as laboratories or training facilities, but capturing natural behaviour in less controlled environments like jungles or savannahs is not always possible.’

He explains how the reflective markers have been successfully applied to horses in the studio, but the set-up requires patience and careful planning. “The horse’s pace is so complex that slight errors in marker placement can affect the data,’”which is why traditional motion capture is best suited to environments where fine control can be maintained.

To solve this problem, innovations such as markerless motion capture have emerged. These systems use AI cameras to track movement without the need for physical markers. This breakthrough is particularly useful for the study of wild or exotic animals, where additional markings may disrupt natural behaviour.

The history:

Animal motion capture first gained attention in the late 1990s with projects like Babe: Pig in the City. While the early techniques were relatively rough by today’s standards, they laid solid groundwork for future works.

Disney’s The Lion King remake was a milestone in animal mocap. To bring Simba and Mufasa and other characters to life, the production team used a mixed approach. Real lions, meerkats and other animals were photographed in their natural habitats to provide reference footage. These were then digitally animated in fine detail using mocap technology.

“It wasn’t just about mimicking the movements,” explains Dr.Rosenhahn . “It was about making every step, roar, and twitch feel like a genuine expression of the animal’s character.”

In Call of the Wild, the dog, Buck, was entirely computer-generated. The filmmakers combined human motion capture with detailed studies of real dogs. In the studio, lightweight markers were placed on the dog’s joints to record subtle behaviours such as gait, posture and tail wagging. Digital animation is then used to enhance these movements, eventually creating a performance that was both realistic and cinematic.

Unlike traditional studio work, markerless motion capture allows animators to go into the wilderness and capture animal movements in a more pure and natural way. Researchers like Dr. Rosenhahn have been able to study deer and birds, capturing precise motion data without disrupting their behaviour.

Case study:

Vicon, a leading motion capture company from the UK, also takes the advantages of this approach. According to their research, “Markerless technology ensures natural behaviour and provides highly accurate data for both film and scientific purposes.”

Sam Lazarus, Creative Director from Rokoko,  a Danish brand of motion capture and animation, says: “We use everything from high-speed cameras to machine learning to replicate even the subtlest movements. It’s about capturing the essence of the animal.”

“It’s not just about the tech,” He also highlighted the collaboration required in these projects. “We work closely with animal behaviourists, animators, and directors to ensure the final product feels natural and engaging.”

Capturing the movements of underwater creatures such as dolphins and sharks presents unique challenges that are very different from those of land creatures. Companies like Qualisys, working with marine biologists, have developed an underwater motion capture system using specialised waterproof cameras. These tools accurately record the movements of marine animals in their natural habitat.

“By studying the movements of dolphins, for example, we have not only improved the accuracy of our animations, but also gained insights into their habits,” says Mr. Lazarus.

Animal insight:

Exotic land animals such as elephants and tigers have also been given innovative setups. Motion Analysis has partnered with US wildlife refuges to allow staff to capture data in their natural environments. This allows them to record more wildlife movements more closely, gaining access to data that was previously unavailable to enhance digital animation and preservation efforts.

Dr. Sinéad Kearney from the University of Bath has been studying the methods of motion capture for animals for years, she feels pleasant and excited witnessing the development of animal mocap.

She says: “A lot of my research involved collecting data sets which did not exist before, now that as we have more equipment and algorithms, there’s a lot of potential directions that we could go in now. ”

The differences between these two methods are clear. Traditional motion capture provides highly accurate data, and although it does not harm the animal, it requires extensive setup and may disrupt the natural movement of the subject. Markerless motion capture, on the other hand, offers greater flexibility and minimal invasiveness, but may require producers to invest more computational resources to accurately process the data. Both methods have a place in modern TV and film production, depending on the specific needs of the project.

Mr. Lazarus says: “You can’t rush an animal or force it to perform, so it’s important to remain patient. We work closely with the animal trainers and use all methods to ensure the animal feels safe and comfortable, such as calming and feeding. If the animal doesn’t cooperate, we take a step back and try something else.”

Rapid advances in technology are opening up new possibilities for animal motion capture, and companies such as Boxx Technologies are developing hardware optimised to handle the vast amounts of data generated during motion capture. Meanwhile, Vicon’s state-of-the-art cameras can capture motion at more than 1,000 frames per second, ensuring that even the smallest movements are recorded.

One of the most exciting frontiers is the use of machine learning in motion capture. By training algorithms on large datasets of animal movements, researchers can create predictive models that simulate the movements of animals that would be difficult or impossible to study in real life. This approach has been used to create realistic virtual animals for documentaries like Planet Earth II by the BBC where filming real animals may be impractical or dangerous.

“I can’t imagine what else we can do with these guys in the future.” says Mr. Lazarus.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of working in animal motion capture and are passionate with creativity and storytelling. Why not enter the world behind the screen for yourself and join the wide variety of animals in a visual feast for the audience.

Dr. Sinéad Kearney expresses encouragement to those who want to enter the industry. She said: “It’s important to me to maintain my passion and curiosity for the industry and, more importantly, to always have respect and love for animals.”

How to get started:

• Familiarise yourself with motion capture software such as MotionBuilder, Unreal Engine or Unity. Free resources and online tutorials are everywhere to help you get started.

• Attend industry events, film festivals or online forums to connect with professionals in the motion capture field. platforms such as LinkedIn and industry-specific groups can help you find mentors and opportunities.

• Look for internships or entry-level positions at studios specialising in animation or visual effects. Even positions in adjacent fields such as video game development can provide valuable experience.

• Consider professional training: Attend a seminar or course that focuses on motion capture technology. organisations such as Gnomon or professional training centres often offer short courses tailored to motion capture enthusiasts.

Animal mocap is a powerful mix of science and narrative that deepens our understanding of the natural world while creating lifelike animation. It is more than a tool, it is a way for audiences to understand the beauty and complexity of animal movement. It is a combination of science, art and emotion. If you’re lucky enough to be involved,  always stay enthusiastic and respectful, who knows where the next surprise will be waiting for you.

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