New Digital Motion Lab Bringing Animation to Life

New Digital Motion Lab Bringing Animation to Life


Media release - 26 September 2006

A new state-of-the-art motion capture studio in Melbourne will make local animation projects more lifelike than ever, Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson said today.

Officially opening the $800,000 Motion.Lab at Deakin University in Burwood Ms Thomson said it would help local animators and researchers bring to life a huge range of complex movements, improving the quality and realism of their digital imagery.

"It's a wonderful technology boost for our digital animation sector, with the Victorian Government contributing almost $500,000 to fund the new facility," Ms Thomson said.

"We now have the technology and facilities right here in Victoria to enable our animators and video game creators to realise their ideas right here where before they may have had to go interstate or even overseas.

"Digital animation drives a massive worldwide industry and the Bracks Government is very pleased to have made a contribution to establishing a motion capture facility here to enable our dynamic creative community to see through their projects in Victoria from conception to completion.

"With 24 high-definition, 4.0 megapixel cameras, housed in the transformed Phoenix Theatre, it is largest facility of its kind in Australia."

"The facility will also prove extremely valuable for motion analysis research, including biomechanics research for the health sector and engineering applications such as ergonomic modelling and robotics," she said.

Motion.Lab will be part of Deakin University's Burwood campus, bringing together a suite of commercial, education and research interests. Leading Victorian animation studio, Act3Animation, will manage the commercial operations, and researchers, as well as students of digital animation, will also be able to access this specialist technology.

"The University will now be able to place world class technology at the heart of its creative arts, information technology and animation programs," said Deakin University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor John Rosenberg.

"This unique facility will really help prepare our graduates for the creative arts and games development industries and help make sure our courses continue to be relevant and responsive to industry needs," he said.

Mike Fegan, CEO of IR Gurus, a leading Victorian game development company, also welcomed the new centre.

"Locating the motion capture facility in Victoria helps keep our local games developers and animators commercially competitive by bringing down the costs necessary to achieve that truly world-class production quality," he said.

Of Australia's 13 leading digital animation companies, nine reside in Victoria, working in television, advertising, mobile, video and gaming graphics.

The motion capture facility is funded as part of the Victorian Government’s ICT Industry Plan 2050-2010.