Maya Helps Power Digital Characters and Key Scenes In Star Wars Episode III

Maya Helps Power Digital Characters and Key Scenes In Star Wars Episode III
Alias announced today that its Maya software was the chief 3D animation technology used to realize key characters and scenes in the recently released Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

Throughout the film's production, Maya acted as Industrial Light & Magic's (ILM's) main animation software, allowing the company's talented animators to create the memorable performances of such fully digital characters as Yoda and the villainous commander of the droid army, General Grievous.

Moreover, such key scenes as the film's opening - a fast-paced, riveting space battle that ends with the stunning acrobatics of a Maya-driven Obi-Wan Kenobi - were also brought to life through the power of Alias' award-winning Maya software.

With over 90 minutes of computer-generated content - 2151 shots - Episode III makes use of a great deal of 3D animation talent and technology in order to tell its story.

Of those 2151 shots, none required such careful crafting as those where digital characters interact with real actors. "One of ILM's big breakthroughs with this movie," says ILM Chief Technology Officer, Cliff Plumer, "is the level to which the digital characters engage the audience.

The way they emote and interact with the live-action actors, often in epic battle scenes, is completely convincing."