The Ultimate Sci-Fi Animation: Discover My Three Body Through the Lens of Motion Capture
Producers: Three-Body Universe, Bilibili
Applications: Motion Capture, Animation MoCap, Character Capture, Episodic Animation, Character Modeling
As one of the hottest adaptations of The Three-Body Problem on Bilibili, the fourth season of My Three Body is nearing its conclusion. For countless fans of the Three-Body universe, it’s a bittersweet moment. You may still be captivated by its compelling stories or mesmerized by the unique charm of its characters. But what you might not know is that My Three Body was not crafted through traditional animation methods. Instead, it leveraged advanced technologies like motion capture (MoCap) to bring the story to life. Today, let’s explore the making of My Three Body from a motion capture perspective.
The Plot of Season 4
Co-produced by Three-Body Universe and Bilibili, with Haishan Studio as the production company, the fourth season of My Three Body delves into a critical chapter of the story.
The season follows aerospace scientist Cheng Xin, who leads the “Staircase Program” to probe the incoming alien fleet from the Trisolarans. The program sends the brain of Yun Tianming—donated due to his terminal illness—into space. When Cheng Xin discovers that Yun Tianming secretly loved her and gifted her a star, she is filled with regret and decides to enter hibernation. Two hundred years later, Cheng Xin awakens, presents the star to the United Nations, and is chosen as the “Swordholder” to deter the Trisolarans. However, her kindness inadvertently triggers a full-scale invasion, leaving human civilization on the brink of collapse.
Technological Innovations in Season 4
Unlike the previous three seasons, the fourth season marks a technological breakthrough. Attentive viewers may notice that the “blocky characters” are more humanlike than ever, with improved hairstyles, proportions, and body language, creating a more immersive viewing experience.
This enhancement is not only a result of character design optimization but also the use of motion capture technology, which has become a staple in film, animation, and game production. By capturing real-life performances, the “blocky characters” exhibit more realistic behaviors and expressive body language.
Motion Capture in My Three Body
During production, the creators leveraged CHINGMU’s motion capture technology to achieve lifelike interactions and expressions. By capturing real actors’ performances, including multi-character interactions and emotional expressions, and synchronizing the data to animated models, the motion capture system provided real-time, accurate character animation.
This approach not only enhanced production efficiency but also allowed for greater individuality and authenticity in character portrayal. Through motion capture, the sci-fi narrative feels closer to real life, bridging the gap between imagination and reality.
National Recognition for Excellence
My Three Body has won widespread acclaim from audiences and even received coverage from CCTV3’s Cultural Express. The program showcased the production team’s creative process, including motion capture performances at CHINGMU’s state-of-the-art MoCap studio.
The feature on Cultural Express is a testament to the show’s cultural significance and societal impact. It highlights the innovative production techniques behind My Three Body and the broader influence of sci-fi storytelling in China.
CCTV3’s Cultural Express
A Journey of Innovation and Growth
Adapted from Cixin Liu’s acclaimed sci-fi novel series The Three-Body Problem, My Three Body began as a fan-made project, aiming to bring the story to life through animated episodes in MC style. To date, the series has amassed 3 billion views on Bilibili, with over 3 million followers, and maintains an impressive 9+ rating on both Douban and Bilibili.
From early game screen recordings to advanced modeling and now motion capture, the production team behind My Three Body has continuously pushed boundaries and embraced innovation.
We look forward to seeing My Three Body evolve further, offering even more captivating stories from the Three-Body universe.