1. ATCM 3310 Procedural Animation
Introduction to Procedural Methods in 3D Computer Animation
Dr. Midori Kitagawa

2. In class
Pay attention
Take notes
Learn
Be ready for a pop quiz

3. Lecture 1: Introduction
What is procedural animation?
Why Houdini?
History of digital computers and human computer interface (HCI)
Program vs. script
Scripts vs. graphical user interface (GUI)
So, why Houdini?

4. History of digital computers and human computer interface (HCI)
1946 The first programmable general-purpose computer ENIAC was revealed.

5. Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer ENIAC
Occupied 1,000 square foot space.
Performed 5,000 operations per second.
Iphone 5s (A7 chip) 20,500 MIPS would have cost more than $3.5 million in 1991.
iPhone 4 (A5 chip) 6000 MIPS 800Mhz
iPhone 5s (A7 chip) 20,500 MIPS 1,400 Mhz
iPhone 6 (A9 chip) 1,850 Mhz
iPhone 6 (A9 chip)

6. Plugs and switches were used to rewire and restructure the machine.
Programming ENIAC
Plugs and switches were used to rewire and restructure the machine.

7. ENIAC’s I/O
Punched cards were used for input/output.

8. ENIAC’s HCI The user punched binary code on punch cards.
1940s ENIAC Keypunch Printer and Card Sorter in operation.
ENIAC read and processed the cards and punched results on other punch cards
The user deciphered the output on the cards.

9. IBM SSEC (1948) Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator
Equipped with paper tape readers and a printer.

10. BNIAC Binary Automatic Computer (1948) Manchester Mark I (1949)
Used teleprinters (electro-mechanically controlled typewriters) for input and output.

11. MIT Whirlwind (1951)
Debuted with a cathode ray tube and magnetic tape.

12. 1970’s
Keyboards were introduced to mainframe computers.

13. Macintosh 128k (1984) 128 KB memory
400 KB single-sided 3.5” floppy disk drive
B/W monitor resolution 512 x 342
Single button mouse
Keyboard with no arrow keys, function keys or numeric keypad
Ignited desktop publishing

14. PC, Mouse and GUI
Introduction of PC, mouse and GUI (graphical user interface) accelerated the development of sophisticated graphical applications in late1980’s.
Photoshop 1988
Wavefront 1988 (Maya 1998~)
1993: Wavefront bought TDI (Thomson Digital Image)
1995: SGI bought Alias and Wavefront.
1998: Alias/Wavefront released Maya

15. Program vs. script
Difference between program and script is becoming blur.
Program’s source code (ASCII) is complied into the executable in binary format.
Script is interpreted but not compiled.
Script runs inside a program.

16. Script vs. GUI
Both script and GUI are ways that the user communicate with software (OS and applications).
User
Scripts
GUI
Applications OS
Hardware

17. Script vs. GUI for common graphics applications
script
GUI
form
text
graphics
Input
keyboard
mouse, pen, tablet
repeatability of complex procedure
high
low
automation
easier
harder
customization

18. Houdini’s node based approach bridges between scripting and GUI
script
node based approach
GUI
form
text
text, graphics
graphics
Input
keyboard
Keyboard, mouse
mouse, pen, tablet
repeatability of complex procedure
high
low
automation
easier
harder
customiza-tion
Demo in Houdini

19. Why Houdini?
Houdini’s node based approach allows the user to create a complex procedure by building a network (chain) of nodes that looks like a flowchart by connecting a node to other nodes using GUI.

20. Why Houdini?
Houdini’s node networks can be linear or non-linear. Non-linear networks allow procedures to be more complex than linear networks.

21. Why Houdini? Node network can be automated and repeatable.
Node network can be easily modified to produce variations.
Houdini is highly customizable.

22. Why Houdini?
Houdini has a higher learning curve than other comparable 3D animation tools (e.g. Maya) due to its node based approach.
Benefits outweigh drawbacks especially in the special effect industry where procedural methods prevail.