How broadcasters can use local technology to build an international animation pipeline

26/01/2022

TVBEurope talks to the team behind a proof of concept looking at a standardised data pipeline allowing content makers to create 3D animated content quickly and collaboratively

By Jenny Priestley

Published: January 26, 2022 Updated: January 27, 2022

TVBEurope talks to the team behind a proof of concept looking at a standardised data pipeline allowing content makers to create 3D animated content quickly and collaboratively

target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>

During its upcoming Production Technology Seminar, the European Broadcasting Union will be revealing more details of its proof of concept around using remote production for real-time animation.

As part of the IBC Accelerators programme, the proof of concept team developed a solution that explores a standardised pipeline that enables users to employ everyday technology such as smartphones and web cams as well as real-time render engines to create 3D animated content quickly and collaboratively.

The project has been led by the EBU's senior project manager Paola Sunna alongside RT motion graphics designer Ultan Courtney. Early last year they came up with the idea of building and designing a low-cost pipeline for computer generated characters, leveraging game engines, AI tools and off the shelf equipment.

We got in touch with other broadcasters, including RAI, YLE, and VRT and told them about the project and what we wanted to try and test, explains Sunna. They came on board and then we submitted a proposal to the IBC Accelerator programme, it was accepted and so we started working with other champions and participants.

Just before the team submitted their PoC, Nvidia launched Omniverse, a scalable, multi-GPU, real time reference development platform for 3D content creation. So we agreed with the other broadcasters to develop two pipelines, continues Sunna, one based on the beta version of Omniverse, and the other based on Unreal Engine. The team at RAI focused mostly on the Omniverse platform, which includes a solution called Machinima that is for cinematics, so animation, manipulation of the CG characters using high-fidelity renders. They also used Audio2Face, which allows you to generate facial animation from just an audio source. You record the audio clip and it's used to animate the face of the CG characters.

data-src=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RADICAL_MOCAP_WEBCAM_IPHONE_v1-726x408.jpg alt= width=445 height=250 data-srcset=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RADICAL_MOCAP_WEBCAM_IPHONE_v1-726x408.jpg 726w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RADICAL_MOCAP_WEBCAM_IPHONE_v1-353x199.jpg 353w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RADICAL_MOCAP_WEBCAM_IPHONE_v1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RADICAL_MOCAP_WEBCAM_IPHONE_v1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RADICAL_MOCAP_WEBCAM_IPHONE_v1-241x136.jpg 241w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RADICAL_MOCAP_WEBCAM_IPHONE_v1.jpg 1920w data-sizes=(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px />The team wanted to decentralise the production pipeline by relying on what audiences had already in their homes or have access to. A lot of our project, believe it or not, involves saying no to potentially better and more expensive technology, states Courtney. By sort of building on the model of almost having a connected series of home offices, we were able to connect all of the artists who were working internationally on the project. Often you're expected to have a kind of generalist skill set when you work with a broadcaster and some of this required some specialist knowledge. *But at the same time, we also needed almost to have access to a few specialists and when we came together we realised we had everything we needed to form a very well educated team.

The focus on collaboration and remote workflow meant the team was spread right across Europe, with 3D modellers in Belgium, an FX artist and vocal performer in Finland, innovators in Italy, and a sound designer in Ireland. One of the team at the EBU set up a live working mechanism for cloud based workflow through a system called Perforce, adds Courtney, RT were directing and doing performances as well and then RAI were testing tools and refining and cleaning motion capture data.

Even though we all had a generalist skill set, each one was able to kind of push it slightly enough towards a specialisation without it turning into a full Hollywood pipeline. It was essentially trying to find a way to create a usable pipeline within the skill sets of broadcasters and also making it as accessible as possible to talent who would be digitally captured and then perform using their voices.

data-src=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AUDIO2FACE__RECORDING_TALENT_v1-726x408.jpg alt= width=461 height=259 data-srcset=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AUDIO2FACE__RECORDING_TALENT_v1-726x408.jpg 726w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AUDIO2FACE__RECORDING_TALENT_v1-353x199.jpg 353w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AUDIO2FACE__RECORDING_TALENT_v1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AUDIO2FACE__RECORDING_TALENT_v1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AUDIO2FACE__RECORDING_TALENT_v1-241x136.jpg 241w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AUDIO2FACE__RECORDING_TALENT_v1.jpg 1920w data-sizes=(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px />Once recorded, the voices were entered into a solution called Audio2Face which was employed in the Omniverse pipeline. We were able to take in people's voice data, it would animate the face and then we were also able to use a participating company called Resepeec

LINK:	https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/using-local-technology-to-bu...
	See more stories from tvb

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

Net Insight Names Larissa GrnerMeeus CPO

Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4. Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...

18/03/2026

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...

18/03/2026

SVG's SportsTech@NABShow Blog Goes Live as Countdown to Vegas Heats Up

The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...

18/03/2026

The Premiere of Dead Lover Showcases Grave Robbing and Sex With a Giant Finger

(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...

18/03/2026

Music Row Piano from Wiltone Productions

Yamaha C7 captured in Nashville Wiltone Productions have announced the release of Music Row Piano, a deeply sampled Yamaha C7 piano library that's been ...

18/03/2026

Techivation introduce T-Warmer Mk2

Bass-enhancement plug-in upgraded Along with a steady stream of new releases, Techivation have recently been revisiting some of the older plug-ins in their ...

18/03/2026

Tonal Balance Control 3 from iZotope

Mix-reference plug-in overhauled iZotope's powerful mix-referencing plug-in has just reached its third major version, and now boasts a new capture proce...

18/03/2026

Toontrack Transistor Organ EKX

Latest EZKeys 2 expansion arrives Toontrack's staggering collection of EZKeys 2 expansions has grown once again, and the latest instalment delivers a on...

18/03/2026

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture 18 March, 2026 Media releases New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...

18/03/2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz at NAB 2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz...

18/03/2026

LCTWS 2026

London Calling - When The Industry Convened to Help Streaming Find its MoJo In this blog, Laura Rognoni reflects on key discussions from the Connected TV World...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026