motion capture

noun

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of motion capture

: a technology for digitally recording specific movements of a person (such as an actor) and translating them into computer-animated images

Recent Examples of motion capture from the Web

Then the virtual-characters’ actors would record their performance in a motion capture lab, supplying data to 3D animators, who would refine the performance and render it to be incorporated in the scene.

— adam bargteil, Smithsonian, "How ‘Jurassic Park’ Made History 25 Years Ago, Propelling Computer-Generated Animation Forward," 9 June 2018
Cameron has already promised that Avatar 2 will introduce a brand-new technology that allows underwater motion capture.

— scott meslow, GQ, "Can James Cameron Predict the Future of Sci-fi Movies?," 1 May 2018
Oculus VR is developing an immersive theater experience to debut next year that will feature real-world actors who perform in virtual reality using motion capture.

— nick statt, The Verge, "Oculus is developing an immersive theater VR experience with real actors," 30 Apr. 2018
The creator even enlisted his wife to help him motion capture the movements of the assistant.

— sophie weiner, Popular Mechanics, "Microsoft's Cortana Personal Assistant Transformed Into a Halo-Style Hologram," 12 May 2017
Both Notary and Vaughn-Lawlor also performed the motion capture for their characters on set.

— robert mitchell, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago stage veteran Carrie Coon is one of the 'Avengers: Infinity War' villains," 16 Apr. 2018
That’s where George lives and hangs out with Davis Okoye (Johnson), a loving primatologist who carries on conversations with the ape (performed in motion capture by Jason Liles) in sign language all day.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Rampage Is a Big, Noisy Nothing," 13 Apr. 2018
To create some of the features of the AM4MN, adidas designers used scans of athletes' feet and ARAMIS motion capture technology used by NASA, to learn more about how an athlete's foot moves during a game.

— demetrio teniente, Houston Chronicle, "Adidas unveils 'AM4MN' Super Bowl LII cleats," 1 Feb. 2018
Wilson was recorded reciting the Scots language poem for use in the animation, and experts in motion capture technology with the Glasgow firm DI4D transferred his facial movements onto a digital rendering of the original model.

— david freeman /, NBC News, "Robert Burns lives again in this ultra-realistic animation of the dead poet," 25 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'motion capture.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.