Inside a nondescript-looking warehouse at the Texas A&M RELLIS campus in Bryan, Visualization graduate student Axel Galindo stomps toward a classmate, trying his hardest to portray the fearsome stride of a Minotaur \u2014 the legendary beast from Greek mythology described as part man, part bull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across the room, a computer connected to dozens of precisely placed cameras tracks and records the performers\u2019 movements, translating them into data that will be used to create a 3D animation of the heart-pounding confrontation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to make sure I was this mean, strong guy,\u201d Galindo said in late March after a busy morning of rehearsing and shooting the scene. An animator with plans to work in the film industry after graduation, Galindo said he wanted his performance to channel the intimidating size and physicality of animated characters like Shrek and The Incredible Hulk. \u201cYou want to be expressive enough that when you have the data, it translates (well) from real life into animation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he approaches his prey, Galindo pauses a moment, then unleashes a ferocious roar, sending the other actor into a hasty retreat as the rest of the class laughs and instructor Michael Walsh nods his approval. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A veteran of the Hollywood visual effects scene, Walsh is now an associate professor of practice at Texas A&M University, with dual appointments to the Department of Mechanical Engineering<\/a> and the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts\u2019 nationally recognized Visualization program<\/a>. He serves as director of Starlab<\/a>, a state-of-the-art motion capture and virtual production facility founded by University Distinguished Professor Dr. James Hubbard in 1999 with funding from the Governor\u2019s University Research Initiative and the Chancellor\u2019s Research Initiative. The lab is part of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and focuses on emerging technologies like virtual and augmented reality, smart system design and autonomous vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At its facility on the RELLIS campus, the Starlab team operates a professional-grade motion capture stage that Walsh\u2019s Motion Capture Animation (VISA 619<\/a> \/ VIST 419<\/a>) students have been using to create their final projects. Using this rapidly developing technology \u2014 the same kind employed in big-budget feature films like \u201cAvatar\u201d \u2014 students in the class are able to create just about anything they can dream up, from epic battles to more lighthearted vignettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n