Procedural Animation Algorithm For Sasandu Playing Performance in 3D Animated Film 'Bako'

Abstract

Many techniques can be implemented to create a 3D animation; one of them is procedural animation. Procedural animation is a type of animation  in  which  all  movements  are  created  using  programming  languages or scripting. This technique is very effective to animate repetitive movements. Therefore, the motion  created  using  procedural algorithms  in  “Bako”  3D  animation  short  film  is  playing musical  instruments. Phyton is used as the scripting language, with Sasandu as the musical instrument. Sasandu is a unique musical instrument of the island of Rote that is starting to go extinct. Playing the Sasandu is relatively difficult to animate manually, as we have to keep synchronizing it with the melody and tempo of the music. In the attempt of creating a fluid and believable animation of the finger striking, the rig should also be adjusted to mimics the structure of the hand and the human joints. Also, the logic of the algorithm created should be able to create a proper strumming movement with the tone and timing. This is to make sure that the resulting animated movements are correct according to the song's notations.