Importing Animations sequences

Engines, Libraries and Tools Java 3D
#1

Is it possible to import animations created in 3d design packages into Java3d?

So if I create my character in 3ds and create a generic walking animation for them. Can I then load the animation into my java3d scene so I can switch it on when the character is moving and switch it off when the character stops?

Is this a good way to work this type of thing, or am I better doing the animation in Java using behaviours and so on? If I am, do I need to create the object in pieces - separate body, legs, arms etc- so they can move independantly? That sounds like it would be rather hard to get any degree of polish with.

Any tips, thoughts or experiences will be appreciated.

#2

I’ve seen animated objects together with FullSails OpenFlight loader. I’m not a aware of a loader that allows this with 3DS.

But would be cool to have. Anybody here owns a Multigen tool?

#3

I’ve been using Morphs and behaviors to do animations, but it’s mostly a placeholder until someone writes an animation loader that uses inverse kinematics and everything. :-/

I take the key frames in 3DS and save them as separate static models. Then I load them in and create a Morph between the geometries. The behavior handles setting the morph weights.

The results are better looking than I expected, but it uses more memory than I would have liked. The advantage is I don’t have to break apart my models into separate limbs and do each limb separately, so it’s fast for adding simple animations.

Also, what I am working on does not use humanoid avatars or complex animations. YRMV.

–Brad

#4

It doesn’t sound like people have really used this very much- how have other people animated characters for use in Java3D applications?

#5

Look at:

http://nwn-j3d.sourceforge.net/

#6

Well Neverwinternight loader has animations, but I am not sure how easy it is to export models into it.

Otherwise you could do a seach on the Internet for “Humanoid animation” or H-Anim and use VRML.

Regards
Nikolai

#7

So for proof of concept type work I’m using a morph sequence as suggested by bmyers (although the budget version where you use Milkshape rather than 3dsmax) and although I suspect that if I ever do embark on any serious 3d gaming stuff I will need to master skeletal animations, it is working lovely for the basic stuff.