Alexandre Donciu-Julin | Technical Animator | Mocap Director

The Matrix Awakens
Epic Games ● Unreal Engine 5

Status: Released
Project: Mocap session for a video-game intro and a demo of UE5
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap Director, Animation TD
Software: OptiTrack, Maya, MotionBuilder
Enter the Matrix

Time to wake up...

The Matrix Resurrections
Warner Bros. Pictures

Status: Released
Project: Mocap shoot for the 2021 sequel's vfx
Location: Babelsberg Studios
Role: Mocap director, Animation TD
Software: OptiTrack, Maya, Motionbuilder
imdb page

Am I crazy? ...we don't use that word in here.

MOSIM
ITEA3

Status: Completed
Project: International Open-Source 3-year research project
Location: Germany, Sweden, Finland, Austria
Role: Software Engineer, Animation TD
Software: Xsens, MotionBuilder, Unity
Project website

MOSIM is an open-source project gathering industries, software developpers and universities of 4 countries. The purpose of it was to imagine and develop an open modular framework for efficient and interactive simulation and analysis of realistic human motions for professional applications. The project ran from 2018 to 2021. The resulting framework is open-source, fully documented and can be further developped for any suitable industry.

Google Discover - Athletes in 3D
Schotz ● Google Discover

Status: Released
Project: 3D scan and mocap shoot of the German decathlete Niklas Kaus for Google's AR mobile application
Location: Potsdam
Role: Mocap Director, Animation TD
Software: OptiTrack, Xsens, Maya, MotionBuilder
Discover olympic athletes in 3D on your mobile phone

Burberry Monogram SS2021
Burberry ● Frederik Heyman

Status: Online
Project: Facial and body mocap for a luxury fashion house campaign
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap Director, Animation TD
Software: Xsens, Unreal, Maya, Motionbuilder

Arca - Prada/Rakata
Arca ● Frederik Heyman

Status: Online
Project: Body mocap for a video clip
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap Director, Animation TD
Software: Unreal, Maya, Motionbuilder

Rocket Beans TV - Gadget Inspectors
Rocket Beans TV ● Vodafone

Status: Online
Project: Scan and mocap making of for a German Youtube channel
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap Director
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Motionbuilder

Nils und Colin werden eingescannt und dürfen per Motion Capturing ihre ganz eigene, hollywoodreife Kampfszene einspielen.

Dixon x Transmoderna
DJ Dixon ● Transmoderna

Status: Online
Project: Facial and body mocap session for a DJ
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap Director, Animatoin TD
Software: Xsens, Maya, Motionbuilder, Unity
Beatport

A virtual stream in cooperation with Beatport and Denon DJ.

Karla
Omer Fast ● gb agency

Status: Released
Project: Facial and body mocap for an holographic projection
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap director, Animation TD
Software: Xsens, Maya, Motionbuilder

MCM SS21 Jungle
MCM

Status: Released
Project: 3d scans for an online commercial
Location: Berlin
Role: Scan director
Software: Agisoft, Reality Capture

Kojey Radical - Good | Unknown Realities
Kojey Radical ● Sony 360 Reality Audio

Status: Released
Project: Body and facial mocap for a video clip
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap assistant, 3d animator
Software: Xsens, Maya, Motionbuilder, Unreal

Yellock Virtual Human Live
DJ Yellock ● Gak Nagamatsu

Status: Done
Project: Creating a 3D digital version of a Japanese DJ and performing a live mocap session for a concert at the WOMB Tokyo club
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo (Japan)
Role: Mocap Director
Software: Unreal Engine

In 2020, uncontrollable, irreversible and incurable virtual human is born here...

Mona Lisa
Mimic Productions

Status: On hold
Project: Mocap and face tracking of Mona Lisa's face on a live performance
Location: Netherlands
Role: Mocap director, matchmove artist
Software: Maya, Motionbuilder, PFTrack

Source and credits: Mimic Productions

The 1975 - The Birthday Party
The 1975 ● Ben Ditto, Concrete

Status: Online
Project: 3D scan, facial and body mocap for a music clip
Location: Brackley (UK)
Role: Mocap Director, Animation TD
Software: Maya, Motionbuilder, Unreal Engine

Hitchhiker
Mad About Pandas ● Versus Evil

Status: Released 2020
Project: Point-and-click adventure game
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap director (facial and body)
Software: Optitrack, Maya, Motionbuilder, Unreal
Game website

A mistery game set along lost highways

1 MINUTE - Fynn Kliemann | Album: POP
Fynn Fliemann

Status: Online
Project: 3D scan for a video-clip
Location: Berlin
Role: Scan director
Software: Agisoft

Was passiert schon in einer Minute?

Motion capture: Human holograms go viral
DW News

Status: Online
Project: TV documentary for a German news channel
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap director
Made In Germany

The digital film technology known as motion capture, mocap for short, can make the dead as well as fictional characters appear to come alive. The Berlin-based company Mimic Productions uses the technique to make such digital doubles.

Etisalat - 5G
Etisalat ● UPP

Status: Online
Project: TV spot for a 5G provider
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap director, Animation TD
Software: Maya

5G a whole new world of Togetherness

Robin Schulz - Rather Be Alone & In Your Eyes
Robert Wunsch ● Robin Schulz, Toni Garrn

Status: Online
Project: 3D scan and motion capture for a music clip
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap and scan director, Animation TD
Software: Maya, MotionBuilder, Unreal Engine

"Cause I’d rather be alone with my baby"

SEEED: "G€LD"
Kanu Film ● ARRI Berlin

Status: Online
Project: 3D scans to help create prosthetics for a music clip
Location: Berlin
Role: Scan Director
Software: Agisoft, Artec Studio
SEEED official page

Daimler Interior Sensing
Daimler

Project: Body and facial mocap for the automotive industry
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap director, Animation TD
Software: OptiTrack, Maya, Motionbuilder

Lena More Love Tour 2020
Selam-X ● Lena

Status: Released
Project: 3D scan of a German singer for an album cover
Location: Berlin
Role: Scan director
Software: Agisoft, Maya

Virtual Coach
e.MAGINE

Status: Online
Project: Mocap of a 3D avatar for an immersive online training tool
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap director, Animation TD
Software: Maya, Motionbuilder, Unity

Spides
Baby Giant Hollyberg ● NBCUniversal

Status: Released 2020
Project: 3D scans for a Sci-Fi TV series
Location: Berlin
Role: Scan director, Assistant modeller
Software: Agisoft, Maya
Imdb page

Murders, disappearances, and strange occurrences begin piling up in connection with the appearance of a new club drug called "Bliss".

K/DA - POP/STARS - League of Legends
League of Legends ● Riot Music Team

Status: Online
Project: Music video for a multiplayer online game
Location: Berlin
Role: Assistant Modeller
Software: Maya
Meet the Band

Table Games Redux
Yggdrasil Games

Status: Released
Project: Mocap and animations for an online blackjack game
Location: Berlin
Role: Mocap director, Animation TD
Software: Maya, Motionbuilder
Try your luck!

Siggraph 2018 - Real-Time Live Performance
Mimic Productions ● Siggraph Asia

Project: Real-time live presentation
Location: Tokyo
Role: Mocap director, tech assistant
Software: Unreal Engine

Mimic Productions' presentation at Siggraph Asia 2018, a live-feed realtime performance featuring our highly realistic facial animation.

Lance Butters - Yeeeaaah
Christian Alsan ● MovieBrats Studios

Status: Released
Project: Motion-capture for a music video-clip
Role: Mocap director
Lance Butters official page

Audible TV-Spots
Audible ● tempomedia

Status: Broadcasted Summer 2018
Project: Scanning actors and processing the raw 3D scans for advertising spots | TV, web
Role: Scan director
Youtube channel

"Ich bin, was ich höre. Ich höre audible"

Em
Mimic Productions ● Internal project

Project: Creation of an advanced digital double, including 3D model, facial and body rig, motion-capture and animation
Role: Scan and mocap director, 3D animator, assistant modeller (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: Maya, MotionBuilder

R'ha Nuun
Kickstarter project

Project: Mocap session for the sequel of the science-fiction short film R'ha, by visionary director Kaleb Lechowski"
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Bauhaus - Das Totale Tanz Theater
Interactive Media Foundation ● Artificial Rome

Status: Hosted in January 2019
Project: 3D VR art performance event for the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus modern-art museum
Role: Mocap director
Location: Berlin, 2 weeks of shooting
Bauhaus100 website

Tennis World Tour
Breakpoint ● Bigben Interactive

Status: Released May 2018
Project: Tennis sports game | PC, PS4, ONE, Switch
Role: Scan director, Assistant modeller
Game Website

The new standard developed by veterans of tennis simulations: play as one of 30 professional tennis players, learn all the shots, master each type of surface and experience a realistic career mode. Define your style of play and tactics to become n°1 in the world!

Gätjens großes KINO
zdf

Project: Facial and body mocap of Steven Gätjen for his TV show "Gätjens großes KINO" on zdf (18.06.2017). Explaining and recreating the process of transforming an actor in a monkey, like Weta Digital did on "War for the Planet of the Apes"
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Rising, by Marina Abramovic
Mytherapy ● Acute Art

Project: Underwater facial and body mocap session of Marina Abramovic, 3D scanning, virtual-reality experience for the Acute Art VR arts platform
Location: Ney York City, 3 days of shooting in a diving pool
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder, Unity




Phryne, by Jeff Koons
Mytherapy ● Acute Art

Project: Cleaning the mocap animations and creating a virtual-reality experience for the Acute Art VR arts platform
Role: 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: Maya, Motionbuilder, Unity

WWF / Lichtblick Teaser
WWF Deutschland ● Lichtblick ● V8

Project: Body mocap of 4 actors/dancers, as a teaser for a German energy provider
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Twenty Fates
Mental Reign

Project: Body mocap of various actions and fighting moves for a AAA game
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Sophia
Hanson Robotics

Project: Facial mocap of a robot to improve how her emotions are displayed and make her more human
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator
Software: Maya

Staramba VR
Staramba

Project: Body mocap of actors impersonating celebrities for a VR experience (Ezekiel Elliott, Randy Orton, Till Lindemann, Elvis Presley)
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Hit Parade
Mac Guff

Project: Facial and body mocap of dancers for a French hologram show
Location: Paris, 4 weeks of shooting
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: Captury Studio, Faceware, Maya, PFTrack

CokeTV Youtube
Coca-Cola ● CokeTV Deutschland

Project: Body mocap and making-of a short movie for a Youtube channel
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Nike Football Strike Series
Nike ● Onformative

Project: Body mocap of football moves and training exercices
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Captain America: Civil War
RISE Berlin ● IMDb page

Project: Body mocap of various animations for crowd simulations
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder

Tyson Fury
RTL Germany

Project: Body mocap the boxing champion Tyson Fury for sports analysis before his fight against Wladimir Klitschko (28.11.2015)
Location: Manchester, 2 days of shooting
Role: Mocap director / 3D animator (clean-up, retargeting)
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, Motionbuilder, Unity

The Metalian Stallion
Polynoid ● Woodblock

Project: Body mocap of robot moves for the commercial "The Metalian Stallion"
Role: Mocap director
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Motionbuilder

ReDesk
SportsVF ● Plazamedia

Status: On-hold project
Project: Sports reconstruction and analysis software / Augmented-reality table
Role: Lead 3D animator and motion-capture director
Software: OptiTrack Motive, Maya, MotionBuilder, Morpheme, Unity


I did

• Direct and integrate more than 500 sports actions with our own mo-cap system
• Design of animation networks using real-time engines like Morpheme or Unity
• Bipeds and quadrupeds rigging, keyframe animation, promotional videos editing
• Outsource mo-cap projects for external companies (games, ads, television, education)

I learned

• To organize a mo-cap session, install/calibrate our optical system, lead actors and crew
• To create complex animation networks to automatize advanced character behaviours
• To supervise a team of animators and complete heavy tasks under tight deadlines

Raketenflieger Timmi
Unser Sandmännchen (rbb/MDR) ● MotionWorks

Status: Completed, aired 2014/15
Project: 3D cartoon (4-7 y.o.) for the TV program "Unser Sandmännchen"
Role: 3D Animator Freelance (4 episodes)
Software: 3ds Max

Tim dreams of flying to the stars. So he made a space rocket and along with it a tiny cardboard figure named Timmi. Because Timmi shouldn’t be alone he has Teddynaut with him who is a cardboard figure himself. Now all the important ingredients for a flight into space are ready.




I did

• Keyframe animation of all characters
• 4 Episodes: 'Autoplanet', 'Urzeitplanet', 'Riesenplanet' and 'Geheimplanet'

I learned

• To create funny and appealing animations for children
• To follow strict storyboards and complete episodes under tight deadlines

The Raven
King Art ● Nordic Games

Status: Released Summer 2013
Type: Adventure Point&Click | PC, Mac, PS3, XB-360
Role: 3D Animator Freelance (3 months)
Software: 3ds Max
Game Website

'The Raven - Legacy of a Master Thief' is a thrilling crime adventure in three chapters from the creators of 'The Book of Unwritten Tales'. Full of twists and turns, it immerses you in both sides of the story, combining thrill-of-the-chase whodunit with the risk and reward of a heist story.


I did

• Keyframe animation of the main characters through various in-game sequences
• Conception and blocking of cut-scenes, camera animation

I learned

• To create realistic animations for a next-gen point-and-click
• To work with CAT rigs and use the many advantages of this tool
• To animate cameras and create interesting cut-scenes shots

Meteor Mess 3D
Vampire Games

Status: On-going project
Project: Adventure Point&Click | PC
Role: Lead 3D animator and rigger
Software: Maya 2012, Gamestudio A8
Game Website / Facebook Page

Meteor Mess 3D is a remake of the mother of all point and click adventures: Maniac Mansion (Lucasarts, 1987). The project is a fan project ... it's from fans for fans and will be available for free download once released.


I did

• Rigging and Skinning of the game characters
• A complete set of cycles and animations for each (Iddle, walk, pick-up, talk, etc.)
• Configure and export the models for the game engine

I learned

• How to rig and skin a 3D Character quickly in Maya 2012
• How to create complete sets using keyframe and non-linear animation (Trax Editor)
• How to set up a model for Gamestudio A8 through its character editor

Q.B.I.
Agopia

Status: Released in summer 2011
Project: Social game | Internet, Facebook
Role: 3D Animator
Software: 3ds Max, Photoshop, Shiva 3D Game Engine

Become an investigator, manage your team during criminal cases, share evidence and help your friends during their investigations! Build your office of investigation. We need you at www.qbi.net !


I did

• Rigging and Skinning of the avatars, archetypes and champions
• Create more than 60 move cycles and interactions with objects
• Integrate assets and animations in the game engine

I learned

• How to skin a biped character and add controls in 3ds Max
• To grant characters with a wide range of cartoon animations, following strict specifications
• The integration of grafic assets into Unity and Shiva 3D Game engines

Two Worlds II
Reality Pump ● TopWare Interactive

Status: Released October 2010
Project: RPG AAA | PC, Mac, PS3, XB-360
Role: 3D Artist Generalist
Software: Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, In-house engine
Game Website

Return to the vast world of Antaloor in Two Worlds II. Building upon the original game, Two Worlds II offers the willing adventurer a unique and thrilling RPG experience unrivalled in current RPG landscape - Gamestop




I did

• 3D Modeling, skinning of characters (NPC) or animals to diversify the cities in the game
• Design of environmental elements
• Box and book layout, localization, game testing

I learned

• The process of creating and publishing a AAA game
• The artistic constraints to respect in a next-gen game
• Powerful techniques to create characters with Maya and ZBrush
• How to create and clean-up motion-captured animations while visiting the development team studio in Krakow

Xbox Live Avatars
Microsoft

Status: On-hold
Project: Microsoft Avatars for the Xbox LIVE Marketplace
Role: 3D Artist Generalist
Software: Maya, Photoshop

On Xbox LIVE your avatar is you, so we’ve made sure you can customize it exactly how you want it. Sonar goggles? We’ve got them. Adidas shoes? Yep. Bunny outfit? Why not? You can even place your avatar into a real game as a playable character




I did

• 3D Modeling, texturing and skinning of our game characters for the Xbox LIVE Marketplace
• Animation of avatars and props

I learned

• How a character editor work
• The creation of low-poly avatars following strict specifications
• The simplification of existing models and textures

X-Blades
Gaijin Entertainment ● TopWare Interactive

Status: Released February 2010
Project: Beat'em up AAA | PC, PS3, XB-360
Role: 3D Artist Generalist
Software: Maya, Photoshop, After Effects
Game Website

X-Blades offer action-packed enjoyment in fantastic Hack-and-Slash style. Using various weapons, spells and tactics, you must fight your way through many indoor and outdoor levels, killing hordes of monsters on the way.




I did

• Rigging and skinning of the main characters
• Creation of poses and animations for the promotion of the game (web contents, figurines, wallpapers and so on)
• Concept design for a posible sequel of the game
• Box and book layout, localization, game testing

I learned

• The process of creating and publishing a AAA game
• How to skin and rig a human character in Maya
• Facial animation with bones or blend shapes
• How to create cycles (walk,run and iddle), as well as various animations

Phil
Personal project

Status: Completed in 2 weeks
Project: Create an old radio model, based on Pixar's famous Luxo Jr. introduction
Software: Maya, Photoshop, After Effects

Phil is a 1931 Philco 90 cathedral style radio. Trapped in an old and dusty museum, he decided one day to escape and discover the world. He's very curious and always has to feel/touch/open/jump on and alas break everything!


I did

• Model and texture Phil, following old radio charts and photos
• Add blend shapes and some controls to animate Phil easily
• Create a little animation based on Pixar's Luxo Jr.

I learned

• Creation of an high-poly object
• Animation using blend shapes and clusters in Maya
• Working with a reference animation and personalizing it

Couette
Internship project

Status: Completed in 3 months (on my spare time)
Subject: Imagine and create a complete 3D game-oriented character, from the first sketches to the final animations
Software: Maya, Photoshop, ZBrush, After Effects

Couette's a little girl from the present time, but a mysterious locket she received as a gift binds her to a brutal barbarian who lived thousands years ago and was wearing a similar medallion. Let's just say the barbarian doesn't appreciate trading now and then his huge axe for Couette's skipping rope !


I did

• Imagine an interesting game character and its story
• Design the model, textures and rig
• Create some basic cycles and animations
• Make an in-deep making-of video from the whole job

I learned

• The many steps of creating a game character completly from scratch in Maya
• The way of texturing using Photoshop and ZBrush for normal maps
• Rig a game character and create in-game animations for its basic moves