Shadowmation is a patented animation process created by Mitchell Kriegman

Mitchell Kriegman

Mitchell Kriegman is an American writer and producer dedicated to developing innovative content for film and television. His production company, Big Big Productions, developed the patented technique called Shadowmation which utilizes real time virtual sets and Bunraku style team puppetry...

. It uses realtime virtual sets and bunraku

Bunraku

, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...

 style team puppetry (some puppet

Puppet

A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....

s are controlled by up to three puppeteers), thus combining live action animatronic characters with computer generated animation in real time

Real-time computing

In computer science, real-time computing , or reactive computing, is the study of hardware and software systems that are subject to a "real-time constraint"— e.g. operational deadlines from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within strict time constraints...

, high definition virtual environments powered by video game engines. The resulting effect combines all the advantages of animatronics

Animatronics

Animatronics is the use of mechatronics to create machines which seem animate rather than robotic. Animatronic creations include animals , plants and even mythical creatures...

, the expressiveness of live performance, and the limitless freedom of computer animation. The end result is a distinctive and compelling immersive visual experience.

Wainscott Studios, NY is the home base for the process.

Examples in Media

Shadowmation is a relatively new technique, but has so far been used in several prominent kids TV shows, including Disney's The Book of Pooh

The Book of Pooh

The Book of Pooh is an American television series that aired on the Disney Channel. It is the third television series to feature the characters from the Disney franchise based on A. A...

, PBS' It's a Big, Big World, Bear in the Big Blue House

Bear in the Big Blue House

Bear in the Big Blue House is a television program for young children produced for the Playhouse Disney channel by Mitchell Kriegman and The Jim Henson Company. It first aired in 1997, and re-runs of the show continue to air on Playhouse Disney . It is produced by The Jim Henson Company and Shadow...

 and CBC and Discovery Kids' Wilbur. http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=search&sval=moo&article_no=2740 The "Revolting Slob" segments on Crashbox

Crashbox

Crashbox is an educational children's television game show that airs on the HBO Family digital cable television channel in the United States. It aims to educate grade-school children in history, math, vocabulary, and other various subjects....

also use this technique.

External links

• A Case Study in Pitching Moo: Wilbur - Article about Wilbur, a preschool series produced using Shadowmation.
• Method and apparatus for enhanced puppetry or similar types of performances utilizing a virtual set - U.S. Patent for Shadowmation on Google Patents.
• wainscott studios ny website includes examples of Shadowmation