The Tic Tac Toon system is made up of nine primary production modules.

Preproduction: This module handles script, storyboard animatics with synched sound and automatic lip assignment requirements.

The module’s exposure sheet, which features a specialized drag-and-drop integrated editor, is the backbone of the system, linking all phases of the production process. Storyboards can be scanned in from other computers, including home pcs.

A sound detection feature inputs voice and music tracks and automatically assigns them to one of the ‘international mouth shapes, providing automatic lip assignment and correct synch.’

Animation: This module includes design, sheet timing, layout, animation, effects animation, clean-up and in-between functions.

The system features a virtual light table animation disc and cordless pressure-sensitive pen for thin and thick lines. This latter feature replicates the traditional animation environment while making new tools available ­ character duplication, transparency, flip and roll, copy and paste, transformation, rotation, enlargement and reduction, symmetry and anamorphosis, a feature designed to handle the metier’s long list of detailed, repetitive tasks.

Scanning: Drawings are scanned, cleaned, aligned and vectorized in a single automated process requiring about 35 seconds per image, regardless of complexity.

The resolution-independent and easily alterable environment eliminates degeneration such as ‘stair steps effects’ and ‘pixel effects.’

The system works with an auto-feed scanner allowing 50 drawings to be scanned in a single multi-tasking operation, and can integrate traditional animation elements into the digital domain, as well as the integration of bitmapped and vectorial techniques.

Scene planning: The options associated with this module include composition, multiplane camera moves, camera focus, trajectory and velocity control, auto-sequence peg pans, and interactive line tests.

The system’s 2D/3D environment provides for an unlimited number of bipack and multiplane effects, in addition to automatic sequencing peg bar moves or any traditional camera move.

The virtual animation stand introduces z-axis or third-axis multiplane camera movements such as rotate, depth of field, rack focus control and sliding background f/x. A sound track-synched line test is immediately available.

Backgrounds and effects: Customized and preset brush techniques and effects include texturing, watercolor, wash color, transparency, brush sizing, dry, flat and pointed brush, flat tones, gouache, neon, glows, backlit, and no doubt more.

The brush designation can be created, saved and accessed via a system feature called a brush editor. The program also permits the mixing of live video with animation, rotoscoping and the compositing of 3D computer images.

Paint: The paint module’s multi-task capabilities include automatic gap closing, an important advance in efficiency terms, a color-style palette-maker, inking, painting, paint checking, repainting and auto-sequencing.

Color modification options include soft-edge controls, airbrush color separations for body shadows, multiple-color or self-color lines per character, and transparency control for cast shadows. Matte painting, color balance and correction, and an immediate full-color preview capability are also featured.

Painting capacity is up to 400 cels (in an eight-hour period), while the average is between 200 and 300 cels or frames, Bilodeau says.

Virtual editor: The system’s non-linear offline editor has a full sound component with a shooting capacity accessible from any production stage. The feature is used for scene integration, using classical film editing devices such as dissolve, wipe, fade, transparency, luminance, chroma and matte keying, color correction and balance, shadow and tone mattes, and other special fx.

Shooting: After a scene is accepted, all frames are composited and rendered in 32 bits/4:4:4:4 final format with batch processing in all resolution, format and aspect ratios (including video component D1 format ntsc or pal with Alpha Channel, hdtv, 35mm or 70mm film).

The system automatically produces a master copy, while final rendering is done on either the DEC AlphaStation or the sgi platform.

System management: The Tic Tac Toon program runs on the Unix base operating system and features an integrated database updated automatically as artwork is produced. This optimizes image reuse potential and real-time work sharing controls. The system’s built-in features include data routing, archiving, progress reports, telecom, e-mail, import/export files and file conversion.