Computer Animation and Visual Effects
Designed for anyone with a passion for computer-generated content, our BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects degree will help you learn and hone the skills needed to launch a career in an i…
Dr Anamaria Weston
Lecturer in Computer Animation Techniques
3D modelling, texturing, rigging, animation, scripting
My profile
Biography
I’m an animation techniques lecturer, researcher and storyteller, passionate about creating characters (animation, procedural, AI, theatre), understanding different forms of behaviour and how they create empathy in audiences. I’m currently the unit leader for 3D Fundamentals, Modelling, Rigging and Innovation for VFX on the BSc Computer Animation and VFX course (Part of the Department of Computing and Maths at MMU). I previously led 3D Character Development and Character Animation Techniques, which have now morphed into the Modelling and Rigging units. I also teach on the MA Animation course, through the Exploration in CG unit.
My main R&D interests are in different forms of expressing character animation: procedural, behavioral (Laban motion analysis, emergence theory, AI etc) and physics based, movement and pattern analysis, mesh reconstruction and deformation, expressing emotions, humour and other human behaviours through abstract movement (automata) and mathematical functions.
I was a Co-Chair for the departmental Athena SWAN Self Assessment Team (Department of Computing and Maths) with Professor Darren Dancey between 2022 and 2023. Our aim was to encourage gender equality in our department by listening to our colleagues’ concerns, analysing data on recruitment, promotion and other statistics and implementing an action plan. My colleagues are now continuing the work on the Bronze application for the next academic year.
What I do
Interests and expertise
Academic: PGCE, FHEA, EngD, Athena Swan Co-Chair
Teaching: 3D Modelling, Texturing, Rigging, Animation, Scripting
3D Packages: Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Unreal Engine 5, Mudbox, Photoshop, Houdini
Research: Procedural character animation (see Research Projects for more information)
Coding & Scripting: Python, C/C++, C#
Other Interests: Improv theatre, creative writing, photography, video editing, graphic design, automata
Projects
Character Essences
This is an ongoing personal project, which has expanded into research. I aim to capture the essence of a character’s movement by observation of real people and animals and to recreate similar effects in custom virtual characters and creatures. The project revolves around understanding how complex movement is created in the body from simple motion qualities. To achieve this, Laban Motion Analysis (LMA) techniques will be employed, to study effort, shape, space and phrasing of creature and character behaviour.
Once the component parts of movement have been established, a process of adapting the movement code from observation will be done onto virtual characters or creatures. Procedural animation techniques will be used to automate the process, rendering unique motions, behaviours and emotions. Using simple maths rather than motion datasets allows the flexibility of creating multiple types of personalities from the virtual characters, beyond the limit of a dataset.
Here is a toy research post and video on creating funny duck walks in Maya with Python.
Le Quack Walker V1.0
CAVE Animation Jam
Our BSc Computer Animation and VFX course, in collaboration with BA Animation (SODA) run CAVE Animation Jams at the end of every January (since 2022). We combine the skills of technical and artistic students and help them create unique short films during a week where there is no teaching or assessments. Industry talks, workshops and feedback have been part of the programs so far, to encourage students on the professional path. Each event ends in an awards ceremony and drinks afterwards. The feedback so far has been great so we intend to continue the jam for the foreseeable future.
Here is the link to our twitter page where we’ll continue to post updates from our animation jams:
CAVE Animation Jam
Teaching
BSc Computer Animation and VFX Course
- 6G4Z0027 3D Fundamentals (2021 - ) Unit Lead since 2023
- 6G5Z0036 Modelling (2022 - ) Unit Lead
- 6G5Z0037 Rigging (2022 - ) Unit Lead
- 6G6Z0033 Innovation in VFX (2024 - ) Unit Lead
- 6G5Z2109 3D Character Development (2019 - 2022) Unit Lead
- 6G6Z2108 Character Animation Techniques (2019 - 2023) Unit Lead
SODA Game Art and Design Courses
- 6G4Z0027 3D Fundamentals (2021 - ) Unit Lead since 2023
MA Animation
- Exploration in CG (2022 - ) Unit Lead
Games Art
Creating art for games is both specialised and rewarding – a mix of technical know-how and creative thinking that can make a huge impact on the look, feel and experience of any computer game. A …
Games Design
Games design offers a route into a form of entertainment that’s not only one of the world’s most popular but is also constantly evolving, innovating and redefining its own boundaries. …
Research outputs
My main R&D interests are in different forms of expressing character animation: procedural, behavioral (Laban motion analysis, emergence theory, AI etc) and physics based, movement and pattern analysis, mesh reconstruction and deformation, expressing emotions, humour and other human behaviours through abstract movement (automata) and mathematical functions.
Research Gate Link
Papers
[1] Anamaria Ciucanu, Naval Bhandari, Xiaokun Wu,Shridhar Ravikumar, Yong-Liang Yang,Darren Cosker. (2018). E-StopMotion: Digitizing StopMotion for Enhanced Animation and Games. In MIG 18: Motion, Interaction and Games(MIG18), Nov. 8-10, 2018, Limassol. ACM,NY, 11 pages.
[2] Anamaria Ciucanu, Alina Dănilă, Paul Nechifor, Adrian Iftene. (2010). Detectarea vandalismului pe Wikipedia (Detecting Vandalism on Wikipedia).7th National Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (RoCHI 2010), pages 143-144, Bucharest.
[3] Daniela Dumbrava, Georgiana Carausu. (2010). Nicolae Milescu’s Iter in Chinam (1676). Visual, computational and encyclopaedic reconstructions. CLARIN. A European Research Structure, Newsletter, Sep 1, 2010.
Conference Commitees
2nd Annual ECR and PhD conference committee member
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Conference papers
Ciucanu, A., Bhandari, N., Wu, X., Ravikumar, S., Yang, Y.L., Cosker, D. (2018) 'E-stopmotion: Digitizing stop motion for enhanced animation and games.'
Career history
2019 -
Lecturer in Computer Animation Techniques at MMU
2020 - 2021
PGCert Learning And Teaching In HigherEducation (Distinction)
2013 - Feb 2019
Engineering Doctorate in Computer Animation, University of Bath, Bath, UK
2012
Technical Director at Framebreed, Bucharest, Romania (6 months)
2011 - 2012
MSc Computer Animation and Visual Effects, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
2008 - 2011
BSc Computer Science, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania