A Real-Time Animation Toolkit with Blending, Root Motion Control, Interruption, Events, and Layering
Abstract
This thesis presents a real-time animation toolkit designed for interactive 3D applications, with a focus on games. The toolkit integrates advanced features including animation blending, root motion control, interruption handling, event systems, and layering to achieve fluid and responsive character movement. Built around a quaternion-based math library, the system ensures smooth transitions between animations, eliminates joint snapping, and avoids gimbal lock. Root motion extraction and application enable physics-accurate movement driven by animations. The artifact—a third-person action game—demonstrates the toolkit's efficacy, showcasing seamless animation transitions, efficient GPU-based vertex updates, and good performance (0.56–1.25ms per frame). Results confirm the system's ability to synchronize visual and physical motion, support complex interactions (e.g., combat), and maintain realism through layered animations (e.g., item use during locomotion). The toolkit's modular design, leveraging XML for data-driven collision and animation sequencing, ensures scalability and adaptability for diverse projects.
Degree Date
Spring 5-17-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.I.T.
Department
Programming
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Gong, Lechen, "A Real-Time Animation Toolkit with Blending, Root Motion Control, Interruption, Events, and Layering" (2025). Programming Theses and Dissertations. 11.
https://scholar.smu.edu/guildhall_programming_etds/11
