Image Metrics, Ubisoft Collaboration On Assassin's Creed 2 Revealed

Facial animation tech company Image Metrics has revealed its animation and rigging tools were used in many cut scenes in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed 2, the companies' first project together. "Image Metrics is honored to have used our facial animation technology to help Ubisoft enhance the sequel even further through compelling cinematics that feature emotionally engaging characters," says Image Metrics executive VP Brian Waddle. The company explains that despite the fact that the main character, Ezio, wears a hood, supporting characters in the game still needed facial animation services, and it was on these characters that Image Metrics worked closely with Ubisoft. In total, Image Metrics says it delivered a total of 28 minutes of facial animation for 23 characters in the game, in a process that took about eight weeks. "We had to deliver over two hours of cinematics, including 30 minutes of facial close-ups, within tight deadlines," says Ubisoft missions and cinematics production manager Jean-Francois Boivin. Image Metrics was able to produce the quality and quantity of facial animation Assassin’s Creed II demanded in the short timeframe we had for the project." Assassin's Creed 2 launched November 17 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.