If you're a MAYA user you can find the software below extremely usefull.
Sega | Animanium is a revolutionary standalone application designed to help you in creating amazing character animation with an intuitive interface and powerful IK system. This IK system can be used as a companion product to the major animation/3D tools in the market place. Currently, it can manipulate bone data from 3DS Max, Maya, XSI, Lightwave and most recently, Character Studio. The powerful IK system allows virtual motion capture, which eliminates expensive physical motion capture process. This means significant reduction of out-of-pocket and labor cost. In addition, this self-contained IK system cuts most of the rigging and bone creation required in the traditional process. Depends on the project, Animanium will more than pay for itself in cost and production time. Think of Animanium as virtual motion capture system for animators...
Designed by some of Sega's premiere developers, Animanium represents a quantum leap in character animation, for two-legged, four-legged or multipedal characters. It was even recognized and awarded the prestigious Technological Innovation Award at 3D Festival in Coppenhagen in 2003.
Using an advanced IK system and providing for features that represent marionette rod controls, animators now have the ability to create the animations they've always wanted through a traditional and easy-to-understand 2D pose-to-pose workflow.
http://www.animanium.com/Animanium is used in Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg and Virtual-ON
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