Robert,
This is probably a bit more than I can handle in a single email, but I can
maybe give you a starting point. It would be hard to give you too many
specifics without knowing what kind of movements you are talking about.
There is quite a bit of good video footage of sperm whales available on CD
and I imagine on the web as well (you should check some of the video
resources and links on WhaleNet). Roger Payne of the Whale and Dolphin
Conservation Institute produced an Imax documentary titled "Whales" that I
believe is available as a DVD is one that comes to mind that I believe has
underwater footage of sperm whales.
Range of motion of a whale would not be changed if it was in or out of the
water, although I expect it would depend on how the whale was supported
when out of the water.
Another source you might want to try would be to contact another company
that has already done some whale animation. In most cases the motion is
close enough that one could use the same basic wireframe model. For that,
you might want to try to contact(http://www.imm-studios.com/)
Immersion Studios who have produced some whale animations for their "Storm
over Stellwagon" film. The whales in this film are humpbacks, but it might
be a starting point.
Hope this is of some help.
ge
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Grbevski [SMTP:robert@emeraldcitydesign.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 12:51 AM
To: gearly1@earthlink.net; pita@whale.wheelock.edu
Subject: Whale movment
Hi, my name is Robert Grbevski from Sydney Australia and I am working
as a 3D Animator for a commercial requiring a computer generated whale.
I was after information about the physical structure of Sperm whales
(skeleton) and most importantly the way that they move in and out of
the water. I also require the physical limitations of the whale e.g.
how much can they swing their tail and can they swing it while out of
the water. It would be greatly appreciated if you could provide me with
this information or direct me to a website that can.
Thank you for your time
Robert Grbevski
3d Animator
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