Patent Document ID: 6108011
Application ID: 08740359
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. In a computer assisted animation system for generating an animation sequence including a plurality of key shapes and inbetween shapes, each shape being a geometric model defined by a plurality of points, the inbetween shapes determined by an interpolation curve with respect to the key shapes, a method for interpolating the inbetween shapes of the animation sequence comprising: receiving a plurality of key shapes for interpolating inbetween shapes between the key shapes; receiving, for each key shape, shape parameters for independently controlling a direction, absolute magnitude, and relative magnitude of inbound and outbound tangent vectors to a single interpolation curve at the key shape; and interpolating the inbetween shapes between two key shapes as a function of the defined key shapes, the interpolation curve, and the independent shape parameters of the two key shapes wherein the interpolated inbetween shapes are to be included in the animation sequence.