Image Metrics, a leading provider of facial animation technology for the entertainment industry, has acquired FacePro, a leading lip sync services and technology company.
FacePro's offering provides highly automated lip synchronization that can be shaped by art directors for unique, accurate results. By leveraging audio analysis technology, it recognizes phonemes, or sounds, to generate weighted-target curves that drive a facial rig. FacePro clients include major video game publishers such as Activision, Ubisoft, THQ, Square Enix and leading visual effects studios such as Industrial Light & Magic.
Rod Stafford, FacePro founder and president, has joined Image Metrics as Audio Animation Lead. In this role, he will support the integration of audio-based facial animation tools into Image Metrics' FACEWARE software.
"FacePro is an ideal complement to Image Metrics' FACEWARE facial animation technology," said Stafford. "I am excited to blend FacePro's cost effective solution into the high-quality Image Metrics facial animation solution. Together, we can provide our customers with the comprehensive solution they have been asking for.
Image Metrics will integrate the FacePro technology into its industry-leading FACEWARE facial animation software solution to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of animation services. The combined technology solution enables facial animation as low as $12 per second.
"Characters continue to be more important to game development, but their costs continue to grow. At the same time, game developers are under significant pressure to work within limited budgets." said Image Metrics CEO Michael Starkenburg.
"Our customers have asked for a single-source solution for 100% of the facial animation in their games. Blending Image Metrics and FacePro together provides a cost-effective solution at every level of quality. Now, we can provide the optimal / cost requirements of every shot in a game."
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