PowerAnimator

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Alias (Software)

Alias 9.0 Graphical User Interface (GUI) and 3D Workspace
Developer:	Alias Systems Corporation
Latest release:	9.0.2 / July 22, 1999
OS:	IRIX, AIX
Use:	Computer Graphics
License:	Proprietary
Website:	www.alias.com

PowerAnimator and Animator, also referred to simply as "Alias", the precursor to what is now Maya and StudioTools, was an expensive, complex, highly-integrated industrial 3D modeling, animation, and visual effects suite. It was the most widely used non-proprietary software in the visual effects and animation industries, and as such, it has had a long track record, starting with Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1990 and ending in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999. PowerAnimator ran natively on MIPS based SGI Irix and IBM AIX systems up until the late 1990s.

1 The Software
2 Alias PowerAnimator 9.0 Documentation
3 History
4 Game Development
5 Film
6 External links

[edit] The Software

The software itself featured one of the most complex user interfaces ever created, which allowed for an incredible amount of control over scene parameters, but made many tasks, such as animation, cumbersome and non-intuitive. It was also expensive as well, apart from the enormous cost of SGI systems at the time. The standalone software retailed for $7,500, but was also sold with other modules, and a PowerPack containing all modules that retailed for $30,000 US.

[edit] Alias PowerAnimator 9.0 Documentation

Animating in Alias 9.0 (436 pages) - Provides information to help you create basic animations, build skeletons, bring creatures to life using Inverse Kinematics, produce particles and special effects, and deform time using time warps.
Basic Tools in Alias 9.0 (610 pages) - General tools that you'll use throughout modeling, animating, or rendering workflows.
Data Transfer for CAD and Solid imaging in Alias 9.0 (212 pages) - Explains how to exchange 3D model data between Alias 9.0 and CAD packages.
Games Data transfer in Alias 9.0 (130 pages) - Explains how to translate Alias files to games platforms such as Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, and Sega Saturn.
Learning Alias 9.0 (674 pages) - A thorough course in learning how to use the Alias design and animation software.
NURBS Modeling in Alias 9.0 (554 pages) - Tools to create and modify NURBS curves and surfaces, as well as construction and evaluation tools.
Polygonal Modeling in Alias 9.0 (120 pages) - Tools to create and modify polygons and polysets.
Rendering in Alias 9.0 (562 pages) - Tools to define the look of your scene, create special effects, define how the scene will render, and create final rendered images and animations.
Global Index for Alias 9.0

[edit] History

In 1997, John Gibson, Rob Krieger, Milan Novacek, Glen Ozymok and Dave Springer were presented with the Scientific and Engineering Award for their contributions to the geometric modeling component of the PowerAnimator system.

"The Alias PowerAnimator system is widely regarded in the computer animation field as one of the best commercially available software packages for digital geometric modeling. Used by many motion picture visual effects houses, it has been a benchmark for comparison of modeling tools and has had a major influence on visual effects and animation."

[edit] Game Development

The software's most notable contribution to the entertainment industry was in game development, in particular included as a part of Nintendo 64's SGI-based developers kit and used for modeling, texturing, animation and realtime effects, of notable titles:

Other titles include:

Star Wars Arcade (1993)
Star Trek: The Next Generation - A Final Unity

[edit] Film

Alias PowerAnimator 9.0 scene showing dynamic attributes used in VFX.

PowerAnimator was used to create the water creature in the 1989 film Abyss, as well as the T-1000 character in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, at a cost of $460,000 per minute. It was also used heavily for the 1996 film Independence Day's many visual effects. PowerAnimator also served as the solution used to produce South Park episodes digitally before eventually production was moved to Maya.