Method and system for directly manipulating the constrained model of a computer-generated character

A computer-enabled method for indicating ranges of possible movement of a computer-generated character in a computer animation system, the method comprising:

• obtaining a model of the computer-generated character, wherein the model includes one or more movement constraints;
• receiving a user's selection of a first portion of the model, wherein the first portion is in an initial position;
• determining the ranges of possible movement of the selected first portion based on the initial position of the first portion and the one or more movement constraints of the model,
• wherein the ranges of possible movement represent the limits of possible movement in three dimensions in which the selected first portion is freely movable from its initial position based on the one or more constraints of the model, and
• wherein the movement of the first portion is constrained in at least one dimension by the one or more movement constraints of the model;
• and
• displaying, on a display screen, a graphical indication of the ranges of possible movement of the selected first portion,
• wherein the displayed graphical indication indicates the positions that the selected first portion can be freely moved to from its initial position based on the determined ranges of possible movement.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for indicating ranges of possible movement of a computer-generated character, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by one or more computer processors, causes the one or more computer processors to:

• obtain a model of the computer-generated character, wherein the model includes one or more movement constraints;
• receive a user's selection of a first portion of the model, wherein the first portion is in an initial position;
• determine the ranges of possible movement of the selected first portion based on the initial position of the first portion and the one or more movement constraints of the model,
• wherein the ranges of possible movement represent the limits of possible movement in three dimensions in which the selected first portion is freely movable from its initial position based on the one or more constraints of the model, and
• wherein the movement of the first portion is constrained in at least one dimension by the one or more movement constraints of the model;
• and
• cause a display of a graphical indication of the ranges of possible movement of the selected first portion,
• wherein the displayed graphical indication indicates the positions that the selected first portion can be freely moved to from its initial position based on the determined ranges of possible movement.

A computer graphics system for animating a computer-generated character, the system comprising a server operatively coupled to a display screen and to a user input device, wherein the server is configured to:

• obtain a model of the computer-generated character, wherein the model includes one or more movement constraints;
• receive a user's selection of a first portion of the model, wherein the first portion is in an initial position;
• determine the ranges of possible movement of the selected first portion based on the initial position of the first portion and the one or more movement constraints of the model,
• wherein the ranges of possible movement represent the limits of possible movement in three dimensions in which the selected first portion is freely movable from its initial position based on the one or more constraints of the model, and
• wherein the movement of the first portion is constrained in at least one dimension by the one or more movement constraints of the model;
• and
• cause a display, on the display screen, of a graphical indication of the ranges of possible movement of the selected first portion,
• wherein the displayed graphical indication indicates the positions that the selected first portion can be freely moved to from its initial position based on the determined ranges of possible movement.