Systems, methods, and devices for creating a spline-based video animation sequence

A system for creating an animation sequence during gameplay, the system comprising:

• a network interface to communicate in a communication network;
• a processor coupled to the network interface;
• and
• a memory configured to store instructions executable by the processor, the instructions executable to:
• receive gameplay data that includes a plurality of frames that illustrate a figure within a game environment, the figure based on a design template that includes a skeleton having segments;
• identify a spine segment of the skeleton;
• generate a hip segment, a shoulder segment, and a head segment for the skeleton at respective positions relative to the spine segment;
• identify one or more limb segments associated with at least one of the shoulder segment or the hip segment;
• identify a facial feature segment associated with the head segment, the facial feature segment including one or more facial features;
• determine respective endpoints for one or more segments of the skeleton based on pixels associated with each segment;
• convert the one or more segments into one or more splines bound between the respective endpoints;
• determine one or more changes between frames for at least one spline, the one or more changes are associated at least one of a position, a shape, or a size;
• and
• animate movement of at least the one or more facial features of the figure within the game environment, wherein the movement is animated over a sequence of frames based on the one or more changes of each spline between the frames in the game environment during gameplay.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded thereon, the instructions, when executed by a processor, are executable to:

• receive gameplay data that includes a plurality of frames that illustrate a figure within a game environment, the figure based on a design template that includes a skeleton having segments;
• identify a spine segment of the skeleton;
• generate a hip segment, a shoulder segment, and a head segment for the skeleton at respective positions relative to the spine segment;
• identify one or more limb segments associated with at least one of the shoulder segment or the hip segment;
• identify a facial feature segment associated with the head segment, the facial feature segment includes one or more facial features;
• determine respective endpoints for one or more segments of the skeleton based on pixels associated with each segment;
• convert the one or more segments into one or more splines bound between the respective endpoints;
• determine one or more changes between frames for at least one spline, the one or more changes are associated at least one of a position, a shape, or a size;
• and
• animate movement of at least the one or more facial features of the figure within the game environment, wherein the movement is animated over a sequence of frames based on the one or more changes of each spline between the frames in the game environment during gameplay.