Character display controlling device, display controlling method, and recording medium

A character display control apparatus comprising:

• an animation data storage means for storing animation data for image-expressing at least one of motion and expression of each of a plurality of characters which are selectively displayed on a given display unit, said animation data classified into a plurality of ranks;
• an allocating means for allocating a parameter to each of said plurality of characters, said parameter peculiar to each character and relating to a sound characteristic;
• a data input means for inputting sound source data;
• a detection means for detecting a sound characteristic of the sound source data every time the sound source data is inputted;
• a character selecting means for selecting one of said plurality of characters based on a given command;
• a data reading means for determining a rank corresponding to a degree of agreement between the parameter allocated to the selected character and the detected sound characteristic and for calling the animation data corresponding to said rank from said animation storage means;
• and
• a control means for controlling an expression manner of an image of the character displayed on said display unit based on the read animation data,
• wherein the motion or expression of the displayed character is changed according to the sound characteristic.

A character display control method implemented in an apparatus which image-displays on a given display unit a growth process of a character which grows according to a sound characteristic such as a sound type, sound magnitude, rhythm or tune, said method comprising:

• holding a growth factor data quantitatively representing a growth degree of a figure expression ability peculiar to each of characters to be displayed;
• detecting a sound characteristic of sound source data every time the sound source data is inputted into said apparatus;
• cumulatively updating, according to the detected sound characteristic, the growth factor data of the character being displayed on said display unit;
• and continuously changing an expression figure of said character based on the updated growth factor data.

A storage medium storing program codes to be read and executed by a computer having a means for displaying on a given display unit an image of a character which grows according to a sound characteristic such as a sound type, sound magnitude, rhythm or tune and an image of background environment thereof, and a means for inputting sound source data, said program codes causing said computer to execute:

• a process of holding growth factor data quantitatively representing a growth degree of a figure expression ability peculiar to the character;
• a process of cumulatively updating, upon every input of sound source data, said held growth factor data according to a sound characteristic of the sound source data;
• and
• a process of continuously changing an expression figure of the character displayed on said display unit based on the updated growth factor data.

A storage medium storing program codes to be read and executed by a computer having a means for selectively displaying a plurality of characters on a given display unit and a means for inputting sound source data, said program codes causing said computer to execute:

• a process of classifying animation data groups for image-expressing at least one of motion and expression of each of said plurality of characters into a plurality of different ranks, and holding them;
• a process of allocating a peculiar parameter relating to a sound characteristic to each character;
• a process of detecting, upon every input of sound source data, a sound characteristic of the sound source data, and calling the animation data of a rank corresponding to a degree of agreement between the detected sound characteristic and the allocated parameter;
• and
• a process of changing motion or expression of the character displayed on said display unit to a manner corresponding to the called animation data.