Markerless motion capture: Innovation or threat to proven technology?

Move AI

In October 2024, Move AI unveiled its markerless motion capture system Move Live, which enables real-time human motion capture in virtual environments without the need for marker suits. The technology is particularly in demand for virtual production, sports broadcasts and game activations, greatly simplifying the process and reducing the cost of preparation

At first glance, markerless technologies seem like a step forward due to their simplicity and speed. However, the question arises as to how well they can compete with traditional systems such as Movella and Manus, which have already established themselves as the standard in the industry. These solutions have proven to be accurate and reliable, especially on large projects where every detail of movement matters. For example, Manus systems, which specialize in hand and finger motion transfer, remain the best for complex characters where maximum accuracy is important.

Despite promises of high quality, some studios face problems integrating data with other systems. This can require additional costs to finalize the animation. There are also accuracy limitations in complex motions, where markerless technology can be inferior to traditional sensor-based systems.

However, for smaller studios with limited budgets, markerless systems like Move Live can be a real lifesaver. They can reduce prep time and create real-time animations quickly. But the question remains: can they deliver the quality needed for movie production or AAA games? It's important to remember that even with these systems, manual data refinement is still an integral part of the process.

Who will have the upper hand?

We continue to see huge benefits from traditional solutions like Movella and Manus, which continue to evolve and integrate with modern animation tools like Unreal Engine and Unity. AI and markerless technologies are finding their way into simpler and faster projects, but for large movie projects with high quality requirements, traditional solutions remain the best for now.

What do you think, is the future for markerless technologies and AI, or will time-tested systems remain the priority for large projects? Share your opinion in the comments - let's discuss it together!