Sony has released a new character motion capture device, the Sony Mocopi in Japan. The Mocopi requires users to wear six sensors and connect them to a smartphone to combine avatars and create animated short films.

Sony Mocopi Motion Capture Device

The six sensors used by the Mocopi enable the recording of movements of the user’s head, left and right wrists, waist, and left and right ankles. It then connects these movements to the skeleton of the 3D avatar via a smartphone. With such connections, the Mocopi can perform motion capture without any additional equipment. It can create fast virtual characters and transfer character movement information to external 3D animation software. The Sony Mocopi Receiver Plugins are compatible with external software such as VMC virtual motion, Unity, and MotionBuilder.

Sony Mocopi Motion Capture Device

The Mocopi application can record voices and create facial expressions for the virtual character. The Mocopi mobile applications currently are available in Sony’s Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 series as well as Apple iPhones. More models are expected to be added to the list in the future. Each of the Mocopi sensors can be used for up to 10 hours and weight 8g.

Sony Mocopi Motion Capture Device

In terms of water- and dust-proof protection the Sony Mocopi is rated IPX5/ IPX8 and IP6X. It can withstand activity even when it’s raining.

Sony Mocopi Motion Capture Device

The Sony Mocopi is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in January 2023 for 49,500 Yen (~$358). Global availability and pricing information are lacking at this time.

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