Monster Mash

What is Monster Mash?

Monster Mash is a cutting-edge sketch-based modeling and animation tool designed to simplify the process of creating and animating 3D characters. This innovative tool enables users to sketch a character quickly, transform it into a 3D model, and animate it seamlessly, all within the sketching plane without the need for complex 3D manipulation. Monster Mash offers three primary creation modes: Draw, Inflate, and Animate. In Draw mode, users can sketch character parts using strokes to outline individual regions in a specific order of depth. This tool, presented at the SIGGRAPH Asia 2020 conference, is available for free for evaluation and research purposes, with detailed information and a user forum provided for support and feedback .

Who created Monster Mash?

"Monster Mash" was created by a team led by Daniel Sykora, the founder of the research group "GeometryFactory" at the Czech Technical University in Prague. The project was developed in collaboration with Google Research. The tool allows users to sketch characters, inflate them into 3D models, and animate them seamlessly. The team's work was presented at the SIGGRAPH Asia 2020 conference and published in ACM Transactions on Graphics.

What is Monster Mash used for?

• Monster Mash is used for tasks such as opening a project, importing template images, importing background images, and creating layers from masks.

Who is Monster Mash for?

• 3D modeler
• Animator
• Game Developer
• Visual Effects Artist
• Illustrator
• Character Designer
• Product Designer
• Architect
• Educator
• Virtual reality developer

How to use Monster Mash?

To use Monster Mash, follow these steps:

1. Getting Started:

   • Access Monster Mash in a recent browser that supports WebAssembly & WebGL 1.0.
   • The tool is optimized for tablets with a larger screen.
   • Use a mouse, touch, or stylus for control.

2. Creation Modes:

   • Monster Mash offers three creation modes: Draw, Inflate, and Animate.

3. Draw Mode:

   • Sketch a character part by part using strokes to delineate boundaries of regions.
   • Create regions by drawing single strokes and interact with regions using clicks or taps.
   • Select, duplicate, and delete regions easily within the menu options.

4. Inflate Mode:

   • Provides a quick 3D model preview.
   • Rotate or pan the model using various controls, depending on the device used.

5. Animation Mode:

   • Allows you to animate the model by placing and moving control pins on it.
   • Create control pins, move them around, select, and delete them as needed.

6. Final Steps:

   • Experiment with drawing, inflating, and animating to create your desired characters using Monster Mash.

Remember to refer to the detailed instructions provided within the tool for a more comprehensive understanding of each mode and feature. Enjoy creating and animating characters with Monster Mash!