Convergence of 3d animation and game engine production: Cost and benefits

The production of computer animation is a complex process with many interdependent stages that must be completed before reaching the final product output to video. This study tests the integration of a traditional 3D animation pipeline and a video game pipeline for the effect on production cost verses potential benefits. Domains that may benefit from this study are small animation studios, academia, and research. Educational animations often must be produced with a limited budget and tight time constraints. The specific objective of the study was to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of integrating video game and typical 3D animation production pipelines in the context of science education. The results of the study show that integrating the two pipelines reduce production time and cost by eliminating, or reducing, stages of rendering in both production and post-production processes. Furthermore, the additional option of adding interaction to the produced animation improves engagement, learning, and comprehension. The pipeline processes have been discussed and tracked during the production of medical animation. A cost-benefit analysis was performed to evaluate the production costs and potential benefits for the independent production pipelines. Producing assets that work within both pipelines can affect visual quality. The evaluation of these pipelines provides perspective on visual quality and its impact on the viewer