Study of Production Workflows in Interactive 3D Animation with AI Applications

Abstract

The rapid advancement in technology has led to the creation of interactive media across various fields, including education, entertainment, advertising, film, gaming, and animation. However, interactive animations have not achieved the same level of popularity as interactive films and games, often due to their complex story structures, additional production steps, high costs, and the necessity for expertise in game engines to enable interactivity. This paper examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly Convai within Unreal Engine, to establish a more efficient workflow and reduce production costs in interactive 3D animation. The study compares traditional manual production methods using Unreal Engine and ChatGPT with AI-enhanced workflows that incorporate Convai. The findings indicate that AI tools significantly reduce production time and simplify the creation of interactive features. However, Convai has limitations in flexibility and precision, particularly when it comes to customizing features and animations. While AI tools are beneficial for beginners and those with limited programming experience in Unreal Engine due to their user-friendly nature, manual workflows provide greater flexibility for complex interactions and customizations. The research concludes that AI has substantial potential to improve the production of interactive 3D animation, although further advancements are necessary to enhance support for character and animation customization.