NaturalMotion announced that the free educational edition of endorphin (eLE) is available. Based on endorphin 2.0 3D software, the eLE includes no time restrictions, contains all product documentation, and offers network support through the company's endorphin forum. However, this fully functional software is not enabled for exporting animation files and is not available for commercial production. The eLE can be obtained on the Natural Motion website: www.naturalmotion.com.
Used by animation companies such as The Mill, Sony Computer Entertainment, Namco and Moving Picture Company, endorphin is the only animation software that uses DMS, a technology based on artificial intelligence controls, which mimics the human nervous system. Different from conventional animation techniques such as keyframing or motion capture, endorphin's DMS technology uses the CPU to simulate the brain and body of 3D characters, allowing animators to synthesize human movements in real time. This approach produces fully interactive and directed characters, which essentially animate themselves with real-time movements, which are unique each time; this dramatically reduces production time.
The eLE features the same features as endorphin 2.0, including multi-level behaviors, enhanced adaptive behaviors, an intuitive GUI, and support for the Avid Alienbrain Studio asset management product, plus the Perforce software configuration management system.
The full version of endorphin 2.0 is available for $12,795. eLE users also have the option to rent the software at a monthly price of $1,595.
