NaturalMotion Ltd., the developers of breakthrough 3D animation technology based on Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS), today announced the immediate availability of the company’s free endorphin 2.5 Learning Edition (eLE). Based on endorphin, NaturalMotion’s award-winning character animation software, the new eLE includes all relevant product documentation and a comprehensive support network via the company’s active endorphin forum. The software has no time restrictions and is fully functional; however, it is motion file export disabled and is not to be used for commercial production. The eLE is available now through NaturalMotion’s website at www.naturalmotion.com.

“With more than 16,000 registered users downloading the endorphin Learning Edition, it is clear that today’s animators are enthusiastic to explore dynamic and forward-thinking alternatives for creating realistic 3D animation,” said Torsten Reil, CEO of NaturalMotion. “Not only does our free eLE offer animators of all levels an opportunity to expand their skill set, but they can also discover the power behind endorphin’s unique DMS technology and real-time character animation toolset.”

Used by leading production and animation companies such as Giant Killer Robots, CIS Hollywood, The Mill, Sony Computer Entertainment, Namco and Moving Picture Company, endorphin offers an entirely new approach to 3D animation, and is the only character animation software to utilize DMS, a technology based on artificial intelligence controllers that imitate the human nervous system. Unlike 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, which allows animators to synthesize human movements in real time. This approach produces directed and fully-interactive 3D characters that essentially animate themselves with real-life movements that are unique every time; thus dramatically reducing animation asset production time.

The eLE contains all of the same features found in endorphin 2.5, including: dynamic blending; motion transfer and active animation events; new adaptive behaviors; enhanced collision mode; an enhanced character edit mode for custom character set-up; improved load and save performance; and new sample motion capture data.

Pricing and Availability
The NaturalMotion eLE is available free of charge directly from the company’s website at www.naturalmotion.com, and includes relevant product documentation and a technical support network via the endorphin forum. The eLE has no time limitations; the software is motion file export disabled and is not to be used for commercial production.
The full version of endorphin 2.5 retails at USD $9,495. eLE users also have the option to rent endorphin on a monthly basis for USD $1,195.