Robert Kuczera was a Senior Animator for some animations in the Wilderness “District 9″ verantwortlich. Here he tells how it came about that he “District 9″ gearbeitet hat und wie sich das Arbeiten an dem Film gestaltete. In addition, a few Before / After shots from “District 9″….
What was your role in the production of District 9, what position you had in the team?
I have the animation of the aliens (Shrimps) care. As a senior animator, I was responsible for the animation of the main character („Professor-Shrimp“) responsible. There were shots were completely gekeyframed hand, as well as shots that were created based on motion capture data. The motion capture data were particularly important, Acting was removed because the motion capture actors from the director already. As so often when working with motion capture data had some shots are partially updated and depending completely be re-animated.
Which feature film projects you have worked before "District 9"?
Probably the most famous film in which I've ever worked was "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban". Also, I have produced in Germany in the feature film "Lissi und der wilde Kaiser", "Hui Buh das Schlossgespenst" and "Lilly the Witch" worked. The animation is likely interested in "dragon hunters to be" a term, and "Donkey Xote", oder Happily never After.
How did it happen that you have worked on "District 9"? At what company and where that was exactly?
I was just on a world tour with my girlfriend and we wanted to make a stop in Vancouver / Canada. I know of has a German artist in Vancouver who had worked at the time at Image Engine in Vancouver. I asked him if we could come to him a few days under. He mentioned the Image Engine is currently looking for a film project animators. Work on it would be about 2 ½ take months and the project would begin right after the end of my trip around the world. I sent my Animation Reel to Vancouver and lo and behold, it fit 
After a telephone interview to meet with the Animation Supervisor at Image Engine in order, I was an animator for District 9 posted.
Just back in Germany I was able to once again pack their bags and off to Vancouver.
The film was commercially very successful. The effects look very good. Did you know during the Work on "District 9" feel "This will be a Cracker“?
As is usual with such a production, I never get to see the whole story. I only got the scenes where I worked to watch. Therefore I could not at that time to assess how the film works in its entirety. But in hindsight I must say, The effects have become very good.
What are the characteristics of working with motion capture data?
Animating the initial work on the basis of motion capture data, the animation data as much as possible of clutter (Jittern, Zuckeln) to clean up and keep still as much of the performance of the motion capture performer.
The post-processing and smoothening of the animation curves of the motion capture data, without losing much of the animation refinements, took place exclusively in the Graph Editor in Maya.
A major challenge in working with motion capture data, find out how we can change the Acting on the Motion Capture Performers.
The great advantage of motion capture is the ability for the director, even during the film shoot, the interaction of actors and CG characters to determine, to evaluate and take off especially "". This work is far less abstract than without the feedback of the CG character work and wait for a version of the animator to. So far the theory. Unfortunately, it is acting in the motion capture performers often so, that the movements are very human. In the case of "District 9", this meant, human movements later changed using keyframe animation so, that they "have insect-like" features.
With regard to the motion-capture animation makes the most sense if the figures show humanlike traits are. It makes such. no sense to use motion capture for cartoon-like figures, there are plenty of bad examples.
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