Vuelta: creating animated characters and props using real-world objects

When authoring in visual storytelling environments, children are often limited to use characters and props available in libraries or have to create their own using software. We present a novel alternative in the early design and implementation of Vuelta, a tool for creating animated characters and props using real-world objects. Vuelta authors can create animations for real-world characters and props by capturing animation frames using a high-definition camera. Each frame is captured from many directions enabling the characters and props to be positioned in any direction. We use an image difference algorithm to extract the characters and props from the frames. Our setup is designed to support creativity by enabling authors to use objects of their choice that they may create with their own hands and by not putting limits on the types of animations that may be created. Vuelta is also designed to support collaboration by enabling more than one author to participate in the process. The next steps in our development of Vuelta include working with children to design a tool to edit the animations, as well as integrating Vuelta with a storytelling environment we are developing.