About Live2D

Introduction

Live2D, created by Japanese programmer Tetsuya Nakajo, is a presentation technique that enables 2D stereoscopic representation of illustrations.

Since its introduction in 2008, Live2D has been used in a wide range of applications. In addition to supporting apps and home consoles for mobile platform such as iOS and Android, Live2D also supports the game development engine like Unity and Cocos2d-x. It is widely applied in character modelling, especially mobile games and other two-dimensional-art games. Apart from this, animations utilizes the technology of Live2D. In animation mode of Live2D Cubism, users are able to create animations of the model and it is also available for live streaming video by importing the model and animation into a face capture software.

There are console games add elements of Live2D applications. However, more usage of Live2D can be found in mobile game. Like BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! developed by Craft Egg Inc., Ensemble Stars! developed by Happy Elements K.K and etc.

FIG 1 BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!

FIG 2 Ensemble Stars! 

 

 

Feature

 

Detailed, stereoscopic manipulation of the illustration itself.

Although frequently compared to 3D modelling, which is based on the original drawing to create the model, Live2D can use the original drawing directly as a material, so it can directly perform the charm of the graphic, but also three-dimensional representation. 

 

FIG 3

 

Directly modelling in original artwork

Live2D is unique in that it allows for a three-dimensional, interactive presentation while maintaining the spirit and texture of the original artwork and drawings.
By using the original artwork directly, we can satisfy the desire of authors and fans to value the original artwork in terms of visual effect.

FIG 4

In the following period, I will learn to use Live2D for modelling.

Reference:

- Live2D (2020). What is Live2D? | Live2D. [online]. Available at: <https://www.live2d.com/en/uncategorized/revuestarlight/> [Accessed 7 November 2020].

- Live2D (2020). Showcase | Live2D Inc. [online]. Available at: 

<https://www.live2d.jp/showcase/> [Accessed 7 November 2020].

- Fig 3. Available at: 

<https://www.live2d.com/wp/wp-content/themes/cubism_wpml/img/about-img_01.gif> [Accessed 7 November 2020].

- Fig4. Available at:

<https://www.live2d.com/wp/wp-content/themes/cubism_wpml/img/about-img_02.gif> [Accessed 7 November 2020].