When you talk to Daniel Contreras, it’s clear that his creative journey is one of passion, grit, and evolution. A self-taught motion graphics artist, Daniel began his career with Adobe’s creative suite and Cinema 4D, cutting his teeth with internships at the Oakland Athletics and the Golden State Warriors. Over time, he developed a niche in motion graphics, eventually becoming the Motion Graphics Manager for the A’s. But his artistic curiosity didn’t stop there.

Inspired by a high school love for Machinima—the art of telling stories through video games—Daniel found himself drawn to 3D animation and motion capture. “I learned Cinema 4D to add 3D to my skill set, which eventually led me to motion capture,” he shares. Today, he creates breathtaking cinematics using Unreal Engine, a platform he sees as the cutting edge of virtual and movie production.

A Chaotic, Improvisational Style

Daniel describes his creative style as “chaotic,” driven by narrative ideas that come to him throughout the day. “I storyboard in my head and just go,” he says. His personal projects are less about meticulous planning and more about experimenting, improvising, and entertaining himself with cinematic techniques inside a 3D space.

At work, Daniel focuses on technical animation and UI design in After Effects, but his passion lies in personal projects. These allow him to explore ideas that combine creativity and cutting-edge technology.

Breathing Life into Pokémon: A Recent Project

One of Daniel’s recent standout animations reimagines a serene Pokémon scene. What began as a vision of Lapras cruising through the ocean evolved into a vibrant, nature-inspired animation featuring multiple Pokémon. But this project wasn’t just about imagination, it was about leveraging innovative tools.

“The drive to create it came on the last day of the year,” Daniel recalls. He animated most of the Pokémon by hand but turned to Move AI’s markerless motion capture technology to bring the Pokémon Trainer, Pikachu, and Poliwrath to life. “Move AI allowed me to get quick results and act out performances for my characters,” he explains.

One particularly exciting breakthrough? Discovering that Pikachu’s rig was humanoid enough to work seamlessly with a previous surf performance Daniel had captured using Move AI. “This gives me hope that I can act out other creature animations in the future,” he adds.

Why Move AI is a Game-Changer

For Daniel, Move AI is more than a tool, it’s a catalyst for creativity. As someone who admits he’s not a natural character animator, he sees Move AI as a shortcut that empowers him to focus on storytelling and cinematic production. It also satisfies his love for physical performance and acting.

One of the biggest advantages of Move AI is its accessibility. “It’s one of the best ways to include yourself or your friends in your animations,” he says. The integration with Unreal Engine makes cleanup and modifications a breeze, enabling Daniel to stay in the driver’s seat of his projects.

The Future of Motion Capture and 3D Animation

For Daniel, the future of motion capture and 3D animation lies in the synergy between emerging technologies and timeless storytelling. “I think 3D scanning of objects and people is going to get more popular as the technology improves,” he says. “This tech, paired with motion capture, will allow people to make more personalized animations.”

But while the tools are evolving rapidly, Daniel believes the real differentiator will be creative vision. “As much as I love all of these tools and techniques, staying competitive will ultimately come down to who is the best director. Even if you’re somebody who thinks AI is going to ruin everything, you should really focus on being the best director and storyteller.”

He’s skeptical about fully AI-generated content, noting that audiences quickly disengage when they realize a piece lacks human touch. “That’s what’s great about Move AI and other tools like this—they let the viewer know that you are still in the driver’s seat,” he explains. “At the end of the day, when it comes to animation, I want the viewers to know that it is me.”

Daniel’s perspective highlights a balanced approach to innovation: embracing technological advances while maintaining a deeply personal, creative connection with the work. It’s this combination of technology and artistry that will shape the next era of motion capture and 3D animation.

What’s Next for Daniel Contreras?

Daniel’s future is as dynamic as the field he works in. While he continues to hone his skills with Unreal Engine, he’s also exploring Nvidia Omniverse to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s music videos or jaw-dropping cinematics, his creative output shows no signs of slowing down.

For those who want to follow Daniel’s journey, you can find him on Instagram and YouTube under the handle @dbcontre. As the technology evolves, so does Daniel, and his work serves as a testament to the boundless potential of creativity and innovation.

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Are You the Next Creator in Our Spotlight?

We’re always on the lookout for inspiring creators using Move AI to push the boundaries of motion capture and storytelling. If you’re interested in sharing your journey, showcasing your work, and being featured in our Creator Stories series, we’d love to hear from you!

Drop us an email or reach out through our website to get started. Let’s shine a spotlight on your creativity!

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