The motion capture technology is being used to produce movements that are so fluidly human in animation films. Courtesy of a fiber optic suit that has long strips of tubes that is snaked around the body and fastened at several key points, computer software tracks the fiber optics and every movement is digitized in real time and brought to life with 3D animation. The suit can also be used to improve athlete’s games and in physical therapy for both humans and animals.

The technology actually boils down to the simple principle of recording how light bends. While animation in older films necessitated the use of dozens of cameras and filming from all angles, cameras can now be replaced with a suit to move animation into the future.