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A monitor and converter box used by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) in the development of the pioneering Go Motion animation technique during the production of Matthew Robbins' fantasy film Dragonslayer.

Go Motion represented a major advancement over traditional stop-motion and other computer-animated effects of the era. Conceived by an ILM team led by Stuart Ziff and Dennis Muren, the technique enabled the camera to record each frame while a computer simultaneously moved the model, producing a subtle blur that created a remarkably fluid and natural sense of motion - a process ILM termed "motion blur." Ziff and Muren received an Academy Award for the development of the Go Motion system.

This monitor and digital-to-analogue converter box were used alongside engineer and programmer Gary Leo's Apple II computer to animate the dragon on-screen and thus complete the invention of the technique. The controller board, custom-designed to allow the Apple II to control the camera, accompanies the lot.

The digital-to analog converter box designed by Gary Leo, was the step between the Apple 2 and the motor controllers connected to the rods that moved the dragon. The controller board, custom-designed to allow the Apple II to control the camera, accompanies the lot. The electronic boards inside the converter box have the initials "ILM" inscribed on them. A typed explanation from 1983 of the process, as well as newspaper cuttings about the subject, are also included. Dimensions (monitor): 30 cm x 40.25 cm x 27.25 cm (11.75" x 15.75" x 10.75")

Contains electronics; see electronics notice in the Terms and Conditions.

Estimate: £2,000 - 4,000 M

View all lots from DRAGONSLAYER (1981)