The Grinning Man was a research-driven virtual reality project developed with the University of Bath, exploring how theatrical performance could be translated into an interactive at-home VR experience. I was brought onto the project by Aardman Animations as Unreal Lead and Technical Artist. I worked closely with other teams to integrate 3D assets and motion capture data into Unreal, building the core application and overall experience structure.

A major focus of my role was developing an attention and interaction system that allowed a pre-recorded motion capture performance to respond to the viewer’s presence, helping maintain a sense of connection between performer and audience. Because we were repurposing pre-existing motion capture within a new spatial layout, I also developed a dynamic volumetric fog system to mask transitions and stitching points in the performance space. This solution evolved into an active visual element within the scene rather than just a technical fix.

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