// About Image Metrics
Image Metrics provides superior facial animation solutions to the entertainment industry. Its mission is to create believable facial performances that emotionally connect audiences to digital characters in films, games and other forms of entertainment.
Founded in the United Kingdom in 2000 by Ph.D's in computer vision, Image Metrics focused on facial animation after determining that it offered the most challenging test for its technology.Soon after, Image Metrics applied that technology to the games market on Sony Computer Entertainment (London) video game,
The Getaway in 2002. Rockstar Games also saw the benefits of Image Metrics facial animation early on, with the company providing facial animation for Rockstar Games titles as early as Manhunt in 2003.
Following the initial game industry success of Image Metrics in the U.K., the Company saw great potential in the larger entertainment industry based in Hollywood, CA. It was especially interested in introducing its technology to the film industry, which was pushing (and continues to push) the boundaries of photorealism in CG characters. In 2006, Image Metrics’ Santa Monica office was opened. The company quickly expanded its client base, working with film and VFX studios, commercial producers and additional game developers.Maintaining its early commitment to research and development, Image Metrics’ facial animation solutions continue to evolve with the needs of its clients. In 2008, it helped its clients innovate gaming graphics with facial animation for Rockstar Games’ blockbuster Grand Theft Auto IV and the energetic cinematic opener for Rock Band 2 by Harmonix. At SIGGRAPH 2008, Image Metrics’ photo-real “Emily” demo created in partnership with the University of California’s ICT Graphics Lab was hailed worldwide as a new achievement in believable computer graphics.Today, Image Metrics is a leading provider of performance-driven facial animation solutions. It has about 50 employees at its U.K. and U.S. operations. The company continues to produce highly compelling and highly realistic facial animation that connects global audiences to the digital characters they are watching or playing.