Faced with the increased use of digital techniques to age or rejuvenate faces, Disney has chosen to create its own solution. The group indicated on November 30 that its FRAN technology was ready for use in the group’s productions.
In a report seen by 01net, Disney details how it has developed artificial intelligence to choose between aging or rejuvenating a face in real time. The goal of the rights holder of the Marvel or Star Wars licenses was to avoid the usual techniques, namely picture-by-picture editing or creating a 3D face.
Amazing rendering quality, even for Disney
Called FRAN, for “Facial Aging Network,” the technology is based on a neural network that Disney researchers have trained. In total, several hundred synthetic faces were studied over a long period.
By collecting this data, the group was able to refine their technology. Disney has managed to transpose facial aging into formula form. It is then FRAN’s artificial intelligence that applies this formula to an image. The company explains that it was surprised by the quality of the rendering, but also by the stability of the process. In this way, the facial identity of the model is respected regardless of the expressions, points of view or lighting conditions.
In 2021, Disney had recruited a youtuber specialized in deepfake, technology that allows one face to be replaced by another. He was particularly noted for taking scenes from Star Wars movies and series. Thanks to his mastery of the deepfake, he improved the rendering on the screen.
Source: BFM TV
