Frequently Asked Questions

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3D signing characters are animated characters that communicate using sign language, or 3D avatars. The 3D character models are rigged by an animator and then either animated by keyframes or they are captured in our motion capture stage and exported into motion capture data, to depict the complexity of movement, flow, and grammatical structures of sign language.

Motion capture technology uses specialized cameras that capture the movement of a human body, face, arms, and fingers through infrared capture using 'markers'. The data from the markers captures the movements in X, Y, Z vectors;  creating a 3D image. Motion capture is a fantastic way to express in sign language because it captures the rhythms and flows of an innately natural language. It is extraordinarily difficult and time-consuming to mimic that manually through keyframes, so this technology allows for quick animation of signing characters. 

Mavo is the name of our eight years old adventurer and the star of the animated series. Mavo is deaf and uses sign language. Mavo has pink hair and a huge personality - she is unforgettable! Follow her on her adventures as she learns and navigate the world. Mavo cannot wait to be your friend and teach you visual communication.

The Baobab is a type of tree that grows in the southern regions of Africa and in Madagascar. This  ancient tree can be thousands of years old. The Baobab is unique because it looks like it's upside down (the roots looks like it sticks out). The Baobab is also the name of the first VL2 storybook app, "The Baobab" that was created by Melissa Malzkuhn & her Motion Light Lab team.

This project is led by two fantastic women Creators/Producers: Marina Martins and Melissa Malzkuhn. This is a unique and effective collaboration between Pigmental Studios and Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet University to bring Deaf culture into the edutainment world.

We are raising capital to get this made; and if you want to support this as a donor (with potential tax-deductible benefits) or investor, please get in touch with us. Email: herecomesmavo@gmail.com. 

We will be hiring talented animators, writers, storyboard artists, and more to join this team! Please stay tuned and follow our news - sign up for our email announcements! In Mavo's words: This will be an EXTRAORDINARY adventure! 

Our goal is to have an inclusive and diverse team of Deaf and hearing creatives. Please feel free to reach out and share your portfolio to get on our radar! Email: herecomesmavo@gmail.com.