Living Character
In a spacious room about ten meters high, Yin Kai, clad in a dark suit, stands in front of a large green screen, surrounded by a series of strategically placed cameras in every corner of the room. Yin gradually extends his arm, moving in a graceful manner, before performing actions that evoke a sense of realism. The actions he performs are familiar to players of Black Myth: Wukong, particularly when the main character “The Destined One” wields a magical staff in the game. All details are meticulously crafted based on Yin’s performance.
As a professional martial arts actor and one of the most experienced motion capture artists in China, 28-year-old Yin has portrayed nearly 70% of the characters in the game.
The intense combat scenes that have garnered high praise for Black Myth: Wukong showcase a more realistic approach than many other strong game development projects, emphasizing the importance of motion capture work.
“Just look at how quickly the character moves when climbing up a ladder and then jumps down—it is incredibly swift and fits perfectly with the unique characteristics of the monkey king,” praised a commentator on the popular Chinese sports and gaming website Hupu.
A significant highlight of Black Myth: Wukong is its unique combat system, allowing players to engage in battles smoothly while drawing inspiration from martial arts, combining realistic combat techniques, character personalities, and an overall cohesive style.
“The game utilizes traditional Chinese martial arts, especially focusing on kung fu,” stated the gaming site GameBuzz. “Players will experience a swift response during the action sequences, showcasing Wukong’s skills.”
All the aforementioned elements contribute to the impressive quality of motion capture performed by professional actors. As a key member of the motion capture team for the game, Yin has designed the movements for many characters, from the main character “The Destined One” to various other powerful figures.
“We have worked hard to integrate traditional martial arts movements into the combat system while also considering the unique characteristics of each character, as well as the combat style’s adaptability to the game’s narrative,” Yin told the Global Times.
“The Destined One is a magical creature, so we have added elements of martial arts related to the staff into its movements, especially when the character climbs onto the staff,” he provided as an example.
Another example is the Daoist Mi, a character in the game that can wield a magical sword similar to those found in classical mythology. “His movements truly draw inspiration from various sword techniques in our traditional martial arts,” Yin explained.
New Heights
Yin shared that the process of capturing movements for this game has taken several years.
A particularly memorable moment for him was when he portrayed the characters of the Tiger Vanguard and Daoist Mi, or “the mischievous child who guides the player at the beginning.”
“There are some movements that are incredibly intricate and cannot be performed by just anyone—especially many complex movements in the air—these will be animated using motion-capture technology,” he said.
In addition to combat movements, Yin also portrays many character details, including facial expressions and subtle body movements, which bring the characters to life.
Training in martial arts since he was five years old, Yin has won numerous awards in martial arts competitions before being recognized in the field of wushu performance at Shanghai University of Sport, achieving the highest score in the country in 2015.
“My martial arts training has systematically allowed me to better apply the foundational knowledge of martial arts to the process of character modeling,” he shared.
“Instead of merely replicating traditional martial arts movements, I can creatively adjust the movements to fit the story.”
Black Myth: Wukong is becoming a hot topic among gamers worldwide. The increasing number of players and online articles discussing the game demonstrates its growing popularity, especially among global gaming enthusiasts.
Yin expressed his joy in seeing the rich cultural heritage of China, such as folklore, ancient architecture, and martial arts, increasingly recognized and appreciated by people around the world.
“Black Myth: Wukong is not just a game; it also carries significant cultural value,” he stated. “I feel very proud to be part of a game that elevates martial arts in a modern way.”
