The Character API is a cloud-based character animation service. It makes use of cloud computing, edge caching, and spritesheet animation, to deliver a personalized avatar experience to any device, at scale.

The API lets you use JavaScript code to download image strips from the cloud. Like short loops of film, these strips are then played back and seamlessly switched to create a continuous experience. Each strip is fully-specified by its URL, and includes parameters such as base character, hair, clothing, and viewport settings, along with one or more actions such as Look, Point, and Say. Strips with novel combinations of parameters are created as needed in the cloud, and then cached for efficient use by your application.

Intermediate caching of images is allowed, and is actually the preferred way to use the API for applications involving AI, web services, and lip-synced Text-to-Speech. We show you how to create your own caching server, so you can leverage cloud-based services from different vendors as part of your processing pipeline.

The Character API works well with modern mobile and desktop browsers, and provides a good trade-off between cloud resources, local compute power, and bandwidth.