Diva Celine Dion was part of a very special performance of “If I Can Dream” on an episode of American Idol.
Viewers were amazed to see the person whom she sang along side with — the King of Rock himself, Elvis Presley. Well, sort of. With the help of rotoscoping technology, the audience was able to experience near life-like interpretation.
So what is this technology? “Rotoscoping allows you to take one image from a pre-existing piece of video and it in a new environment. Completely new use of the same piece of video.” Explained Disney digital media designer, Joe Hunsung. Similar technology has even been used in a familiar movie scene of Forrest Gump where Forrest meets President Nixon.
Celine first practiced her part of the duet alone, spending hours on stage without an audience or anyone next to her. Then she practiced with an Elvis body double who lip-synced his part and matched his move-set from the 1968 performance. All three were combined through editing and the rotoscoping technique to deliver a show that blew everyone away.
