Perry Kivolowitz

Perry Kivolowitz
Born1961 (age 64–65)
Known for
  • Recoverable RAM drive
  • Shape-driven warping and morphing
  • Elastic Reality software
  • SilhouetteFX
Awards
Scientific career
Fields
  • Computer science
  • Computer graphics
  • Digital imaging
Institutions
  • Advanced Systems Design Group / Elastic Reality, Inc.
  • Avid Technology
  • SilhouetteFX
  • Carthage College
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison

Perry Kivolowitz (born 1961) is an American computer scientist and special effect designer.

Kivolowitz was born in New York City.[1] He is a professor of Computer Science at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He has also taught at UW-Madison.[2]

In 1992, he won an Emmy certificate for his work on Babylon 5.[3]

In 1997, he received an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Achievement for the invention of shape-driven warping and morphing as exemplified in the Avid Elastic Reality.[4] This software was used in Forrest Gump (1994), Titanic (1997) and "every film nominated for best special effects since 1993," Kivolotitz said in 2000.[5]

He is also the creator of rotoscoping software SilhouetteFX that has been used in editing feature films including Christopher Robin, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Avengers: Infinity War and received a Technical Achievement Certificate from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018.[6][7]

In 2019, SilhouetteFX won an Engineering Emmy Award.[8]

References

  1. ^ Richgels, Jeff (1997-06-20). "The movie-morphing man". The Capital Times. p. 23. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  2. ^ "150 Ways University of Madison has touched the world" (PDF). pages.cs.wisc.edu. University of Wisconsin. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-10-06.
  3. ^ Times, For The Journal (2019-10-15). "Carthage College computer science professor wins Emmy". Journal Times. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  4. ^ "Lucky 13 get March 1 salute for inventions". Variety. 1997-01-06. Archived from the original on 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  5. ^ Newman, Judy (2000-03-26). "Shunning the glitter for Wisconsin venture". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 43. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  6. ^ Hess, Corri (2019-02-23). "Wisconsin Professor's Software Wins Academy Award". WPR. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  7. ^ "9 SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE HONORED WITH ACADEMY AWARDS". Oscars.org. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2018-12-12. Archived from the original on 2018-12-26. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  8. ^ "Computer science professor wins Emmy Award®". www.carthage.edu. Carthage College. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2026-02-08.