March Madness Teammojis
CBS
Real-Time Characters for Live Broadcast
Back by popular demand, AE Live partnered with CBS Sports to bring the beloved "Teammojis" to life throughout six consecutive NCAA March Madness tournaments (2021–2026). What began as a playful AR feature evolved into a fully customizable live character platform, incorporating two complete character redesigns, more than five bespoke host avatars—including the fan-favorite "Chuck-moji" for Charles Barkley—and an ever-expanding library of custom animations and interactive moments.
Featuring hundreds of motion-captured animations, swappable team branding, wardrobe, props, visual effects, and real-time controls, Teammojis became a signature part of CBS's tournament coverage. Working closely with producers and directors, AE Live's dedicated AR operators and remote Unreal Engine artists continually refreshed the experience with new content and reactive creative moments, ensuring every tournament felt unique.
Scalable Character Systems & Live Performance
Rather than creating a one-off AR asset, AE Live developed a scalable character platform designed to grow with the tournament year after year. By combining custom character design, extensive motion capture, modular customisation, and real-time operator controls, Teammojis became a flexible storytelling tool that could react to the personalities of the hosts, the excitement of the tournament, and the spontaneity of live television.
Key capabilities include:
- Custom AR character development with modular wardrobe, props, and team branding
- Library of hundreds of motion-captured animations with ongoing content expansion
- Real-time controls for character selection, placement, scaling, visual effects, and animation triggering
- Dedicated AR operators collaborating live with producers and directors to create unique broadcast moments
- Remote Unreal Engine artist support delivering rapid creative updates throughout the tournament
This workflow allowed CBS Sports to continually reinvent Teammojis across six tournaments, creating memorable moments that remained fresh, relevant, and uniquely tailored to each year's March Madness coverage.
1. Can AE Live create custom animated characters for live broadcasts?
Yes. AE Live designs and develops bespoke real-time characters for sports, entertainment, and branded broadcasts. From initial concept art and character modeling to animation, live controls, and broadcast deployment, we create memorable personalities that become an integrated part of the production.
2. How does AE Live build scalable character systems for live productions?
AE Live designs character platforms for long-term growth, establishing flexible systems that make it easy to expand a project over time. New characters, wardrobe, props, visual effects, and motion-captured animations can all be integrated seamlessly into the existing framework, allowing productions to continually evolve without rebuilding assets or workflows from scratch.
3. Can AE Live provide live creative support during major sporting events?
Yes. In addition to experienced on-site AR operators, AE Live provides remote Unreal Engine artists who can quickly develop new assets, animations, and creative updates throughout an event. This allows broadcasts to stay responsive, timely, and tailored to the unique storylines unfolding during the event.
4. How do AE Live's operators work with live production teams?
AE Live's AR operators become an extension of the production team, working closely with producers and directors to plan, block, and execute memorable AR moments throughout a live broadcast. Their expertise in real-time workflows, camera tracking, and virtual production allows them to confidently navigate the technical demands of live television while contributing creative solutions that enhance the editorial vision.
The result is AR that feels purposeful and seamlessly integrated into the show, helping productions create engaging moments that resonate with audiences.
1. Can AE Live create custom animated characters for live broadcasts?
Yes. AE Live designs and develops bespoke real-time characters for sports, entertainment, and branded broadcasts. From initial concept art and character modeling to animation, live controls, and broadcast deployment, we create memorable personalities that become an integrated part of the production.
2. How does AE Live build scalable character systems for live productions?
AE Live designs character platforms for long-term growth, establishing flexible systems that make it easy to expand a project over time. New characters, wardrobe, props, visual effects, and motion-captured animations can all be integrated seamlessly into the existing framework, allowing productions to continually evolve without rebuilding assets or workflows from scratch.
3. Can AE Live provide live creative support during major sporting events?
Yes. In addition to experienced on-site AR operators, AE Live provides remote Unreal Engine artists who can quickly develop new assets, animations, and creative updates throughout an event. This allows broadcasts to stay responsive, timely, and tailored to the unique storylines unfolding during the event.
4. How do AE Live's operators work with live production teams?
AE Live's AR operators become an extension of the production team, working closely with producers and directors to plan, block, and execute memorable AR moments throughout a live broadcast. Their expertise in real-time workflows, camera tracking, and virtual production allows them to confidently navigate the technical demands of live television while contributing creative solutions that enhance the editorial vision.
The result is AR that feels purposeful and seamlessly integrated into the show, helping productions create engaging moments that resonate with audiences.
