Takeo Igarashi - Teddy: A Sketching Interface for 3D Freeform Design

"[NEW] A new version SmoothTeddy is available. You can model and paint, and much more!

Teddy is a sketch-based 3D modeling software.
You can make interesting 3D models just by drawing freeform strokes.
Teddy is written in Java (jdk1.1), and mainly designed for windows platforms.
(If you want to run Teddy on Mac, please read here .)

* Try Teddy applet on your browser (you cannot save models)
* Download Teddy package (you can save models in .obj format)"

Additional resources

• Demonstration video clip (32MB, 5min)
• Technical description (SIGGRAPH 99 paper PDF )
• Commercial Software based on Teddy (available only in Japan).
• Download chameleon (3D paint for Teddy)

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I've used this program to make nifty little character models for a while, very easy and intuitive. I dig the simplicity of drawing a shape and having the program extrapolate it into a 3D mesh. Check out the demonstration video listed above to see, if you like futzing around with CG stuff, you'll likey.