We propose an effective and intuitive method for controlling
flexible models such as ropes and cloth.
Automating manipulation of such flexible objects is not an easy
task due to the high dimensionality of the objects and the low
dimensionality of the control.
In order to cope with this problem, we introduce a method called
Geodesic Control, which greatly helps to manipulate flexible
objects. The core idea is to decrease the degrees of freedom of the
flexible object
by moving it along
the geodesic line of the object that it is interacting with.
By repeatedly applying this control, users can easily synthesize
animations of twisting and knotting a piece of rope or wrapping a
cloth around an object. We show examples of ``furoshiki wrapping'',
in which an object is wrapped by a cloth by a series of maneuvers
based on Geodesic Control.
As our representation can abstract such maneuvers well,
the procedure designed by a user can be re-applied for
different combinations of cloth and an object.
The method is applicable not only for computer animation but
also for 3D computer games and virtual reality systems.