Most　existing　methods　for　animating　a　human　body　require　a　lot　of　manual　work,　and　only　deal　with　human　body　in　some　specific　poses.　We　present　a　novel　automated　method　for　animating　human　bodies.　Firstly,　five　feature　points　at　the　end　points　of　head　and　limbs　on　human　body　surface　are　automatically　extracted　and　recognized.　Secondly,　by　taking　the　feature　points　as　source　points,　the　geodesic　distance　isolines　on　the　surface　are　calculated　and　the　central　lines　are　subsequently　constructed.　Thirdly,　along　the　central　lines,　joint　positions　are　roughly　determined　based　on　the　anthropometry　knowledge,　and　then　the　joint　positions　are　refined　using　kinematic　characteristics　of　skeleton　and　motion　data.　Forthly,　the　skin　attachment　is　made　by　solving　for　heat　equilibrium.　Finally,　we　match　the　extracted　skeleton　to　motion　data　by　aligning　local　coordinate　frames　and　then　animate　the　human　body　using　motion　data.　Experiment　results　demonstrate　that　our　method　is　pose-independent　and　fully　automated,　and　can　generate　more　realistic　animation　than　previous　methods.