What is animation?
Animation is the process of creating a sequence of static or dynamic images that give the illusion of movement. These images can either be two-dimensional (2D), or three-dimensional (3D). Animation has been around for centuries as an art form, and while it used to be created with hand-drawn images, modern technology allows animators to create using computer software. Whether it’s produced for cartoons, film, or video game entertainment or for educational purposes, animation is a powerful storytelling medium for bringing ideas to life. The creative potential of animation is truly limitless.
History of animation
The first example of a fully animated film can be traced back to French caricaturist Émile Cohl’s Fantasmagorie (1908), made up of 700 drawings with a run time of just two minutes. Since then, animation has evolved from simple hand-drawn images and early stop-motion techniques to the more complex computer-generated imagery (CGI) used in today’s movies and television shows. Throughout its history, animation has been used to tell stories, visualize characters, and even explain complex concepts in an appealing way.
In the early days of animation, cartoons were created by hand-drawing individual frames that were then photographed and edited together. As technology advanced, animators began using cel animation to create their works. This allowed for more fluid movement and greater detail in drawings. In the 1980s, computer animation began to emerge as a creative tool. The introduction of computer animation allowed animators to create complex visuals with much greater ease than ever before.
3D animation
3D animation creates the illusion of movement for objects and characters moving in a 3D environment, producing a sense of depth and immersiveness. Computer software or hardware such as motion capture (mo-cap) devices are used to create and manipulate digital objects, characters, and backgrounds. For example, objects can be animated to move, rotate, and change size without having to be redrawn.
3D animation is an increasingly popular form of animation because it can bring scenes and characters to life with realistic effects, details, and depth.
2D animation
2D animation is a type of animation that utilizes two-dimensional images to create the illusion of movement. It relies on hand-drawn or computer-generated images to create a sequence of frames that appear to move together when played in succession. 2D animation has been around for decades and is used in films, television shows, video games, advertisements, and other media. This type of animation is often done by hand but can also be created digitally with programs such as Adobe After Effects, which is then manipulated frame by frame to animate content.
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process of animating visuals using computer-generated imagery (CGI). However, unlike CGI (which includes static graphics), computer animation refers only to moving images. A mix of 3D models and traditional frame-by-frame animation, 3D animation creates the illusion of movement by using images modeled on a computer and rigged with a digital skeleton. CGI allows animators to create visuals unattainable with traditional animation, and it’s now the industry standard for most forms of animation.
Frame-by-frame animation
Frame-by-frame animation is the oldest and most traditional form of dynamic content. It is produced when an artist draws each individual frame (image) by hand, with a slight differentiation between frames as the basis for any intended movement. This technique allows for much more control over the character movements and details than other forms of animation, such as cel-based or CGI animations.
Frame-by-frame animation takes significantly longer to produce than other methods, but this approach can yield remarkable results. Today, it’s more often replaced by more advanced animation techniques such as CGI.
Stop motion animation
Stop motion animation uses objects such as puppets, miniature sets, and clay figures. Claymation is one popular and oft-used technique of this genre. The impression of movement is created by physically manipulating these objects in front of a camera, and filming each stage of the movement before putting the footage together. Stop motion animation can be used both for live-action and computer-generated animation.
Traditional animaton
Traditional animation is a technique that involves hand-drawing the individual frames of an animated sequence. This type of animation was popularized in the early days of film and television, when animators would draw thousands of images to create cartoons and other forms of animation. Although traditional animation has been replaced by CGI in many areas, it is still used. Traditional animation is often more labor intensive than computer animation, but the results can be truly stunning.
Skeletal animation
Skeletal animation – also known as rigging – is the first step in the process of animating a 3D character for computer animation. In essence, it is creating a “skeleton” of joints underneath the mesh (or skin) of a character or object, and these can then be manipulated and posed. With skeletal animation, creators can capture subtle nuances and lifelike gestures that would not be possible to create with traditional hand-drawn techniques.
Rotoscoping animation
In order to animate a live-action video, rotoscoping animation is required. Rotoscoping is a technique that traces over live action footage, and it can simulate realistic movement or stylized animation effects. This technique can be also used to animate characters or objects, often giving animators greater control over movements and details than other types of animation.
Motion capture animation
Motion capture is a form of computer animation that uses motion capture technology to record the movement of real people or objects. The movements are then mapped onto digital characters to create realistic animations. Motion capture is often used for video games, television shows, and feature films, since it allows animators to quickly and accurately create lifelike movements.
Motion capture requires the use of special cameras, sensors, and software to record the motion data, which is then used to animate the digital characters in a computer program. Motion capture is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to create realistic animations quickly and cost-effectively.
Motion graphics
Motion graphics – also known as motion design – is a form of animation that combines graphic design and video production. This can include shapes, typography, imagery, and any other dynamic design element. Examples of motion graphics can be found in movie title sequences, digital advertisements, logos, or more complex visuals like motion capture footage.