Types of animation

There are many forms of animation: from hand-drawn to computer-generated, stop motion to motion capture, realistic or stylized. Whatever effect or illusion of movement an animator wishes to achieve, there’s a type of animation to fit.  

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.

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