3D CGI animation is the next step from 2D animation. Using similar techniques to 2D CGI, but now there are more dimension to animate and more complicated programs and tools. 3D animation artists will generally use 3D object builders to make the desired characters and objects which will then be taken into animation software.
Again, this technique can be very time consuming, even more so than traditional 2D animation as there are now 3 Dimensions worth of points and angles to animate.
3d CGIA is often attributed to Alan Kitching. He is responsible for develop a software called Antics which allowed users to create animation without needing any programming. The most famous 3D Animation studio is arguably Pixar studios who are most famous for their Toy Story movies. They also helped pioneer 3D animation with their shorts from the 80's
2D animation is similar to traditional animation techniques except that it is created by using computer software like Flash animator.
Artists using this technique will often use a graphics tablet to draw using drawing software on a computer. The advantages of this being that it does not use physical resources. The first person to pioneer 2d Computer based graphics was John Whitney around the 1940's/50's.
It became more common in the1960s when digital computers had become widely established. The late 90's and early 2000's saw a rise in 2D Flash animation on the internet. which then progressed to more mainstream TV shows.
The zoetrope technique of animation makes further use of the 'Persistance of vision' phenomenon
It consists of a cylinder with slits cut vertically. The inner surface of the cylinder has a band with images from a sequence of pictures. As the cylinder spins, the user looks through the slits at the pictures across. The scanning of the slits keeps the pictures from blurring together, and the user sees a rapid succession of images, producing the illusion of motion.
There is much deliberation on when this technique was invented as there exists examples of similar ideas on ancient vases. The vase has a sequence of goats on the inside that seem to follow the zoetrope technique however this may be for decorative purposes and not intentionally as an animation.
Cell animation refers to a technique in which a succession of transparent
sheets have animation stills 'Inked' then painted on one side. The sheets will then be placed in order thus the animation comes together
A cel is a sheet of transparent cellulose acetate used as a medium for painting animation frames. It is transparent so that it can be laid over other cels and/or a painted background, then photographed.
This technique is very time consuming as each frame needs to match the last with minor adjustments made to animate the subject. If done well with enough attention to detail the results can look amazing however due to the fact it can take so much time, certain techniques (Limited animation) were created in order to reduce time and cost, this can have an adverse effect on the overall look and feel of the cartoon.
The invention of the technique is generally attributed to Earl Hurd, who patented the process in 1914
Stop motion
animation refers to a style of animation where an object (usually a clay model
or an articulated figurine) is made to move in small increments with a picture
being taken at each stage to show the illusion of animation., his technique
heavily relies on ‘persistence of vision’ again.
This can be done in various ways, virtually anything can be
made to look animated or moving by itself using this technique.
A camera is usually an important piece of equipment for
anyone doing stop motion as well as an object to manipulate. A software package
is usually needed to sequence the pictures into a viewable animation.
The first instance of the stop motion technique being used
was in Vitagraph's The Humpty Dumpty Circus (1898) by Albert E. Smith and J.
Stuart Blackton
Advantages:
Actual physical objects are on screen so tend to look more
realistic if animation is done well
Costs a lot less than most other modern animation techniques
Disadvantages:
Very time consuming with more hours and effort needed to
make the animation look seamless.
The concept of a flipbook or flick book is the next
evolution of animation. Whilst still being a fairly simple concept in itself,
this is where we start to see animation take shape more as we know it today.
The first flipbook was patented by John Barnes Linnett in
1868 under the name kineograph (moving picture).
Carrying on from the Thaumatropes concept, the flipbook essentially
just added more pages rather than just having two sides. A series of slightly
changing images would be drawn in order on a page each then the pages would be
flicked with the thumb to show the desired animation.
As you can guess this relies heavily on persistence of
vision again although this time we can see something moving as opposed to just
two frames interchanging.
Some advantages:
Still a popular concept
Easy to Understand
Can be anything you want
Some disadvantages:
Not as widely used
Takes a lot of skill and artistic ability to do it well
The Thaumatrope is regarded as one of the earliest examples of what we would call animation.
Whilst it may not follow the usual perceived notion of actually animating drawn objects or characters, it makes use of a phenomenon or optical illusion known as 'Persistance of Vision' - The human brains ability to remember an image for a split second making it appear to blend into the next proceeding image.
Whilst there is some uncertainty in regards to the actual time period it was invented, it is generally accepted that it was made popular by Dr Paris, M.D. Cantab. FRS who is credited as being the first to take the Thaumatrope commercial. Certain historical researchers have found several examples of thaumatropes being used years before Dr Paris, with some finding evidence In his 1864 memoirs of mathematician Charles Babbage (1791-1871) having made a one off thaumatrope with a coin when challenged with a brainteaser at a dinner party.
The challenge? to see if there was a way to show both sides of a coin at the same time.
It's concept was simple, a two sided circular card would have a different but related images on each side. The card would be suspended by two bits of string or elastic and twisted to make the card spin causing the two images to appear to blur or bend together.
Some advantages:
It was very cheap to make and easy to operate
It helped kick start the whole concept of animation.
