Animation Background History/Genre ResearchPart 4

Computer Animation

•Computer animation offers a diverse range of features when wanting to create an animation.

•2D animation often utilizes the picture whereas 3D animation allows you to create a virtual environment where characters and different objects are able cooperate and work in the same environment.

•3D animation looks more realistic that 2D animation.

2D Animation• When 2D animations are being produced,

they are generally edited with the software: ‘2D Bitmap Graphics or can be made/edited using another version known as ‘2D Vector Graphics’. This consists of a digital form of classic animation methods: ‘rotoscoping and interpolated morphing’.

• ‘Final line advection animation’: the animators and artists are part of the same department when creating the production and give the production originality.

3D Animation• The animation is created digitally and designed on the

computer. The animator is in control of modelling the environments and objects that the characters are going to interact with. Many animation companies are moving towards this style of animation or are currently using it, companies include: Pixar, DreamWorks Animation and Walt Disney Animation Studios who have recently started to used 3D animation for their productions.

• A ‘mesh’ is a composition that allows the animator to create characters, objects and environments. It can also add a skeletal design (armature) specially for characters that are in the animation. This technique is known as ‘rigging’.

3D Animation Continued• Motion Capture: this is when the actors’ where specific

suits that transfers their movement to a computer for CG characters: an example of this techniques is used in the film: ‘Polar Express’/

• Machinima: This techniques consists using ‘screen capturing’ of games (video games in particular).

• Cel-shaded Animation: this techniques imitates the classic animation method by using a CG programme.

• Photo-realistic Animation: this animation is used mirror realistic environments and characters: rendering is used to make environments, objects and characters look detailed and realistic. This type of animation was used in films such as ‘Kung-Fu Panda’ and are used in many films created by both Pixar and DreamWorks Animation.