3D CGI Animation

3D CGI Animation

3D CGI Animation was being used as early as the 1940s by a man named John Witney. It wasn't so popular back then though as the main purpose for 3D CGI back then was for science and engineering uses. It wasn't until the 60's and 70's that the artistic experimentation of 3D CGI Animation started to take place. Although 2D animation proved more popular throughout the 70's and 80's, the first full-feature 3D CGI Animation movie was released in 1995 ('Toy Story').

The Incredibles

Toy Story

Advantages:

- Looks realistic if animated well
- Anything can more or less be created using 3D CGI


Disadvantages:

- Creating 3D CGI can be very costly
- It can take quite a bit of time to create models in 3D CGI
- A high level of artistic ability is required


3D CGI Animation Example

2D Computer Graphic Annimation

2D Computer Graphic Animation

As Cel Animation became more unpopular towards the end of the 20th Century, 2D Computer Animation became its replacement. Computers had started to come under regular use in the 90's and animators took advantage of this by using software that could create full-length feature animated films. The techniques used for 2D Computer Animation are the same as that of traditional styles of animating. The earliest example of 2D Computer was called 'Fantasmagorie', a small cartoon made by Emile Cohl. 

Fantasmagorie

Advantages:

- Animations can be developed with speed

Finn and Jake from Adventure Time

- With 2D Computer Animation, you have the flexibility of digital imagery

Disadvantages:

- A very high degree of expertise is required in order to be able to do 2D Computer Animation
- The hardware and software required for 2D Computer Animation is likely to be rather                 expensive

2D Computer Animation Example

Cell Animation

Cel Animation

Cel (short for celluloid) Animation originated in 1910 at John Bray Studios by Earl Hund. It works by drawing or painting objects on a transparent sheet of paper (the transparent sheet is called the Cel.) and then placing them on top of each other to create the animation. Although the use of Cel Animation has dramatically decreased during the 21st century, they were a main method of animation throughout the 20th Century. An example would be Walt Disney's first animation production, 'Steamboat Willie'. 

Lady and The Tramp

Equipment used for Cell Animation:

- Light Table
- Paper
- Pencils






Advantages:

- Time can be saved doing Cel Animation as the frame does not have to be completely                  redrawn

Disadvantages:

- A high level of skill is required as Cel Animation is a complex process

Steamboat Willie

Cel Animation Example

Cel Animation Tutorial

Stop Motion Animation

Stop Motion Animation

Stop Motion was first displayed in 1898 by Albert E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton for a Vitagraph production of 'The Humpty Dumpty Circus'. It normally consists of the models being made from clay and then filming the models with different cameras, one frame at a time. The most famous example of stop-motion is 'Wallace and Gromit' with other films such as 'Chicken Run' and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' also being well-known.

Wallace and Gromit

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Advantages:

- You have a lot of freedom to create whatever you wish
- You have the ability to use your imagination

Disadvantages:

- It takes a lot of time to create a stop-motion film
- A lot of artistic skill is required to create the animations

Flipbook

Flipbook

A Flipbook is a small book made of a set of images. The idea of it is to flick through the images very quickly so that it looks like a small animation is taking place (looks to be in motion). They were first created by John Barnes Linnett in 1868. All you need in order to create a flipbook is some paper and a pen or pencil to create the drawings.

The running man is a simple example

Advantages:

-They are simple to make with drawing being the only requirement

-They can be very entertaining for young children

Disadvantages:

- They can be very time consuming to make

- A skill in art and drawing would be required to make a flipbook look professional

Michael Jackson Flipbook

How to Make a Flipbook

Zoetrope

Zoetrope

A Zoetrope is a pre-animation device that was created in 1833 by William George Horner. It works by having a set of images laid out in sequence and then rotating the zoetrope so that all the images look like they are in motion (illusion of motion). The zoetrope is one of the earliest forms of animation. A zoetrope is normally made up of white and black paper, some tape and a circular box.

The Running Man is a prime example

The Horse is also a well-known example

Zoetrope Example

How to Make a Zoetrope

Advantages:

Like the thaumatrope, they are easy to make at very little cost

Disadvantages:

There are only so many animations that can be created

Great artistic skill is needed in order to create realisticimages

Thaumatrope

Thaumatrope

A Thaumatrope is a toy from the 19th Century, created by John Ayrton Paris in 1825. It is made up of a disk or sheet of paper with an image on each side and two pieces of string that are attached to the edges of the disk. It is then rapidly rotated or spun around so that the two images can combine together as one. This creates the optical illusion that is the 'persistence of vision'. An example of this would be having a bird cage on one side of the disk and a bird on the other side. When spun around the images will coincide with one another.

The images merge together when twirled around

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SivM3UVHMeg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOLE2OzoIYw


Advantage: 

It was and is still a very easy toy to create without any difficulty and also at a low cost.

Disadvantage:

With it being a simple toy, it wasn't very hard for a slightly more advanced toy to be made that would easily overtake it.