3D CGI Animation

3D CGI Animation



"For 3D animations, objects (models) are built on the computer monitor (modeled) and 3D figures are rigged with a virtual skeleton. For 2D figure animations, separate objects (illustrations) and separate transparent layers are used with or without a virtual skeleton. Then the limbs, eyes, mouth, clothes, etc. of the figure are moved by the animator on key frames. The differences in appearance between key frames are automatically calculated by the computer in a process known as tweening or morphing. Finally, the animation is rendered." Wikipedia - 

CGI Animation originates as early as the 1960's, it was developed at Bell Telephone Laboratories by Edward E. Zajac, Frank W. Sinden, Kenneth C. Knowlton, and A. Michael Noll. CGI is what is used to generate animated images through the use of computer graphics. CGI usually uses 3D computer graphics to process, although 2d graphics are still used from time to time depending on the desired outcome of the animation. CGI takes from the stop motion technique but in a digital way, the outcome of this is a much smoother animation compared to the stop motion technique. The equipment involved in CGI are computers, digital software for producing the CGI and also motion capture suits  can be used on actors to capture a real life performance which will then be digitalized and put into the animation. 

The advantages of CGI would be that the possibility of the animations you can make are endless, anything you can think of you will be able to make. The use of CGI in all types of animations has made for a much more realistic looking quality of animation.
The disadvantages of CGI would be the fact of how time consuming ir is to make a 3D CGI animation. You have to edit every single frame that you want to change which can take a massive amount of time. Also you need to have a keen eye for detail and takes alot of skill to produce high quality CGI Animations. 

2D Computer Graphic Animation

2D Computer Graphic Animation.




2d computer graphic animation is a technique based on computer generated digital images that started roughly in the 1950's. 2d Computer based graphics are similar to stop motion animation and cel animation in the sense that you need to produce each frame. It can take the best of both worlds and use them to produce clearer and more high definition animations also while being less time consuming. There are many different softwares you can use to create a 2d computer animation, such as CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator, and some free programmes such as xfig or inkscape. You can create anything from a board game, to a full on 2d animation. The animations can be made by creating frames in the mentioned software, then put the frames together to make an animation and even add sound if you wish. The only equipment you will need is a PC or Laptop and any of the mentioned software. 

The advantages- You don't need a large amount of artistic ability to use the software and create animations. It is a much more time efficient technique compared to the likes of stop motion animation and if you make any mistakes you can always just erase the mistake as if it was never there.

The disadvantages- You need to be creative to use the software efficiently, to create your own 2d animations from scratch. As much as it is more time efficient than stop motion, 2d computer graphics is still a lengthy process and you would need a lot of patience to make a whole animation. The last disadvantage that i would list is that if you don't back up your data regularly if the computer cuts out midway through your work you may lose your progress.

Cel Animation

Cel Animation

"The invention of the technique is generally attributed to Earl Hurd, who patented the process in 1914. The outline of the images are drawn on the front of the cel while colors are painted on the back to eliminate brushstrokes." - Wikipedia.

Cel- Short for Celluloid. 


Cel animation is a technique that has been used since the first half of the 20th century.This technique is where characters or objects get drawn onto a cel and a new cel for each physical movement of the character/object, all whilst being used on top of a static background so all that is being done is the cells are being moved around on top of a static background. This works fairly similar to stop motion in a way, but much easier as you only need to redraw the moving objects and not the whole scene.

The equipment involved in this type of animation are celluloid's which are transparent sheets of paper, which you can either draw or paint your animations on. And also you will need a camera to take the pictures of the moving scene and most likely a camera stand of some sort.

The advantages- More cost and time effective than stop motion, although using the same base technique You aren't doing half as much of the work you would be doing compared to a stop motion animation.

The Disadvantages-  The first material used for cel animation was highly flammable and had to be replaced by cellulose acetate. It takes a high degree of artistic ability to do this type of animation some may find it difficult to use this technique.

Stop motion

Stop motion animation


















Stop motion animation is a technique that makes a physical object appear to move, this is done by taking a series of pictures with the object moving in each picture. When the pictures are all put in sequence it gives the illusion of the object moving. 

The first instance of the stop motion technique can be credited to Albert E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton, they used this technique in The Humpty Dumpty Circus 1898.

The equipment that can be used for stop motion animation include a camera and a computer for recording and editing purposes, but the models for it can vary. A few known examples are clay models, white board animation, wooden models, and anything else from humans to household appliances. So in theory anything that can be moved can be used for stop motion animations.

Advantages- The advantages of stop motion animation is that there are endless possibilities as to what you can do with the animation. You can make objects that cannot move on there own move through means of stop motion animation, for example; you could make toy cars appear to be racing each other. In the case of using clay figures for stop animation you could make vegetables or fruit have arms and legs and run about, the possibilities are limitless. 

Disadvantages- There are some disadvantages to stop motion animation, the most obvious one is that stop motion animation can be very time consuming and it may take a long period of time just to make a short video. If you were to do a movie made from stop animation it could turn out to be a very tedious project and could take a spectacular length of time to make. Another disadvantage depending on how detailed and long you want to make your video is that it could cost a fair amount of money for the resources you need, this is mostly applicable if you're making a lengthy detailed video or film. 

Flip book

What is a Flip book?

The Flip book also known as Flick book is a book with a series of pictures that are drawn to vary gradually from one page to the next. These books can create an unlimited number of story's as they can be as long or as short as the creator wants. 

The first flip book appeared in September,1868. when it was patended by John Barnes Linnett under the name Kineograph ("moving picture"). In 1894 a man named Herman Casler invented a mechanical version of the Flip book called the Mutoscope which mounted the pages on a rotating cylinder rather than binding them in a book. 

The flip book is made from paper, a binder clip, pens pencils or any other drawing equipment.

Advantages - Not much material is needed to make a flip book, the materials are cost effective and you can always add on to the story.

Disadvantages - The material is hard to keep quality. There is a high degree of artistic ability required to create one of these books and it is also very time consuming.

Here is a video showing how the flip book works

Now for a video to show how to make a flip book

Zoetrope

What is a Zoetrope?


“A zoetrope is one of several pre-film animation devices that produce the illusion of motion by displaying a sequence of drawings or photographs showing progressive phases of that motion. The name zoetrope was composed from the Greek root words ζωή zoe, "life" and τρόπος tropos, "turning".” – Wikipedia.

In this video it is shown how the Zoetrope works.

The Zoetrope consists of a cylinder with vertical cuts down the side. On the inside of the cylinder is a series of images set to play in sequence when put in motion. 


How the Zoetrope works – The device works when it is spun around, this causes an optical illusion making it seem like the pictures are moving in sequence.

Advantages – It can be fairly easy to construct the Zoetrope and you can switch out the cartoon strips inside to provide variety within.

Disadvantages – It has many moving parts that could break or go wrong. A fair amount of artistic ability is involved.

The Zoetrope was first invented in 1834 by William George Horner as a Daedalum and later renamed in the 1860’s by American toy maker William F. Lincoln as the Zoetrope.

Here is a video of how to build a Zoetrope.

Thaumatrope

What is a Thaumatrope?

The Thaumatrope (also known as “wonder turner”) is a mechanical optical illusion created by London based Physicist John Ayrton Paris (1785 – 1856). It first appeared in the nineteenth century sometime in the 1820’s.

How the Thaumatrope works - The simple toy is made from a disk with a picture on each side, with strings attached to the disk. When you twirl the strings quickly between your fingers the pictures will then appear to blend into one, this causes an optical illusion due to a phenomenon called persistence of vision.

 

Advantages - The advantages of the Thaumatrope would be it is a simple design and also cheap to make.

Disadvantages - The disadvantage of the Thaumatrope is that you need a fair amount of artistic ability to draw the images on each side of the disk.

Here is an example of how the Thaumatrope works.

Here is a video that shows how to make a Thaumatrope.