Types of Animation
What is Animation? Animation is a process used to create the illusion of movement by displaying a series of still images in rapid succession.
What is Animation ?
Animation is a process used to create the illusion of movement by displaying a series of still images in rapid succession. In traditional animation, these images are often hand-drawn or painted onto transparent celluloid sheets, which are then photographed and exhibited on film. With the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI), most animations today are made using this technique.
Computer animation comes in lots of different flavors: from very detailed 3D animation, to more simplistic 2D animation (which often looks like traditional, hand-drawn animation) - and everything in between! There are lots of reasons why an animator might choose one method over another, depending on things like the desired style, the amount of time or money they have to spend, or even the way the final animation will be used. Other common methods for creating animations include stop motion techniques (where you use things like paper cutouts, puppets, or clay figures), and adding movement to existing images or video footage.
1. Traditional Animation.
The traditional animation technique is one in which each frame is drawn by hand. This was the dominant form of animation in cinema until computer animation took over. Traditional animation is a great way to create beautiful, classic animations that will stand the test of time. After a story is rewritten in the form of an animation film script, the next step in the process is to create a storyboard. A storyboard looks similar to a comic book and it's a shot by shot breakdown of the scenes, dialogue, and any camera movements that will be present in the final film. The images in the storyboard allow the animation team to plan the sequence of events and how the images will be composed. Traditional animation is an art form that dates back to the early days of cinema. In this type of animation, each frame of film represents a single drawing. Artists working in this medium use pencils, pens, paintbrushes, and other tools to create unique images on individual sheets of paper or celluloid. These drawings are then photographed and strung together in a sequence to create the illusion of movement when played back at high speed.
Traditional animation is a time-consuming process, but the results can be truly stunning.
Traditional Animation
2. 2D Animation
2D animation is a popular type of animation that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating animated movies, cartoons, marketing videos, advertisements, corporate presentations, educational materials, video games, and much more. 2D animation is created using software to create objects and characters in two-dimensional space. This type of animation is limited to width and height, without any depth.
Traditional animation is a technique that was developed back in the 1800s and is still used today. The process involves creating each frame of the animation one by one, then stringing them together to create the finished product. In the early days of traditional animation, artists would hand-draw each frame on paper. Today, animations are still hand-drawn, but they can also be created digitally on a computer. Traditional animation is known for its smooth, fluid movement.
2D animation
3. 3D Animation
3D or computer animation is the process of creating three-dimensional moving images in a digital environment. By using specialized animation software, it's possible to give characters, vehicles, and props the illusion of movement and life through 3D animation. Animated objects can be rotated and moved just like real objects, making for a realistic effect.
The process of creating a 3D animation is often divided into three main stages: modeling, layout and animation, and rendering. During the modeling stage, objects and characters are created using a specific modeling tool or by scanning real objects into a computer. The aim is to capture unique personality traits and movements, which can be achieved by giving a character bones, skin weights and constraints that, enable it to move in specific ways.
The layout and animation stage is focused on the creation of a set in which to place the object. This involves consideration of factors like object size and location.
Then, computer calculations generate the finished image using specialized software. This process is known as rendering.
Maya software for 3D Animation
4. Stop Motion Animation
Stop motion animation is a technique used to create the illusion of movement by taking pictures of objects one frame at a time and moving them slightly between each frame. This type of animation often uses clay figures or puppets with movable joints made out of flexible materials like plasticine so they're easy to manipulate and change expressions or movements.
Though stop motion was once a popular form of special effects in live-action films, it has become less common with the advancement of 3D animation technology.
Despite this, there are many filmmakers who continue to extensively utilize stop motion in their work - including Tim Burton and Henry Selick. Aardman Animations is also known for their use of stop motion animation to create celebrated characters such as Morph and Wallace and Grommet.
Stop Motion Animation
5. Infographics Animation
Animated infographics are all the rage right now. GIFs and videos have become some of the most popular content on social media, and it's easy to see why. They're fun, engaging, and easy to consume. Let's take a close look at some great examples that can inspire your next animated infographic design.
An animated infographic is a way of visualizing information using a combination of imagery, illustrations, charts, graphs, text and other elements that are animated to add movement.
Animated infographics have become increasingly popular over the last five years as a way to make complex information more digestible and engaging. Static form of content has However, what was once a mostly evolved dramatically to include animation and animated elements that help make ideas more easily interpretable and engaging.
