A short

introduction into

Computer

Animation

By Felton Lewis

What is Computer Animation ?

Computer animation is almost exactly the same as traditional animation. The only difference is that computer animators use computers as their tool. All the same techniques apply to computer animation, whether or not it is done in 2-d or 3-d. Just because something is computer animated doesn’t mean it is 3-d.

2-d vs. 3-d Animation

One of the differencing in animation in 2-d vs. animation in 3-d is that when a person animates in 3-d they have to make sure the scene looks good from every angle. It has to animate smoothly from every angle.

The advantages of 2-d and 3-d animation are also apparent. 2-d Animation has the advantage of bright vibrant colors, and exaggerated features. While 3-d Animation can try to mimic this, its strengths lie in being able to recreate real live, and create simulations of how things happen.

2-d vs. 3-d Animation Pt 2

Development is one of the biggest differences between 2-d animation and 3-d animation. While doing a quality piece of takes time regardless of the form of animation, how that quality is achieved is completely different. Both 3-d and 2-d animation go through a storyboard process, that stays regardless. With 3-d animation they map out the basic scene, camera angles and such, they animate it, apple the texture (includes colors and actual texture, and apply lighting. With 3-d animation a person can animate the scene over and over again and they don’t have to do any more animating, just adjust the camera. With 2-d animation it’s more like a bunch of frames (pictures) streamed together. A 2-d animator still has to think about camera angles, but if they want to do the same scene from a different angle they have redraw every frame at a different angle, with different lighting.

Computer Animation Hits the Mainstream

Possibly the biggest event in the history of computer animation was the release of Toy Story possibly the best animated movie ever by Pixar. It was a box office hit and racked in about $354,300,000. After the premier of this movie computer animation was considered to be a true form of animation not just a gimmick or a fad. After the original Toy Story came out many companies started their own animation studios, such as DreamWorks Animation SKG, one of the first animation studios to arrive to try to combat Pixar .

SourcesBibliographyBelgrave, Tito A. CGSociety:Applying the 12 Principles to 3D Animation. 23 July 2003. 10 December 2008 <http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=1429>.Design Training. What Does a Computer Animator Do? 17 December 2008 <http://www.design-training.com/computer-animation/a/what-does-a-computer-animator-do.html>.Hubbard, J. Donald, and O'Connell, Kenneth R. Computer Animation. Hypergraph. 6 June 2005. 15 December 2008 <http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/HyperGraph/hypergraph.htm>.National Geographic . "Finding Nemo." National Geographic Kids (2003).National Geographic. "A Tale of Desperaux." Nagional Geographic Kids (2008).Price, David A. The Pixar Touch. 2008.Scholes, Neil Carl. Short History Of 3d Animation. 30 July 2006. 15 December 2008 <http://www.design-training.com/computer-animation/a/what-does-a-computer-animator-do.html>.Science Daily. ScienceDaily:Computer Animation. 15 December 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/c/computer_animation.htm>.Thinkquest. History: Learn about the events that led to todays animation. 10 December 2008 <http://library.thinkquest.org/28234/frames/history/computer.html>.