Animation

Define the following terms: - overlay - frame - pixel

Overlay: A transparent layer of subtle changes in the image or corrections are shown. Frame: Sections of captured images on clear film. Pixel: The smallest piece of information in an image when created using computer software.

Maquette

Physical sculptures of an animation character or prop design.

Although modern animation and technology have made animation easier to create, which animation skills are still necessary to produce a great work of animation? Provide at least 3 examples.

Artist working with animation must understand such animation skills as posing, acting, squashing, stretching, motion, etc.

Phenakistoscope

Invented in 1872, this system produced the first illusion of movement. The word "phenakistoscope" has Greek roots meaning "to cheat," because it deceives the eye making it look animated.

Describe what the animation frame above is showing. What cels might have been created for this frame? List the individual cels.

The frame is from the Disney movie, Snow White. The background was most likely one frame. Then maybe another frame was the critters and other forest any animals. Snow White was probably her own cel.

What is a cel? Describe the development and importance of cel animation.

A cel is a transparent sheet of film on which objects are drawn or painted for traditional hand drawn animation. With cel animation , Individual cels are drawn for every one or two frames of motion. Cels are layered on top of each other using overlays, with each second containing about 24 frames in a feature film. This was an important development because it meant that animators didn't have to recreate the whole image for each frame.

What is a storyboard? What is its purpose?

A storyboard is a visual series of rough drawings depicting the scenes of action in a story. Its purpose is to create a brief outline of the storyline in the form of pictures. Words can be added below the pictures if any clarification is needed.

Overlay

A transparent layer of subtle changes in the image or corrections are shown. An overlay is laid on top of the cel.

Cel

A transparent sheet of film on which objects are drawn or painted for traditional hand drawn animation. Walt Disney used the technique of fast moving cels, as the early form of animation.

Storyboard

A visual series of rough drawings depicting the scenes of action in a story. Creating a storyboard can help plan out the animation before it is made.

What is the image above an example of? Describe how it works and how it was used by animators

It is system invented in 1872 that produced the first illusion of movement. Basically it was a disk with a series of drawings around the edge, showing the same object in slightly different poses. When it was spun, it created the illusion of movement.

Frame

Sections of captured images on clear film.

List a brief timeline of animation between 1872 and 1928

1. 1872 - The Phenakistoscope is invented which produced an illusion of movement. 2. 1906 - The first animated film by J. Stuart Blackton was created. 3. 1928 - "Steamboat Willie" became the first successful animated film with sound.

Stop motion

An animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. Stop motion give the illusion of a moving object when the series of frames are played as a continuous sequence.

Describe how Computer Generated Imagery works. How has it benefited animation?

Computer Generated Imagery allows animators to create virtual characters and pose them. The artist creates frames, and the computer fills in the motion that would occur between two distinct posses. CGI has greatly sped up the animation process because the artists don't have to create the enormous amount of cels that they use to, reduced cost and time, and has allowed animators to do things that would not have been possible using early animation techniques.

CGI

Computer Generated Imagery allows us to create virtual characters and pose them. CGI has become sharper and much more advanced in the past few years due to new computer programs.

What is stop motion animation? Why was this important to animation?

Stop motion animation is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The objects/puppets are made by the artist, and each time they are moved, the artist photographs them instead of drawing them. It was an important development because it allowed new types of special effects to be added to animation.

In animation each second of running time is typically equivalent to at least 24 drawings or frames.

T

Pixel

The smallest piece of information in an image.

What does the image above show? What would be its purpose in animation?

This image shows an example of a maquette. Maquettes are physical sculptures of an animation character or prop design. Animators use the to pose and make scenes out of while they are creating computer animations. They provide a visual, concrete example to work with.