What is Animation?

Animation is a simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures or frames. It is the process of creating a continuous motion and shape change illusion. The word animation is derived from animate, which means to bring to life. Thus when a multimedia developer wants to bring an image to life, animation is used. Spinning globe is one of the simplest example to interpret an animation.

Principles of Animation

Animation is possible because of a a biological phenomenon known as persistenc of vision. An object that a human eye see, remains chemically mapped on the eyes retina for a brief time after viewing. Combined with the human minds need to conceptually complete a perceived action. This makes it possible for a series of images that are changed, one after the other, seem like continuous motion.

Frame rate in Animation

The frame rate is the number of frames or images that are projected or displayed per second. Frame rates are used in synchronizing audio and pictures, whether film, television, or video. In motion pictures and television, the frame rates are standardized by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Editors (SMPTE). TV video builds 30 entire frames every second whereas movies are shot at a shutter rate of 24 fps.

Animation Techniques

Computers have taken a great deal of handwork out of the animation and rendering process.Commercial films such as Jurassic Park, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, and Shrek have utilized the power of the computers.

Types of Animation

1.Traditional Animation

This type of animation consists of many picture drawn with slight adjustments. This technique is no longer used. The last show to ever use "cell's" was the 1999 Cartoon Network show Ed, Edd, and Eddy, which switched over to computer celled animation after season 3.

2.Stop Motion Animation

The series "Wallace and Grommit" are probably the best examples of this. It is when ACTUAL 3-D OBJECT's which are usually made by human's (like clay or plastic or rubber). They put the scenery up and everything, and take a picture of it. They then make very little adjustments to the sculptures, then take more pictures. It takes a very long time to make these scenes. This type of animation usually has been replaced by computer animation.

3.Computer Celled Animation (2-D)

This technique was made famous by Disney. It is based on changes that occur from one frame to the next. Cel stands for celluloid which is a clear sheet with images drawn on them.The celluloid images are place on a background that is usually stationary.The background remain fixed as the images changes.

4.CG Animation (3-D)

3-D Animation involves three steps: modeling, animation, and rendering

• Modeling the process of creating objects and scenes
• Animation the process of defining the objects motion
• Rendering the final step in creating 3-D animation

Morphing is the process of blending two images into a series of images Warping allows you to distort a single image Virtual reality (VR) creates an environment that surrounds the user so that they become part of the experience.

References

• John Sullivan, Animation & Multimedia Concepts
• Wikipedia
• Google

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