3D CGI Animation

3D CGI Animation is a technique in which 3 dimensional computer generated models are positioned in different ways to create the illusion of movement, through the persistence of vision. What are needed is a computer and various animation and 3D modeling programs an example being Shade 3D and Auto Desk Inventor. The advantages of this technique is that if you cant draw for 2D animation this helps model characters. However the disadvantages are time consuming model creating and more complex animation.





The graphic designer William Fetter, created the first 3D animated wire-frame figures along with the term Computer Graphics during the 1960's. Two more recent examples of 3D animation are the films Shrek and Frozen.




Examples:-

2D Computer Graphic Animation

2D Computer Graphic Animation is a technique in which 2 dimensional drawn models, are positioned in different ways to create the illusion of movement through the persistence of vision. What are needed is a computer and various animation and drawing programs an example being Flash and Paint. The advantages of this technique is how easy it is and requires less time. However the disadvantages are the programs and computer needed to do this may cost a small fortune.



John and James Whitney created 2D Computer Graphic Animation in the early 40's, however in the film Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock the beginning title sequence is know as one of they best pieces of early animation. Two more well known examples of 2D Computer Graphic Animation is the cartoon series Total Drama and The Amazing World of Gumball.




Examples:-

Cel Animation

Cel Animation is when characters or objects are drawn on tracing paper and then are put on pre-drawn backgrounds. To do this your celf, get some tracing paper and begin drawing your characters, continue tracing them in different positions to convey movement through the persistence of vision, then place them on a drawn background. Now get a cel sheet and trace over all the tracing pictures in ink and colour, put them all together to create cel animation.





The advantages of cel animation are never having a jittery background, its also easy to make your own movies and you can be creative as you like. The disadvantages however is, you'l need patience, and you cannot save your work. The technique was first used by Walt Disney Studios during 1928, in the short cartoon "Steamboat Willie", they then carried this on to their film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1937.

Examples:-

Stop motion

Stop motion is the act of taking tons of photographs of object or figures, and through the persistence of vision, making those object appear to be moving.

You'll need time, patience, a camera and a figure or object to animate. Place the figure in front of the camera and begin taking pictures of their every movement, you must physically move the object after each picture to give the illusion its moving like a puppet. Stop animation is a good option if you want to make a cheap film, and you can be as creative as you want with it. The downside is the amount of patience involved being that it takes a long time to make. Though it wasn't until 1933, when stop motion animation truly became popular. The first use of stop motion was right at the dawn of cinema, in 1898,when it was used in The Humpty Dumpty Circus, made by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith.


Two of the most popular films, Coraline and Paranorman, were made using stop motion animation.






Examples:-

The Flip Book.

Also known as a flick book, it uses the persistence of vision, as the book works like animation, by drawing multiple sketches in a blank page book, the pictures must be somewhat linear in that you've traced them from the previous page, now using your thumb, scroll through the pages by flipping it.

Flipbooks can take allot of time to make and requires patience. Now this opens up the possibility to make more of them and sell them. John Branes Linnett created the flipbook in 1868, it was known as the Kineograph, which meant moving picture. Aside from this version of the flip book, there is a similar device in the form of a contraption known as a Mutoscope. Which is a giant looping flip book inside a tombola, with a visor so you can see the flipbook play out like a film, the down side is, to get it to work you must crack a lever on the side.

Examples:-

The Zoetrope.

A Zoetrope is an optical illusion, done through a piece of paper, formed into a cylinder, with multiple slits in the top, containing a film of images at the bottom. By spinning it the images come together into an animation.To make your own Zoetrope you need; paper, folded into a cylinder, unless you have a cylinder like object already like a biscuit tin, or empty can.Get your cylinder and cut multiple small slits in the top. Now get a stand that spins and attach that to the bottom of the cylinder that doesn't have the slits. Finally put a film of pictures at the bottom.

A disadvantage is the film has only so many uses before it gets boring. However this an advantage as you can make more or change the film, or draw your own films. Between 1833-1834 the standard zoetrope was created by a British mathematician named William George Horner. He called his invention the "Daedaleum". However its was not until the 1860's where the device become a sensation, as American and British folk began painting the film strips for the Daedaleum. William F. Lincoln an American inventor named his version the "Zoetrope", which meant wheel of life.

Along with film strips, there are versions of the Zoetrope with 3D models instead inside them. There are even versions that dont have slots, that instead have mirrors inside them. A giant Zoetrope was used in the 1999 film "House on haunted hill". And in 2012, the film "Woman in black" contains a spooky scene, where the zoetrope provides a jump scare.






Examples:-

The Thaumatrope.

A Thaumatrope is an optical illusion. It is done through a piece of paper, cut in the shape of a circle, and two pieces of string attached at each end, finally on the paper, draw an image on each side. If you then spin those strings, you will see the images fusing crating a piece of animation.

A disadvantage of the thaumatrope is it gets old very quickly. However, the advantage through this is that it's an opportunity to make more and challenge yourself to see what neat little animations you can make.

This was invented by both Peter Mark Roget or John Ayrton Paris, in London during the year 1824, Paris showed The Royal College of Physicians one of these to explain the persistence of vision.

John Cutter, played by Michael Caine, uses a thaumatrope to explain the persistence of vision, in the film "The Prestige". Also, there is a thaumatrope used in the film "Sleepy Hollow" by Ichabod Crane, played by Johnny Depp.

Though the Thaumatrope consisting of strings, being pulled to rotate paper, is the most popular form of it, there is another version. In this version, you place the paper image faced down, then glue a stick on top of that paper, then glue the other paper image facing upwards on top of that. Now place the stick between your hands and through rubbing your hands back an fourth, see your images fuse.

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