FIND OUT MORE. Cinema 346–347 • Home Entertainment 351
Arts and Entertainment^349
Animation
Animation is an illusion made with a sequence of still pictures that are each
slightly different. The pictures are shown at speed to give an impression
of movement. Animation is often filmed at 24 frames per second (fps) and
12 fps. The main types are cel, stop-frame, and. COMPUTER ANIMATION.
COMPUTER ANIMATION
Computer animation was first used in video games, but as the
technology developed, it spread to film and television for special
effects and animated features. Computer animation has evolved
from both cel and stop-frame animation techniques.
WHAT IS CEL ANIMATION?
An animator produces a sequence of pencil drawings
on paper. These are traced onto clear sheets called
cels, and coloured in with paints. Each cel is placed on
a background and filmed as one frame. The background
remains constant while the cels are changed.
HOW DOES STOP-FRAME ANIMATION WORK?
Stop-frame animation is made using models. A
miniature set is built to represent a room or a street.
Puppets are placed in the set, moved small amounts,
and filmed one shot at a time. Modern stop-frame
animation also uses computers.
HOW IS COMPUTER ANIMATION MADE?
Using 3-D computer software, models can be built,
coloured, and animated in a virtual environment.
Computer animation, unlike stop-frame animation,
does not need the model placed in every position
of a movement. Instead, key poses are set and the
computer creates the positions in-between.
CAN COMPUTERS ANIMATE BY THEMSELVES?
Computer software can calculate and re-create the
physical movement of objects dropping, bouncing,
and even knocking into each other. However, the
personalities and emotions of people and creatures
are too complex for a computer to understand. The
human animation artist is still a vital part of the process.
1 CHICKEN RUN
The set for Chicken Run (2000), made by animation firm Aardman, was
built in a warehouse. The team of 40 animators moved each model a tiny
amount for each of the 24 shots needed to produce one second of film.1 AN AMERICAN TAIL
This 1986 feature animation was made on cel and directed by the
famous US animator Don Bluth. It tells the story of Russian Jewish
mice who flee to America, only to discover that cats live there too!
1 BUILDING A MODEL
Animation models are made with
clay or latex (a rubber and plastic
compound). They are built up on
a simple metal skeleton called an
armature, which can be moved.ANTZ 3
Antz (1998) by Dreamworks was
the second fully computer-
animated movie ever made. The
characters are individually
animated but the film used a
crowd animation system so
that scenes could contain
thousands of ants.animation