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5,200 | With every release they seemed to somehow better themselves, producing a remarkable streak of masterpieces. | sentence | Following Toy Story, Pixar animation hit a golden streak virtually unparalleled in the history of all film, not just animation. With every release they seemed to somehow better themselves, producing a remarkable streak of masterpieces. Wall-E, the beautiful, funny and achingly romantic tale of a lonely space robot remains, for many, their finest hour. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | The History of Animation - Into Film | https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/88 |
5,201 | Wall-E, the beautiful, funny and achingly romantic tale of a lonely space robot remains, for many, their finest hour. | sentence | Following Toy Story, Pixar animation hit a golden streak virtually unparalleled in the history of all film, not just animation. With every release they seemed to somehow better themselves, producing a remarkable streak of masterpieces. Wall-E, the beautiful, funny and achingly romantic tale of a lonely space robot remains, for many, their finest hour. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | The History of Animation - Into Film | https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/88 |
5,202 | Following a period of relative commercial and critical stagnation, in recent years Disney animation has seen a return to their glory days of old. This has not been better demonstrated than in the global phenomenon of Frozen, returning to the tradition of adapting fairy tales, but updating the standard princess formula into something more modern and progressive. | paragraph | BFI/Lottery logo
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# Animation: The History of Animation
Fantastia Image
Fantastia ImageFantasia © DISNEY ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDHome | Films | Explore Film Lists | Animation: The History of Animation
Attempting to sum up the history of animation in just a few films is a near impossible task! Like any artistic medium, animation is full of innovators, game-changers, and unparalleled geniuses. Using moving images to tell stories has been around since prehistoric times, although animation as we think of it today truly started in the 19th century, developing through the invention of devices such as the magic lantern and zoetrope. After the emergence of cinema things really developed, mostly through short films in the silent era.
As the technology progressed, so did the scale of what could be achieved, with animation evolving into one of the most artistically and commercially significant genres in all of cinema, and becoming a defining element of children's film. Remarkably, the genre only continues to grow in popularity and sophistication today, and the days of one animated feature being released a year are long gone. Now there are dozens each year, hailing from around the world, pushing storytelling possibilities in new ways, and continuing to develop new animation techniques. Here are a selection of some of the most significant, from the silent era through to the present day.
Vintage Mickey
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration64 mins
### Vintage Mickey(1928)
A collection of some of the earliest Mickey Mouse cartoons, including his first appearance in 'Steamboat Willie'.
Few characters are as associated with animation as t Disney mascot Mickey Mouse. This collection of early short films show the evolution of the character and demonstrate the speed at which animation, and the Disney company were evolving. The most iconic remains Steamboat Willie, which introduced themes and techniques that would be carried forward into full-length features.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertPG
Age group7+
Duration66 mins
### The Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926)
This magical fantasy is the oldest surviving animation film in the world, telling an Arabian Nights-style story using a stunning silhouette style.
The oldest surviving animated film in the world, this magical story is directed by German animator Lotte Reiniger. Making the film involved cut-outs in a technique that was similar to shadow puppets, laying the ground for scores of fantastic animated films that would follow.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration83 mins
### Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937)
Disney's funny, beautifully drawn animated version of the classic fairytale about a lovely princess on the run from her wicked stepmother.
Disney’s film was the first to be made using entirely hand drawn animation, introducing the world to a style of storytelling that would dominate commercial animation for many decades. More than eighty years later, Show White’s adventures with Dopey, Grumpy, Happy and co continues to be one of the most beloved films of all time, with timeless storytelling and a huge heart.
Fantasia
CertU
Age groupAll ages
Duration120 mins
### Fantasia(1940)
A Disney classic like no other, Fantasia is a magical journey through sound and vision.
Walt Disney’s third feature remains staggeringly ambitious, bold and beautiful. Playing in cinemas for many years after its release, in a touring “roadshow” format, it was hailed as a masterpiece on its release and remains one of the most unique films in the animation canon, blending lavish visuals, classical music, and bucket loads of Mickey Mouse fun to wonderful effect.
Animal Farm
CertU
Age group7+
Duration69 mins
### Animal Farm(1954)
A faithful animated retelling of the classic story by novelist George Orwell that sees farm animals split into conflicting groups.
The first British animated feature was this adaptation of Orwell’s classic satire. Although some of the novel’s darker elements were toned down for younger audiences, it remains a remarkably successful animation and is still considered one of the strongest British films ever made, proving that children’s animation could tackle serious themes and remain delightfully entertaining
Jason and the Argonauts
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertU
Age group7+
Duration99 mins
### Jason and the Argonauts(1963)
Based on a Greek myth, this classic adventure follows a band of warriors and their leader on a supposedly doomed voyage to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
This adaptation of the Greek myth remains hugely popular and perhaps the best example of the work of stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen. Celebrated for its astonishing extended battle involving several skeleton figures, the film influenced the likes of Spielberg, Lucas, and J.J. Abrams and was even once called the greatest film ever made by no less a figure than Tom Hanks!
Laputa - Castle In The Sky
CertPG
Age group5–11
Duration119 mins
### Laputa - Castle In The Sky(1986)
Superb Japanese animation about a girl and boy on the run with a pendant wanted by pirates.
Japanese director Hiyao Miyasaki is rightly seen as one of the most significant figures in the history of animation, responsible for a string of masterpieces through the company he co-founded, Studio Ghibli, including Spirited Away and Ponyo. This was his debut feature, made before Ghibli, but a wonderful demonstration of the magical, poetic beauty that came to define his work.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
CertPG
Age group7–16
Duration99 mins
### Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)
The world of live-action and cartoons meet to great effect in this hilarious, film noir-inspired comedy.
Set in the golden age of Hollywood, where humans and animated characters co-exist, this remarkable twist on film noir was the first feature to seamlessly incorporate animation into a live action film. Like the best films, it never forgets that to truly succeed with audiences technical achievement should never come at the expense of story, character and wit.
Beauty and the Beast
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–14
Duration88 mins
### Beauty and the Beast(1991)
Animated classic which proves yet again that true beauty lies not in a person's appearance, but what is in their heart.
Arguably the most enduring of Disney’s string of classic musicals of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Beauty and the Beast has its place in film history for being the first animation to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. And rightly so, this tale as old as time is a work of spellbinding magic, beauty, and romance, that has never been bettered.
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales - Disc 1
CertPG
Age group7–14
Duration100 mins
### Shakespeare: The Animated Tales - Disc 1(1992)
Short animated versions of Shakespeare's plays, the perfect way to get to know the work of one of Britain's greatest writers.
Animation can be used to tell important stories, and introduce young audiences to significant pieces of literature and cultural history. Disney famously adapted Hamlet into The Lion King, but the BBC and S4C got there first, adapting the Shakespeare canon into a series of wonderful, eclectic and accessible short animations, using a variety of innovative techniques.
Toy Story
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertPG
Age group7–11
Duration79 mins
### Toy Story(1995)
Old-fashioned cowboy toy Woody is threatened by the arrival of flashy, hi-tech Buzz Lightyear in this character-driven animation from Pixar.
Few films can be said to have genuinely changed cinema history, but Pixar’s debut, Toy Story is undoubtedly one of them. The first computer animated feature ushered in a technique that is now almost ubiquitous. Not only that, it’s also one of the most enduring pieces of animated storytelling, the adventures of Buzz, Woody and co influencing children’s cinema for generations.
The Prince Of Egypt
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration95 mins
### The Prince Of Egypt(1998)
Visually astonishing feature-length animation that breathes life into the biblical story of Moses.
In the history of animation, the number of films directed by women is distressingly low. It was not until 1998 that a major Hollywood studio (Dreamworks) employed a solo female director in this field for the first time. The result is one of the most visually spectacular animations ever made, and an enduring, entertaining take on one of the Bible’s best-known stories.
Shrek
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–14
Duration87 mins
### Shrek(2001)
Animated comedy about a fat, green, bad-tempered ogre banished from his woods cabin home by an evil lord, which has become a modern classic.
In 2001, the Oscar for Best Animated Film was finally introduced, an award which has helped bring about a massive increase in the volume and consistent quality of animations being produced. The first winner was Shrek, a sly and witty take on traditional fairy-tales, with a big green ogre at its heart, and a rollicking pop soundtrack that influenced many subsequent films.
Belleville Rendez-Vous
Cert12
Age group11+
Duration80 mins
### Belleville Rendez-Vous(2003)
Grandma Souza goes hot on the heels of malevolent mafiosos after they steal her Tour de France-riding grandson.
There is an incredibly rich history of animation in European countries, particularly in France. One of their most successful exports is this wonderfully eccentric comedy, which uses song and pantomime to tell the story of a grandmother trying to rescue her grandson, a Tour De France cyclist, after he is kidnapped by the local mafia.
The Polar Express
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration96 mins
### The Polar Express(2004)
Fantastical animation about a boy who is starting to doubt Santa's existence, and is picked up by a train heading north to see the big man himself.
Audiences are now fairly familiar with the processes of motion capture. The first animation to utilize this technique for an entire feature was The Polar Express, which features human characters animated using live action motion capture animation. The technique allowed Tom Hanks to play six different roles in a film that has become a Christmas classic.
Team America: World Police
Cert15
Age group14+
Duration93 mins
### Team America: World Police(2004)
Outrageous puppet movie about the activities of a band of anti-terrorism agents, from the creators of South Park.
Animation has never exclusively been for younger audiences and has often been utilized for some uniquely subversive and daring political satire. One of the most prominent examples of this is the riotous and outrageous Team America, from the creators of South Park, which skewered the right, the left, and oh, just about everyone during the height of the War on Terror.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
CertU
Age groupAll ages
Duration81 mins
### Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit(2005)
Much-loved stop-motion animation from Aardman where a dreaded Were-Rabbit puts the duo's chances at a vegetable competition at risk.
Wallace and Gromit were already household names in Britain due to their extraordinarily successful short film adventures, before they even hit the big screen. Such jumps are often met with disappointment, but the plucky inventor and his loyal canine companion passed the test with flying colours, delighting audiences around the world with Aardman’s unique charm.
WALL-E
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertU
Age groupAll ages
Duration98 mins
### WALL-E(2008)
A small, rather hopeless looking robot is left alone on Earth to clean up the mess left by humans, in this wonderful Pixar animation.
Following Toy Story, Pixar animation hit a golden streak virtually unparalleled in the history of all film, not just animation. With every release they seemed to somehow better themselves, producing a remarkable streak of masterpieces. Wall-E, the beautiful, funny and achingly romantic tale of a lonely space robot remains, for many, their finest hour.
Frozen
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertPG
Age group7–14
Duration97 mins
### Frozen(2013)
Snow-filled and funny Disney adventure inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's icy fairytale, The Snow Queen.
Following a period of relative commercial and critical stagnation, in recent years Disney animation has seen a return to their glory days of old. This has not been better demonstrated than in the global phenomenon of Frozen, returning to the tradition of adapting fairy tales, but updating the standard princess formula into something more modern and progressive.
The Red Turtle
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertPG
Age group7+
Duration81 mins
### The Red Turtle(2016)
A reflective, dialogue-free animation which sees a man encounter a strange red turtle after becoming stranded on a desert island.
The animation genre continues to innovate and surprise audiences. 2017’s The Red Turtle charmed and moved audiences by returning to dialogue free (but not silent) storytelling for the remarkable tale of a man stranded on a desert island, before encountering a mysterious giant turtle. An immersive, poetic masterpiece.
Load more
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© 2024 Into Film | Registered charity number - 1154030 | article | Arabic | ar | The History of Animation - Into Film | https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/88 |
5,203 | Following a period of relative commercial and critical stagnation, in recent years Disney animation has seen a return to their glory days of old. | sentence | Following a period of relative commercial and critical stagnation, in recent years Disney animation has seen a return to their glory days of old. This has not been better demonstrated than in the global phenomenon of Frozen, returning to the tradition of adapting fairy tales, but updating the standard princess formula into something more modern and progressive. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | The History of Animation - Into Film | https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/88 |
5,204 | This has not been better demonstrated than in the global phenomenon of Frozen, returning to the tradition of adapting fairy tales, but updating the standard princess formula into something more modern and progressive. | sentence | Following a period of relative commercial and critical stagnation, in recent years Disney animation has seen a return to their glory days of old. This has not been better demonstrated than in the global phenomenon of Frozen, returning to the tradition of adapting fairy tales, but updating the standard princess formula into something more modern and progressive. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | The History of Animation - Into Film | https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/88 |
5,205 | The animation genre continues to innovate and surprise audiences. 2017’s The Red Turtle charmed and moved audiences by returning to dialogue free (but not silent) storytelling for the remarkable tale of a man stranded on a desert island, before encountering a mysterious giant turtle. An immersive, poetic masterpiece. | paragraph | BFI/Lottery logo
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# Animation: The History of Animation
Fantastia Image
Fantastia ImageFantasia © DISNEY ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDHome | Films | Explore Film Lists | Animation: The History of Animation
Attempting to sum up the history of animation in just a few films is a near impossible task! Like any artistic medium, animation is full of innovators, game-changers, and unparalleled geniuses. Using moving images to tell stories has been around since prehistoric times, although animation as we think of it today truly started in the 19th century, developing through the invention of devices such as the magic lantern and zoetrope. After the emergence of cinema things really developed, mostly through short films in the silent era.
As the technology progressed, so did the scale of what could be achieved, with animation evolving into one of the most artistically and commercially significant genres in all of cinema, and becoming a defining element of children's film. Remarkably, the genre only continues to grow in popularity and sophistication today, and the days of one animated feature being released a year are long gone. Now there are dozens each year, hailing from around the world, pushing storytelling possibilities in new ways, and continuing to develop new animation techniques. Here are a selection of some of the most significant, from the silent era through to the present day.
Vintage Mickey
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration64 mins
### Vintage Mickey(1928)
A collection of some of the earliest Mickey Mouse cartoons, including his first appearance in 'Steamboat Willie'.
Few characters are as associated with animation as t Disney mascot Mickey Mouse. This collection of early short films show the evolution of the character and demonstrate the speed at which animation, and the Disney company were evolving. The most iconic remains Steamboat Willie, which introduced themes and techniques that would be carried forward into full-length features.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertPG
Age group7+
Duration66 mins
### The Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926)
This magical fantasy is the oldest surviving animation film in the world, telling an Arabian Nights-style story using a stunning silhouette style.
The oldest surviving animated film in the world, this magical story is directed by German animator Lotte Reiniger. Making the film involved cut-outs in a technique that was similar to shadow puppets, laying the ground for scores of fantastic animated films that would follow.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration83 mins
### Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937)
Disney's funny, beautifully drawn animated version of the classic fairytale about a lovely princess on the run from her wicked stepmother.
Disney’s film was the first to be made using entirely hand drawn animation, introducing the world to a style of storytelling that would dominate commercial animation for many decades. More than eighty years later, Show White’s adventures with Dopey, Grumpy, Happy and co continues to be one of the most beloved films of all time, with timeless storytelling and a huge heart.
Fantasia
CertU
Age groupAll ages
Duration120 mins
### Fantasia(1940)
A Disney classic like no other, Fantasia is a magical journey through sound and vision.
Walt Disney’s third feature remains staggeringly ambitious, bold and beautiful. Playing in cinemas for many years after its release, in a touring “roadshow” format, it was hailed as a masterpiece on its release and remains one of the most unique films in the animation canon, blending lavish visuals, classical music, and bucket loads of Mickey Mouse fun to wonderful effect.
Animal Farm
CertU
Age group7+
Duration69 mins
### Animal Farm(1954)
A faithful animated retelling of the classic story by novelist George Orwell that sees farm animals split into conflicting groups.
The first British animated feature was this adaptation of Orwell’s classic satire. Although some of the novel’s darker elements were toned down for younger audiences, it remains a remarkably successful animation and is still considered one of the strongest British films ever made, proving that children’s animation could tackle serious themes and remain delightfully entertaining
Jason and the Argonauts
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertU
Age group7+
Duration99 mins
### Jason and the Argonauts(1963)
Based on a Greek myth, this classic adventure follows a band of warriors and their leader on a supposedly doomed voyage to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
This adaptation of the Greek myth remains hugely popular and perhaps the best example of the work of stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen. Celebrated for its astonishing extended battle involving several skeleton figures, the film influenced the likes of Spielberg, Lucas, and J.J. Abrams and was even once called the greatest film ever made by no less a figure than Tom Hanks!
Laputa - Castle In The Sky
CertPG
Age group5–11
Duration119 mins
### Laputa - Castle In The Sky(1986)
Superb Japanese animation about a girl and boy on the run with a pendant wanted by pirates.
Japanese director Hiyao Miyasaki is rightly seen as one of the most significant figures in the history of animation, responsible for a string of masterpieces through the company he co-founded, Studio Ghibli, including Spirited Away and Ponyo. This was his debut feature, made before Ghibli, but a wonderful demonstration of the magical, poetic beauty that came to define his work.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
CertPG
Age group7–16
Duration99 mins
### Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)
The world of live-action and cartoons meet to great effect in this hilarious, film noir-inspired comedy.
Set in the golden age of Hollywood, where humans and animated characters co-exist, this remarkable twist on film noir was the first feature to seamlessly incorporate animation into a live action film. Like the best films, it never forgets that to truly succeed with audiences technical achievement should never come at the expense of story, character and wit.
Beauty and the Beast
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–14
Duration88 mins
### Beauty and the Beast(1991)
Animated classic which proves yet again that true beauty lies not in a person's appearance, but what is in their heart.
Arguably the most enduring of Disney’s string of classic musicals of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Beauty and the Beast has its place in film history for being the first animation to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. And rightly so, this tale as old as time is a work of spellbinding magic, beauty, and romance, that has never been bettered.
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales - Disc 1
CertPG
Age group7–14
Duration100 mins
### Shakespeare: The Animated Tales - Disc 1(1992)
Short animated versions of Shakespeare's plays, the perfect way to get to know the work of one of Britain's greatest writers.
Animation can be used to tell important stories, and introduce young audiences to significant pieces of literature and cultural history. Disney famously adapted Hamlet into The Lion King, but the BBC and S4C got there first, adapting the Shakespeare canon into a series of wonderful, eclectic and accessible short animations, using a variety of innovative techniques.
Toy Story
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertPG
Age group7–11
Duration79 mins
### Toy Story(1995)
Old-fashioned cowboy toy Woody is threatened by the arrival of flashy, hi-tech Buzz Lightyear in this character-driven animation from Pixar.
Few films can be said to have genuinely changed cinema history, but Pixar’s debut, Toy Story is undoubtedly one of them. The first computer animated feature ushered in a technique that is now almost ubiquitous. Not only that, it’s also one of the most enduring pieces of animated storytelling, the adventures of Buzz, Woody and co influencing children’s cinema for generations.
The Prince Of Egypt
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration95 mins
### The Prince Of Egypt(1998)
Visually astonishing feature-length animation that breathes life into the biblical story of Moses.
In the history of animation, the number of films directed by women is distressingly low. It was not until 1998 that a major Hollywood studio (Dreamworks) employed a solo female director in this field for the first time. The result is one of the most visually spectacular animations ever made, and an enduring, entertaining take on one of the Bible’s best-known stories.
Shrek
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–14
Duration87 mins
### Shrek(2001)
Animated comedy about a fat, green, bad-tempered ogre banished from his woods cabin home by an evil lord, which has become a modern classic.
In 2001, the Oscar for Best Animated Film was finally introduced, an award which has helped bring about a massive increase in the volume and consistent quality of animations being produced. The first winner was Shrek, a sly and witty take on traditional fairy-tales, with a big green ogre at its heart, and a rollicking pop soundtrack that influenced many subsequent films.
Belleville Rendez-Vous
Cert12
Age group11+
Duration80 mins
### Belleville Rendez-Vous(2003)
Grandma Souza goes hot on the heels of malevolent mafiosos after they steal her Tour de France-riding grandson.
There is an incredibly rich history of animation in European countries, particularly in France. One of their most successful exports is this wonderfully eccentric comedy, which uses song and pantomime to tell the story of a grandmother trying to rescue her grandson, a Tour De France cyclist, after he is kidnapped by the local mafia.
The Polar Express
Available to streamon Into Film+
CertU
Age group5–11
Duration96 mins
### The Polar Express(2004)
Fantastical animation about a boy who is starting to doubt Santa's existence, and is picked up by a train heading north to see the big man himself.
Audiences are now fairly familiar with the processes of motion capture. The first animation to utilize this technique for an entire feature was The Polar Express, which features human characters animated using live action motion capture animation. The technique allowed Tom Hanks to play six different roles in a film that has become a Christmas classic.
Team America: World Police
Cert15
Age group14+
Duration93 mins
### Team America: World Police(2004)
Outrageous puppet movie about the activities of a band of anti-terrorism agents, from the creators of South Park.
Animation has never exclusively been for younger audiences and has often been utilized for some uniquely subversive and daring political satire. One of the most prominent examples of this is the riotous and outrageous Team America, from the creators of South Park, which skewered the right, the left, and oh, just about everyone during the height of the War on Terror.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
CertU
Age groupAll ages
Duration81 mins
### Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit(2005)
Much-loved stop-motion animation from Aardman where a dreaded Were-Rabbit puts the duo's chances at a vegetable competition at risk.
Wallace and Gromit were already household names in Britain due to their extraordinarily successful short film adventures, before they even hit the big screen. Such jumps are often met with disappointment, but the plucky inventor and his loyal canine companion passed the test with flying colours, delighting audiences around the world with Aardman’s unique charm.
WALL-E
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertU
Age groupAll ages
Duration98 mins
### WALL-E(2008)
A small, rather hopeless looking robot is left alone on Earth to clean up the mess left by humans, in this wonderful Pixar animation.
Following Toy Story, Pixar animation hit a golden streak virtually unparalleled in the history of all film, not just animation. With every release they seemed to somehow better themselves, producing a remarkable streak of masterpieces. Wall-E, the beautiful, funny and achingly romantic tale of a lonely space robot remains, for many, their finest hour.
Frozen
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertPG
Age group7–14
Duration97 mins
### Frozen(2013)
Snow-filled and funny Disney adventure inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's icy fairytale, The Snow Queen.
Following a period of relative commercial and critical stagnation, in recent years Disney animation has seen a return to their glory days of old. This has not been better demonstrated than in the global phenomenon of Frozen, returning to the tradition of adapting fairy tales, but updating the standard princess formula into something more modern and progressive.
The Red Turtle
Available to streamon Into Film+ Premium
CertPG
Age group7+
Duration81 mins
### The Red Turtle(2016)
A reflective, dialogue-free animation which sees a man encounter a strange red turtle after becoming stranded on a desert island.
The animation genre continues to innovate and surprise audiences. 2017’s The Red Turtle charmed and moved audiences by returning to dialogue free (but not silent) storytelling for the remarkable tale of a man stranded on a desert island, before encountering a mysterious giant turtle. An immersive, poetic masterpiece.
Load more
Viewing 0 of 0 films in list
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© 2024 Into Film | Registered charity number - 1154030 | article | Arabic | ar | The History of Animation - Into Film | https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/88 |
5,206 | The animation genre continues to innovate and surprise audiences. 2017’s The Red Turtle charmed and moved audiences by returning to dialogue free (but not silent) storytelling for the remarkable tale of a man stranded on a desert island, before encountering a mysterious giant turtle. | sentence | The animation genre continues to innovate and surprise audiences. 2017’s The Red Turtle charmed and moved audiences by returning to dialogue free (but not silent) storytelling for the remarkable tale of a man stranded on a desert island, before encountering a mysterious giant turtle. An immersive, poetic masterpiece. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | The History of Animation - Into Film | https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/88 |
5,207 | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | title | تاريخ فن الأنميشن | query | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
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10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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5,209 | Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,210 | Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. | sentence | Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,211 | At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. | sentence | Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,212 | From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. | sentence | Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,213 | As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling. | sentence | Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,214 | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,215 | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. | sentence | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,216 | This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. | sentence | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,217 | But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? | sentence | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,218 | Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. | sentence | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,219 | Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. | sentence | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,220 | Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | sentence | Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,221 | However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
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May 21, 2024
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,222 | Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. | sentence | However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,223 | Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age. | sentence | However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,224 | Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation? | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,225 | Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. | sentence | Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation? | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,226 | It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. | sentence | Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation? | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,227 | But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation? | sentence | Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation? | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,228 | The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,229 | The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. | sentence | The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,230 | Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers. | sentence | The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,231 | Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow
The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,232 | Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. | sentence | Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,233 | On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. | sentence | Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,234 | While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art. | sentence | Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,235 | Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,236 | Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. | sentence | Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,237 | With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. | sentence | Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,238 | In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time. | sentence | Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,239 | Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,240 | Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films. | sentence | Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,241 | While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how: | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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5,242 | While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. | sentence | While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how: | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,244 | Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. | sentence | Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques: | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,245 | To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques: | sentence | Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques: | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,246 | Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,247 | Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. | sentence | Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,248 | Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions. | sentence | Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,249 | Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
--
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Follow
The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,250 | Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow
The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,251 | Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. | sentence | Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,252 | Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years. | sentence | Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,253 | Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations. | paragraph | Sign up
Sign up
# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,254 | Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. | sentence | Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,255 | This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations. | sentence | Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,256 | Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow
The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,257 | Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. | sentence | Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,258 | Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money. | sentence | Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,259 | Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937. | paragraph | Sign up
Sign up
# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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5,260 | Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. | sentence | Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,261 | Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937. | sentence | Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,262 | Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
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May 21, 2024
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow
The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,263 | Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. | sentence | Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,264 | Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. | sentence | Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,265 | Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping. | sentence | Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,266 | In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,267 | In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. | sentence | In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,268 | While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. | sentence | In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,269 | Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons. | sentence | In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,270 | Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,271 | Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. | sentence | Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,272 | By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. | sentence | Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,273 | While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. | sentence | Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,274 | In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software. | sentence | Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,275 | It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
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10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,276 | It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. | sentence | It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,277 | A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. | sentence | It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,278 | This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow. | sentence | It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,279 | The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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5,280 | Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,281 | Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. | sentence | Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,282 | For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion. | sentence | Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,283 | In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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5,284 | During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,285 | During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. | sentence | During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,286 | It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics. | sentence | During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,287 | The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,288 | The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. | sentence | The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,289 | Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz. | sentence | The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,290 | Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,291 | Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). | sentence | Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,292 | Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences. | sentence | Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,293 | Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008). | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
·
10 min read
·
May 21, 2024
--
Listen
Share
An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,294 | Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?( | sentence | Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008). | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,295 | 1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). | sentence | Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008). | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,296 | It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008). | sentence | Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008). | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,297 | In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia. | paragraph | Sign up
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# ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES
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May 21, 2024
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An almost Exhaustive Look at the Various Animation Techniques used throughout History.
Article by: Nhlakanipho Kubheka
Animation, an intricate art form, has evolved significantly throughout history, showcasing a diverse range of techniques employed by artists to bring still images to life. At its core, animation involves the creation of moving images through a series of carefully crafted iterations, each subtly different from the last to convey fluid motion. From the early days of hand-drawn animation, where artists painstakingly crafted each frame, to the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and advanced digital techniques, animation has continuously evolved, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.As we delve into the intricate world of animation, we’ll explore the innovation, creativity, and ingenuity that have propelled these techniques to the forefront of visual storytelling.
CEL ANIMATION
Disney captivated audiences for generations with its cel animation in the 20th century. This traditional hand-drawn technique transformed the visual landscape of cinema. But what exactly is cel animation, and how does it function? Explore the comprehensive breakdown in our expert guide. Artists at Walt Disney Studios popularized the technique during the 1930s. Cel animation became standard practice from the 1950s through the 1980s, highlighted by films like The Little Mermaid.
However, by the early 1990s, the digital era emerged. Initially, computers were employed for coloring film, but soon the entire process transitioned to digital handling, as explained by Disney animator Floyd Norman to Collider. Despite this shift, critics, artists, and cinema enthusiasts fondly remember the era of cel animation as a golden age.
Cel animation vs. digital animation: key differences. Cel animation dominated Hollywood for much of the 20th century, thanks to its popularization by Walt Disney Studios. It wasn’t until 1995 that the first computer-generated film arrived with Toy Story, from the then-new studio, Pixar. But what sets digital animation apart from traditional animation?
Hand-drawn vs. computer-designed
The primary distinction between these two animation types lies in their creation process. Cel animation involves artists drawing by hand onto celluloid sheets, known as animated cels, while digital animation is primarily created using software and computers.
Algorithm vs. artistry.
Disney animators working on films like Snow White were primarily artists, using pens, pencils, and paints as their tools. On the other hand, CGI creators work with algorithms and 3D graphics. While CGI artists demonstrate vast creative skills, their approach differs from the hand-drawn finesse of traditional animation, which resembles fine art.
Large teams vs. smaller teams.
Producing films using traditional animation and animated cels required significant resources. With each frame hand-drawn, productions needed numerous animators. In contrast, CGI films could be created with fewer people in less time.
Examples of cel animation. Cel animation gained public attention in the late 1930s when Disney used the technique in its animated films, bringing color, movement, and realism to animated films.
Some notable examples include:
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Sleeping Beauty (1959)
• The Lion King (1994)
• The Princess and the Frog (2009)
How to Make Traditional Animation:
While traditional cel animations have been largely replaced by CGI and other digital animation techniques, you can still create a cel animation today. Here’s how:
• Gather the right tools: Traditional animation relies on pens, pencils, and paper.
• Source your plastic: You’ll need a thin sheet of colorless, transparent, and flexible plastic for your animated cel.
• Draw your outline: Hand-draw the outline on the front of the plastic sheet.
• Add color: On the flip side of your sheet, add color and detail within the outline.
• Repeat for each frame: Draw and fill an outline for each frame in your scene.
• Create a background: Design the background of the scene separately.
- Place the animation: Place the animation cels over your background and photograph each frame.
Traditional Animation Techniques
Traditional animation comprises several techniques and processes, including cel animation. To understand how those iconic animations were created, let’s explore some of these techniques:
Cel drawing: Hand drawing individual frames of animation on thin, transparent plastic sheets.
These animations, called animated cels, popularized by Disney in the late 1930s, were placed over pre-created backgrounds and photographed.
Cel overlay: Part of the cel animation process that transformed animated filmmaking in the mid-20th century. Characters were hand-drawn on plastic sheets and placed over existing backgrounds, enabling characters to move and change positions and expressions.
Limited animation: Created as a compromise to the time-consuming process of frame-by-frame cel drawing, limited animation techniques re-used existing frames wherever possible, only creating new animated cels when necessary.
Animation loops: Short, simple sequences of animation set to continually replay. Animation loops date back to the early 1900s, with digital technology transforming their potential in recent years.
Multiplane processes: Disney revolutionized cel animation with the multiplane camera in the late 1930s. This camera introduced different levels or planes with characters and objects placed at different levels, creating a sense of depth in animations.
Xerography: Disney utilized Xerox’s technique to streamline the cel animation process in the production of 101 Dalmatians in 1959/60. Scanning drawings directly onto cels saved animators time and money.
Rotoscoping: A technique used by animators to bring realistic movement to characters by tracing over footage of characters as they move frame by frame. Rotoscoping was developed in the early1900s and brought to the big screen by Disney in Snow White in 1937.
DISCUSSING ROTOSCOPING IN DETAIL
Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to create realistic action. Initially, live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and traced onto paper using a device called a rotoscope, invented by Polish-American animator Max Fleischer. Although computers have since replaced this equipment, the process remains known as rotoscoping.
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping involves manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate, allowing it to be composited over a different background. While chroma keying is more commonly used for background replacement due to its speed and reduced post-production work, rotoscoping offers higher accuracy and can be used alongside chroma keying. Additionally, rotoscoping is useful when the subject is not filmed against a green or blue screen or for practical or economic reasons.
Technique:
Rotoscoping has long been a critical tool for visual effects in live-action films. By meticulously tracing an object, filmmakers generate a silhouette, or matte, which allows them to seamlessly extract the object from one scene and integrate it into another background. While blue- and greenscreen techniques have simplified the process of layering elements within scenes, rotoscoping remains essential in the creation of visual effects imagery. In the digital age, rotoscoping is significantly enhanced by advanced motion-tracking and onion-skinning software.
It is frequently employed to prepare garbage mattes for other matte extraction processes and to create special visual effects, such as glows, guided by the matte or rotoscoped outline. A quintessential example of traditional rotoscoping is found in the original Star Wars trilogy, where it was utilized to produce the iconic glowing lightsaber effect. This was achieved by tracing each frame with the prop, then enlarging the line and adding the luminous glow.
The method was extensively employed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to enhance the realism of human characters’ movements, though the film’s budget surpassed expectations due to the intricacy of the animation.
Rotoscoping was occasionally utilized by Leon Schlesinger Productions, the studio responsible for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. For instance, the opening sequence of the 1939 MGM cartoon “Petunia Natural Park” from The Captain and the Kids featured a rotoscoped rendition of MGM’s mascot, Jackie the Lion.
In the challenging circumstances of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, rotoscoping was extensively employed in Princess Iron Fan (1941), China’s inaugural animated feature film.
During the early days of animated filmmaking in the Soviet Union, rotoscoping found favor, particularly in adaptations of folk tales or poems, such as The Night Before Christmas or The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. It wasn’t until the early 1960s, following the “Khrushchev Thaw,” that animators began exploring divergent aesthetics.
The creators of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine incorporated rotoscoping into the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sequence. Similarly, director Martin Scorsese utilized rotoscoping to edit out a conspicuous chunk of cocaine from Neil Young’s nose in his rock documentary The Last Waltz.
Ralph Bakshi heavily relied on rotoscoping for several of his animated features, including Wizards (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), American Pop (1981), Fire and Ice (1983), and Cool World (1992). Bakshi initially turned to rotoscoping when 20th Century Fox denied his request for a budget increase to complete Wizards; he employed the technique to finish the battle sequences.
Rotoscoping found further application in a variety of productions, such as Tom Waits For No One (1979), Heavy Metal (1981), What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?(1983), It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), the Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” music video (1985), and three of A-ha’s music videos, “Take On Me” (1985), “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985), and “Train of Thought” (1986). It was also utilized in Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail(1986), Harry and the Hendersons (closing credits), The BFG (1989), and Titan A.E. (2000), as well as Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues(2008).
In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia.
In the mid-1990s, animator and computer scientist Bob Sabiston, an MIT Media Lab veteran, pioneered a computer-assisted “interpolated rotoscoping” process, notably showcased in his award winning short film “Snack and Drink.” Director Richard Linklater subsequently enlisted Sabiston and his proprietary rotoscope software for the full-length feature films Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). Linklater was the first director to utilize digital rotoscoping for an entire feature film. Additionally, a series of television commercials for Charles Schwab’s “Talk to Chuck campaign from 2005 to 2008 showcased Sabiston’s rotoscoping work, while The Simpsons employed rotoscoping for a couch gag in the episode Barthood, described by Lisa as “a noble experiment that failed.”
In 2013, the anime The Flowers of Evil adopted rotoscoping to create a distinct visual style divergent from its manga source material. While viewers criticized the show’s shortcuts in facial animation, reuse of backgrounds, and liberties taken with realism, critics praised the film, with Anime News Network awarding it a perfect score for initial reactions.
Early 2015 saw the release of the anime film The Case of Hana & Alice, a prequel to the 2004 live action film Hana and Alice, entirely animated using Rotoshop. Unlike The Flowers of Evil, it received widespread acclaim for its rotoscoping.
Kowabon[jp], a short-form horror anime series, also utilized rotoscoping and aired on Japanese TV in 2015.
The cutscenes in Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2017) were animated using rotoscope.
Undone(2019–), an Amazon Prime original series, employed rotoscoping in its creation.
The Spine of Night (2021), a feature-length fantasy film directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, was animated using rotoscoping. Prior to this, King’s Gorgonaut Studios had utilized rotoscoping for a series of short fantasy films.
STOP MOTION ANIMATION
Numerous acclaimed films highlight stop motion animation. But what exactly constitutes stop motion video? It entails manipulating real-world objects and photographing them frame by frame. These frames are then compiled into a sequence and played back, creating the illusion of movement. Stop motion encompasses various animation forms, including claymation and cutout animation.
Types of stop motion animation:
Claymation: This technique involves sculpting characters and props from modeling clay to craft unique worlds. Claymation entails the sculpting and frame-by-frame manipulation of clay-based characters or objects. Notable examples include the beloved Wallace & Gromit duo from Aardman
Animations and Rankin/Bass seasonal specials. Examples: Morph, Wallace & Gromit
Pixilation: Pixilation incorporates live actors into the process, requiring them to hold poses for still photography while making subtle movements between frames. One noteworthy example is the music video by The Maccabees for their song “Latchmere.” Examples: Hôtel électrique (1908)
Cutout-Motion: Involving two-dimensional objects typically made from paper, cutout-motion animates their movements. The pilot episode of South Park was famously created using cutoutmotion, although its creators have since refined their techniques. Examples: The Spirit of Christmas(Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
Puppet Animation: This technique involves crafting and manipulating puppets to achieve a charming animated aesthetic. Laika, known for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is renowned for its puppet animation. Examples: Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings
Silhouette Animation: Combining cutout-motion with shadow play, silhouette animation produces captivating frames of action. Pioneered by European studios in the 1920s, it’s exemplified by the work of Lotte Reiniger, who created over 70 silhouette animation films retelling folk tales.
Examples: T he Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926), Papageno(1935)
# Acknowledgements
1. “Rotoscoping.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
2. Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. *Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life*. Hyperion, 1981.
3. Crafton, Donald. *Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898–1928*. University of Chicago Press, 1982.
4. Beck, Jerry. *The Animated Movie Guide*. Chicago Review Press, 2005.
5. Solomon, Charles. *Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation*. Random House, 1989.
6. Pilling, Jayne. *Animation: 2D and Beyond*. Laurence King Publishing, 2017.
7. Priebe, Ken A. *The Art of Ralph Bakshi*. Universe, 2003.
8. Mechner, Jordan. *The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985–1993*. eBookIt.com, 2012.
9. Crogan, Patrick. “Interactivity, Autonomy, Aesthetics: The Achievement of ‘The Last Express’.”
*Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader*, edited by Hilde G. Corneliussen
and Jill Walker Rettberg, MIT Press, 2008.
10.King, Morgan Galen. “Animating ‘The Spine of Night’.” *Animation World Network*, 21
11. “Stop Motion Animation.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
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The Medium Digest Section of the popular ghostwriting and seo company Jurnol.co.za
Follow | article | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,298 | In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. | sentence | In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
5,299 | The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia. | sentence | In 1994, Smoking Car Productions devised a digital rotoscoping technique for the development of its acclaimed adventure video game The Last Express, ultimately securing U.S. patent 6,061,462 for the Digital Cartoon and Animation Process. The game was conceptualized by Jordan Mechner, who had previously employed rotoscoping extensively in his games Karateka and Prince of Persia. | paragraph | Arabic | ar | ANIMATION AND ITS TIMELINE OF TECHNIQUES | by Jurnol | https://medium.com/@Jurnol/animation-and-its-timeline-of-techniques-ab0e85de87b1 |
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