Animation Answers

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

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

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

• 1872 – The Phenakistoscope is invented which produced an illusion of movement. • 1906 – The first animated film by J. Stuart Blackton was created. • 1928 – “Steamboat Willie” became the first successful animated film with sound.

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