3.01A History of Animation

1. 3.01A History of Animation Click on Animation link to visit Wikipedia where you can read more. I didn�t read through this with class, but pointed out a couple of things. You may not want to do this at the beginning of this powerpoint, or you may not even want to use it at all! First, I talked very briefly about George Melies and his discovery of stop-motion filming. Next, I talked very briefly about J. Stuart Blackton and then showed his Enchanted Drawing (copyright 1900.) - You get to this by clicking on the Enchanted Drawing link on Wikipedia�s page. It takes you to a still image. - Under the External Links section, click on the Enchanted Drawing link provided by the Library of Congress. - I watched the MPEG version with my students.Click on Animation link to visit Wikipedia where you can read more. I didn�t read through this with class, but pointed out a couple of things. You may not want to do this at the beginning of this powerpoint, or you may not even want to use it at all! First, I talked very briefly about George Melies and his discovery of stop-motion filming. Next, I talked very briefly about J. Stuart Blackton and then showed his Enchanted Drawing (copyright 1900.) - You get to this by clicking on the Enchanted Drawing link on Wikipedia�s page. It takes you to a still image. - Under the External Links section, click on the Enchanted Drawing link provided by the Library of Congress. - I watched the MPEG version with my students.

2. Early 1800�s Animation

3. Persistence of Vision In the early 1800�s, the phenomenon known as persistence of vision gave mankind the first glimpse into the modern world. Persistence of vision refers to the way our eyes retain images for a split second longer than they actually appear, making a series of quick flashes appear as one continuous picture. If you click on the background, it takes you to Wikipedia�s page for Zoetropes which has an animated example of the animation.If you click on the background, it takes you to Wikipedia�s page for Zoetropes which has an animated example of the animation.

4. Persistence of Vision Using a flipbook, you can see the persistence of vision effect in action. If you have a different sequential drawing on each page of the flipbook and you flip through the pages rapidly, the drawings appear to move. Click on flipbook to see an example. Also, click on the book and link for more examples of early animation techniques.Click on flipbook to see an example. Also, click on the book and link for more examples of early animation techniques.

5. Traditional Animation Also called cel animation or hand-drawn animation) Begins with a storyboard. A preliminary soundtrack is recorded. Penciled drawings are made by lead animators of key frames. Pencil-tests are prepared. The drawings are traced onto cels and painted. Finally, they are photographed. A preliminary soundtrack is recorded first to make it easier for the animators to synchronize the motion to the sound. The lead (or key) animator draws only enough key frames to get across the major point of action. They key frames are then matched to the soundtrack to get them in the correct places (pencil testing). Improvements are made and details added by assistant animators until the director approves the scene. Once approved, the scene goes to the cleanup department. Cleanup animators trace the frames onto a new sheet of paper. The in-betweeners draw in any missing frames between the key frames. (Tweening). These are then pencil tested and must be approved. Once finished, they are transferred to a thin piece of transparent plastic called a cel (because it used to be made out of cellulose nitrate). The cels are then painted and photographed. If you click on the link and scroll thru the Wikipedia page, you can see a picture of an artist painting on a cel. A preliminary soundtrack is recorded first to make it easier for the animators to synchronize the motion to the sound. The lead (or key) animator draws only enough key frames to get across the major point of action. They key frames are then matched to the soundtrack to get them in the correct places (pencil testing). Improvements are made and details added by assistant animators until the director approves the scene. Once approved, the scene goes to the cleanup department. Cleanup animators trace the frames onto a new sheet of paper. The in-betweeners draw in any missing frames between the key frames. (Tweening). These are then pencil tested and must be approved. Once finished, they are transferred to a thin piece of transparent plastic called a cel (because it used to be made out of cellulose nitrate). The cels are then painted and photographed. If you click on the link and scroll thru the Wikipedia page, you can see a picture of an artist painting on a cel.

6. Bridging the Traditional and Computer Eras Computer animation usually refers to systems that digitize hand-drawn animation cells. Even though computers are now used extensively, many traditional steps are still used. Storyboard Pencil Testing Key Frames Tweening The current process is still the same until after the animation drawings are completed. Now, instead of being transferred onto cels, they are scanned into a computer where they are colored. It is also possible for artists to used grahpics tablets to draw directly into the computer.The current process is still the same until after the animation drawings are completed. Now, instead of being transferred onto cels, they are scanned into a computer where they are colored. It is also possible for artists to used grahpics tablets to draw directly into the computer.

7. Computer Animation 1960�s & 1970�s

8. In the 1960�s, the University of Utah became a digital 2D animation pioneer when they produced the first animated line drawings. Early CG Work. History of CG and Animation. By the mid-1970�s, NC State University was using 3D computer animation to display real-time video playback from digital disk. I used these two links only to show the students how points were plotted on an airplane and car in order to be entered into a computer. These points were then used to create a digital skeleton for a computer generated version of the plane and car. Also, check out the teapot images! Very neat!I used these two links only to show the students how points were plotted on an airplane and car in order to be entered into a computer. These points were then used to create a digital skeleton for a computer generated version of the plane and car. Also, check out the teapot images! Very neat!

9. Traditional animation is defined as the process of creating the illusion of motion by viewing a series of individual drawings successively. Computer animation is creating a digital scene by digitally recording cells, sorting them on an electronic storyboard, and displaying them electronically in succession.

10. Review History of Animation Animation Early 1800�s Computer Animation 1960�s 1970�s