Basics of Animation
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| Basics of Animation |
1. What is Animation?
Animation is the process of creating the illusion of movement by displaying a sequence of images or frames. Each frame is slightly different from the previous one, and when played quickly in succession, our eyes perceive motion.
Key idea: Still images → shown rapidly → look like motion.
2. Types of Animation
There are several types of animation, but the main ones include:
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Traditional Animation (2D Hand-Drawn)
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Artists draw each frame by hand.
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Example: Classic Disney movies like The Lion King (1994).
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2D Digital Animation
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Uses software to create 2D characters and backgrounds.
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Example: Adventure Time, Rick and Morty.
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3D Animation (Computer Animation)
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Creates characters and environments in a 3D space.
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Example: Pixar movies like Toy Story.
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Stop Motion Animation
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Physical objects or puppets are photographed frame by frame.
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Example: Coraline, Wallace and Gromit.
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Motion Graphics
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Often used for advertisements, presentations, and effects rather than storytelling.
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3. Key Principles of Animation
The 12 Principles of Animation by Disney animators are foundational:
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Squash and Stretch – Makes objects feel weight and flexibility.
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Anticipation – Prepares the audience for an action (like winding up before a jump).
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Staging – Clear presentation of an idea or action.
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Straight Ahead Action & Pose to Pose – Two ways to animate: frame by frame (straight ahead) or planning key poses first (pose to pose).
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Follow Through and Overlapping Action – Realistic movement; parts of the body keep moving after the main action stops.
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Slow In and Slow Out – Objects accelerate and decelerate naturally.
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Arcs – Natural movement usually follows a curved path.
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Secondary Action – Adds life, like a character blinking while walking.
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Timing – Controls speed and mood of motion.
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Exaggeration – Emphasizes actions or expressions for impact.
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Solid Drawing – Good anatomy, perspective, and balance.
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Appeal – Characters should be interesting and engaging to look at.
4. The Animation Process
A typical animation workflow involves:
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Concept & Storyboarding – Plan the story and visualize key scenes.
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Design – Create characters, props, and backgrounds.
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Animation – Draw or animate frames.
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Compositing & Editing – Combine elements, add effects and sound.
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Final Output – Render the animation for screens or theaters.
Animation is both art and science—you combine creativity with techniques that trick the eye into seeing motion.
Animation Process Diagram (Simplified)
┌───────────────────┐
│ 1. Idea / Concept │
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ 2. Storyboard │
│ (rough sketches) │
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Design │
│ (characters, bg) │
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Keyframes / Poses │
│ (main positions) │
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Inbetweens / Tween│
│ (fill motion) │
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Timing & Spacing │
│ (speed of frames) │
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Cleanup & Coloring│
│ (final lines/colors)│
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Compositing │
│(combine layers) │
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Sound & Effects │
│ (music, SFX, voice)│
└───────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────┐
│ Render / Export │
│ (final animation) │
└───────────────────┘
Animation,
Basics of Animation,
Animation Process,
2D Animation,
3D Animation,
Animation Principles,
Motion Graphics,
Animation for Beginners.
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