Computer animation

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Computer animation is the process used to generate animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer-generated imagery (CGI) encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images. Modern computer animation usually uses 3D computer graphics, although 2D computer graphics are still used for stylistic, low bandwidth, and faster real-time renderings. Sometimes, the target of the animation is the computer itself, but sometimes the target is another medium, such as film.

History

The history of computer animation began as early as the 1940s and 1950s, when people began to experiment with computer graphics - most notably by John Whitney. It was only by the early 1960s when digital computers had become widely established, that new avenues for innovative computer graphics blossomed. Ivan Sutherland's Sketchpad in 1963, the first interactive computer graphics program, and the 1968 paper on the Fundamental Techniques for Computer Graphics by Sutherland laid the foundation for much of the computer animation that followed.

In the 1970s, computer animation developed further, thanks to films like Westworld (1973), which was the first to use 3D wire-frame imagery, and Futureworld (1976), which featured a computer-animated hand and face both created by then University of Utah graduate students Edwin Catmull and Fred Parke. This period also saw the rise of computer animation companies like Pixar, originally a part of Lucasfilm.

By the 1980s, CGI was being regularly used in television for special effects, and the film Tron (1982) was one of the first major films to use extensive CGI, although the bulk of its effects were still hand-drawn.

The 1990s saw an explosion in the use of computer animation, due to advancements in computing power and the advent of high-quality rendering software and techniques. Toy Story (1995), produced by Pixar, was the first feature-length film made entirely with CGI.

Techniques

Computer animation can be created with a computer and animation software. Some impressive animation can be achieved even with basic programs; however, the rendering can take a lot of time on an ordinary home computer. Professional animators of movies, television, and video sequences on computer games make use of more sophisticated software and hardware.

2D Animation

2D animation figures are created or edited on the computer using 2D bitmap graphics or created and edited using 2D vector graphics. This includes automated computerized versions of traditional animation techniques such as of tweening, morphing, onion skinning, and interpolated rotoscoping.

3D Animation

3D animation is digitally modeled and manipulated by an animator. The animator usually starts by creating a 3D polygon mesh to manipulate. A mesh typically includes many vertices that are connected by edges and faces, which give the visual appearance of form to a 3D object or environment. Special software can be used to build 3D characters and environments for animated films, television shows, and video games. The 3D model can then be animated in a variety of ways.

Applications

Computer animation is used extensively in a variety of fields, including entertainment (in movies, television, and video games), advertising, virtual reality, and simulation (for training and educational purposes). It is also used in the development of digital doubles for live-action movies and for characters in animated films.

Future

The future of computer animation presents a vast array of opportunities and challenges. Advancements in virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence are expected to play a significant role in the development of new animation techniques. Additionally, the increasing power of personal computers and the development of more sophisticated software are making animation more accessible to the masses, potentially leading to an explosion in user-generated content.