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You are here: Experts > 3D Graphics/Virtual Reality > Computer Animation
Expert: Olaf Piesche
Date: 9/9/2004
Subject: Computer Animation
Question
How does the process of creating computer animation differ from traditional cartoon animation?
Answer
This is a tough one for me to answer, but I'll try my best.
In traditional cartoon animation, each frame of the animation is laid out and drawn by hand. Outlines of objects are drawn on transparencies, then color is filled in on a second set of transparencies. The result is overlayed and photographed frame by frame.
The vast majority of computer animation works substantially different. In CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), objects are defined in terms of their 3-dimensional shape and surface properties. For a character for example, you'd create a 3-dimensional model of the character and define the look of its skin, hair, clothing, and the way the different surfaces reflect and interact with light. Then place 'virtual' lights and a camera and let the 3D software render the scene as a simulation of what the 3D object would look like, if the surfaces were actually real and lit by the lights defined and looked at by the defined camera.
As for animating the character, normally you'll define what is known as keyframes. Basically, instead of drawing every frame of a character raising its arm, only the lowered and raised position of the arm in the 3D model are defined, and the computer generates the animation by interpolating between the keyframes.
As far as scene generation, lighting, camera positioning, surface definition, etc. are concerned, CGI is actually closer to a real movie shoot than to cartoon animation. As far as animation is concerned, the computer can provide tools to make the task less tedious for the artist - however, although not every frame has to be drawn by hand, errors in animations (such as unnatural movements) can be more obvious in CGI. CGI can require more attention to detail.
In most of today's commercial cartoon productions, computers are used as well for the animation and rendering. Special shaders for surface properties and lighting can give 3D CGI objects a look as if they were painted as cartoons ('cartoon shading'). Take a look at The Iron Giant for a good example of a mix of traditional cartoon animation and CGI.
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