Introduction to Animation

Introduction to Animation

• Peter Roget's 1824 paper on "Persistence of Vision with Regard to Moving Objects" explained how images linger, leading to animation.
• This phenomenon inspired inventions like the Zoetrope and Flipbook in the 19th century.
• The first traditional animated cartoon, "Fantasmagorie," debuted in 1908.

Animation

• "Animate" comes from the Latin word "animare," meaning "to give life to."
• Animations are sequences of still images displayed rapidly.
• This rapid succession fools the eye into perceiving continuous motion.

Uses of Animation

• Advertising: Animation grabs attention for products/services, increasing sales and profit. It aims to leave a lasting impression on viewers.
• Education: Animation makes learning interactive and interesting, boosting motivation and satisfaction.
• Entertainment: Cartoon and TV shows maintain audience attention; they provide laughter and entertainment for extended periods.
• Medicine: Animation creates models for research, study, and realistic 3D representations of health-related matters.
• Simulations: Animations and simulations, although different, utilize 3D computer graphics for understanding and analyzing similar occurrences.

12 Basic Principles of Animation

Anticipation

• Prepares the audience for an action, making it appear more realistic.

Appeal

• Character appeal is analogous to charisma in actors.

Arcs of Motion

• Natural actions often follow an arched path. Animation adheres to this principle to create a more realistic appearance.

Exaggeration

• Exaggeration is useful; perfectly realistic animation can appear static.

Follow Through and Overlapping Action

• These related techniques enhance the realism of movement. They suggest characters obey physics and inertia.

Secondary Action

• Adding supporting actions to the main ones adds life and support to the scene.

Slow In and Slow Out

• Real-world movements accelerate and decelerate, requiring more frames at the beginning and ending of the action.

Solid Drawing

• Three-dimensional space and volume and weight are taken into account.

Squash and Stretch

• Drawn or computer-animated objects' weight and flexibility are expressed through squashing and stretching.

Staging

• Directs viewer focus to the most important scene elements.

Straight Ahead and Pose-to-Pose

• Straight-ahead animation draws frames sequentially; pose-to-pose involves crafting and then filling in key frames (poses).

Timing and Spacing

• Timing calculates the number of frames needed for an action; spacing refers to the object's movement distance across a designated time.

Explore the fascinating history of animation, from Peter Roget's groundbreaking work on persistence of vision to the invention of the first animated cartoon, 'Fantasmagorie.' Learn about the origins of the word 'animate' and how animation is utilized in advertising, education, entertainment, and medicine. Discover how this captivating medium impacts our daily lives.