| Mediums |
| 2D - Drawn / Cel Cel 2D Animation is typically drawn first onto paper and then transferred onto cel. This cel is painted (on the reverse), creating a colourful image that has numerous applications, from fantasy to graphical. These finished images are collated together and usually filmed with the use of a rostrum camera. Using cel as an effect to another animation production might mean that the use of a glass sheet is placed in front of another mediums scene (model perhaps) and the effect (smoke etc.) is then laid over the glass frame by frame with the other animation continuing in the background. Occasionally the glass may be used as a painting tablet meaning that each frame has a new image, which also takes a great deal of time and additional expense. Cel animation is typically created in a double framing fashion which means that 12 frames are drawn for every second of film (per character), however full quality drawn animation has 25 frames per second, and very limited animation can be reduced right down to 4 frames per second. Persil - stripes / Super Ted / Mission pop promo / Tina Turner & Dire Straits pop video / MTV 10 sec intro / Royal Life Assurance - documentary / Channel 4 Indian Title Sequence / Sun Vitalite Margarine / Brie Blue Cheese / Migraleve / Rocket sequence government film / Safcol Seafood (Saudi Arabia) / Anglia TV Logo / Santa Claus - movie / Cathedral (French series) / When the Wind Blows (film) / Caribou Kitchen 9 of 13 episodes for TV Series & Animals of Farthing Wood (some). |
| 3D computer & 2D Computer The versatility of the computer allows the animator to produce all sorts of styles, effects and quality levels. The computer accuracy and detail is outstanding. Some labour intensive animation can be greatly reduced when using computers. The photo-realism of the images can be quite outstanding and allow for many new animation ideas and developments. Drawn images are now scanned directly onto the computer, they are then ‘painted’ and the scenes collated. Drawing directly onto the computer is also possible, and this is gradually gaining popularity although traditional animators are having to learn all about computers. Painting techniques on the computer have advanced to create results that are hard to tell if it wasn’t painted by hand, and alterations can be far quicker and easier to implement than before. Backgrounds can also be scanned or directly created on the computer. The attention to detail can be so beautiful that no one could be sure whether it had been generated on a computer, traditionally modelled, or drawn by hand. The 3D models on computer can be moved around very much like a traditional model and this has many advantages including no risk of a model falling over or a light failing. The production time, can again concentrate on movement, style and the creation of ideas. Computer animation can allow for more time to be devoted to creative development so the resulting images may be even more imaginative. With many new advances in every area, computers continue to increase the options and abilities of programmes, and the results, making complicated images possible. This makes a previously detailed and tricky model, far easier to produce and animate, on a simple computer system. It seems that the only limitations to animation are budgets, time and our imagination! Working tests or finished results from computer animation are sent to our client’s by video, floppy disk, hard drive or various email / modem facilities. This can help to speed up the approval process, greatly. Computer animation helps to produce quicker results for traditional animation mediums by reducing some of the labour intensive sections, as well as enabling more creativity into the production. Snatch and Friends -1 minute pilot-2D Wrath of Earth - game 3D Frax Ltd - exhibition Osprey - documentary 3D Sugar & Spice - advert Pantomime Sleeping Beauty 3D Loch Ness Monster Exhib. 2D & 3D Fair Isle - bench flyover Intrepid the Entrepreneur |
| Cut
Out Separate pieces of card and/or paper, make up the body sections, these are assembled together by jointed links and form the character or object to be animated. A rostrum camera is used to film this style of animation which can be used by itself, or with another medium such as cel, thus creating an interesting image, or to help keep within a limited budget. Each cut-out animation section could be a single colour or artworked in great detail depending upon the animation sequence. Some results can be jerky due to the limited movements, but more sections adding inbetweens help to create a smoother and better flowing animation. Typical animation in this unique style is often applied to animations of very limited budgets. Character animations may use the technique as an enhancement to reflect the style of a production. Lipton's Tea educational video Shopping Mall (Saudi Arabia) |
| Model Models are typically animated on carefully designed sets. This type of animation can provide a very ‘real' feel to it, and can be produced from a simple animation style, to a very creative art style. Model characters can quickly take on their own personality! Models can be of any form, from human appearance to technical, perhaps demonstrating the mechanics of equipment, or bringing a character to life! This can be a fairly quick animation method (once the models and sets are made and tested), for example five minutes of production a week is possible, on the other hand 30 seconds can take four weeks! Michelin Tyres, Cadbury's Roast Almond Chocolate Bar, National Panasonic, BR Parking Meters, Smith's Crisps, Rountrees Rolo, Crunchy Bars, Kit-Kat & The Reluctant Dragon (film). |
| Animation Artwork The unique results might be used to illustrate a product or perhaps give a delicate topic a gentle delivery. Sometimes the use of hand rendering is applied, directly onto a cel, this provides an image that has a very gentle crayon finish such as with the hands, face and legs on ‘When the Wind Blows’ or Brie Blue Cheese (the cheese and the viking men!). It can also be used as a subtle shadowing effect although in all cases it takes many hours and the cost of the project is greatly increased. The result of this hand rendering is very unique and looks very beautiful. Brie Blue cheese advert, When the Wind Blows, Mission Pop video. |
We will be delighted to talk over the creative possibilities that animation has to offer. From simple animations of a few seconds, to full length feature films. For further information or to discuss your ideas or projects just contact Animax Studios. |
Animax
Studios copyright 1995 - 2006© |