Animation has allowed storytellers to tell stories in unique ways. The visceral fantastical worlds in animated movies can reignite inspiration and also the magic of stories regardless of what age. Therefore, if you are a storyteller, or need to be, the animation is a great place to start. So what’s animation? And what are the types of animation cartoonists and artists utilize?
What is the definition of animation?
The simulation of movement created by a series of pictures is animation. But there are a few more technicalities that go along with it.
What is animation?
Animation is a way of photographing sequential drawings, models, as well as puppets, to create an illusion of movement in an arrangement. Because our eyes may only retain an image for 1/16 of a second, when multiple images appear in quick succession, the brain mixes them into a single moving image. In traditional animation, pictures are painted or drawn on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and displayed on picture. Early cartoons are examples of this, but now, most animation is produced with computer-generated imagery or CGI.
To create the appearance of smooth motion from those drawn, painted, or computer-generated images, frame rate, or the number of consecutive images which are displayed each second, is thought. Transferring characters are often shot “on twos” which just means one image is displayed for 2 frames, totaling in at 12 drawings per second. 12 frames per second allows for motion but might look choppy. In the movie, a frame rate of 24 frames per second is frequently used for smooth motion animation.
There are lots of types of animation that employ different methods to reach their desired result.
Different Types of Animation:
- Traditional Animation
- 2D Animation (Vector-based)
- 3D Animation
- Motion Graphics
- Stop Motion
Animation is the art of creating the illusion of movement through a series of pictures that each show another stage of the animation, then exhibited at a set rate through a projector. The first animation was called ‘cel-animation’ or ‘hand-drawn animation’, and was quite literally drawn frame by frame into the animated characters that we’ve come to love.
More modern renditions of animation are done via CGI, and these often emulate the age old system of animation that’s hand-drawn, while others use computer animation to bring the art to the modern world. All styles of this art-form have their own appeal, and several fans have rallied behind one or the other as the supreme form of animation.
Other kinds of animation that carry their own aesthetic are stop-motion animation in which personal pictures are shot and merged with each other to create an animated film. These methods often include complex sets and gorgeous dolls, but also have been achieved with clay as a medium. These forms are often called claymation.
Animation has been used in everything from short commercials to full feature length films, and have functioned as a technique of delivering everything from entertainment to data through an accessible medium.
See all Important days in October: National and international
History of International Animation Day
In 2002, ASIFA, the International Animated Film Association, established a global event to observe the art of animation. October 28th was proclaimed as International Animation Day (IAD), commemorating the first public performance of Emile Reynaud’s Theatre Optique in the Grevin Museum in Paris in 1892.
Each year, on 28th October, ASIFA groups around the globe celebrate International Animation Day. In 2005, 37 distinct countries in each of the continents celebrated that day. The a variety of ASIFA groups celebrate IAD by screening animated movies, organizing workshops, exhibiting artwork and stills, providing technical demonstrations, and helping to foster the art of animation.
While it’s uncertain when and at which animation first came into life, the idea of storytelling has been around for centuries.
Shadow Puppetry in about 200 A.D., to The Magic Lantern in the 1650s, the first real image projector–telling a story through motion has been occurring forever.
But it was in 1832 if the Phénakisticope was invented by Joseph Plateau the first prevalent animation device came into place. Using the persistence of vision principle, it created a fluent illusion of motion. When multiple images mix to a single moving image in the brain it’s called persistence of vision.
In 1834, William George Horner created a similar motion picture projector, putting the drawings inside of a drum that turned in a circular manner. This was one of the biggest inventions that laid the base for casting movie. Horner originally called it the Daedatelum, or “wheel of the devil.” But French Inventor, Pierre Desvignes, renamed his own variation after the Greek term for “items that turn,” or even the Zoetrope.
These ancient feats of animation carved out the road for the animation we know today. And when we wish to get particular about who really had the biggest hand in its arrival, we should take a peek at the”Father of Animation” himself. . .or themselves?
The Father(s) of Animation
History informs us that many different people were involved in creating animation. There even seem to be two “firsts.”
The Father of American Animation is James Stuart Blackton. Though a British filmmaker, Blackton established the very first animation at America and was one of the very first to use the stop motion technique.
In 1900, he’s blamed for producing the first-ever animation called The Enchanted Drawing.
In 1906, he goes into create a silent movie where drawings on a blackboard are recorded using movie at 20 frames per second. He predicted it, Humorous Phases of Funny Faces.
However, if you should ask the world who’s regarded as the “Father of Animation,” you would find 1 name that stands out. French cartoonist, Emile Cohl established what is considered the first fully animated film ever made. Back in 1908, Fantasmagorie premiered in Paris.
In 1914, Earl Hurd created cel-animation, thus turning into a sort of creator of traditional animation. This would, of course, revolutionize the entire industry for the majority of the 20th century.
That exact same year, way before Mickey Mouse came to fruition, the very first animated short to really have a distinguishable personality is made by cartoonist, Winsor McCay. A dance “Gertie the Dinosaur” comes to life on screen.
Disney Animation
But no animation is as iconic as Mickey Mouse. While the first Mickey cartoon is a brief, dubbed, “Plane Crazy,” it was not distributed. “Steamboat Willie,” premiered since the very first Disney cartoon with synchronized sound in 1928.
Back in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first feature to be completely hand-drawn. The beauty and achievement of Snow White gave traditional animation its own legs for Disney, also for the entire industry.
In the many years in between popular 2D and traditional animation to the CGI, storytellers, Disney or not, have created fantastical animated worlds to inform the finest possible stories.
From the powerful stop motion extended skeleton combat scene in Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Into the claymation stop motion in Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
To monitor animation in…(well nearly every recent Disney Pixar but we will pick Wall-E)
Animation is one of the most beloved film formats across many generations, and it’s enjoyable to see what new methods may come .
Courtesy: studiobinder.com
How to Celebrate Animation Day
The best method to celebrate animation day would be to get a series of films that represent the many different ages of animation. In the original Disney Mickey Mouse cartoons all the way through the classic Wizards film and into contemporary shows such as Avatar that show the most glorious blending of traditional filming and brand new.
Dig deep and you can find a great number of animation techniques that will create some fantastic variation in theme, texture, and style. Take this Animation Day to escape and learn more about the great wide world of animation, and relive some old adventures, and try a few new.
India Celebrate
In India, IAD has been celebrated every year since 2002 in various cities across the country. What started out as a small party has turned into into a must-attend occasion for all Indian artists and gets the support and sponsorship of multiple associations throughout India. From the year 2006, IAD was renowned across 8 cities in India simultaneously, with over 3000+ people engaging. The chapter also recognizes the best animation in India through the ASIFA India Awards of Excellence. In addition to the ASIFA India also extends its service to other community building events.
IAD ’07 CELEBRATIONS:
This season ASIFA India will require the parties to a far bigger scale. Not just focussing on having bigger events in Mumbai but also in cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Delhi and many more.
21st October: Mumbai, in NCPA together with all the Awards of Excellence
24th October: Pune, in MCCIA Towers
28th October: all across the country, including Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.
Besides these exciting events, for the first time in India, IAD will observe the aid of other prominent international animation festivals such as ANNECY and FMX.
IAD07 Tasks include:
-Awards of Excellence
— 35 MM animated movies screening
— Content Screenings
— Workshops(Acting, Drawing)
— Interactive Sessions
— Presentations
— Fun Activities
— Boutique
— User-Group Meetings
— Content from all over the world
AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE:
Awards of excellence The ASIFA India Awards of Excellence is an annual awards ceremony established in 2002 to recognize and celebrate the very best in Indian animation. There’s a national call for entries where animation films for both student and professional categories are solicited. The deadline for entries is usually the first week of October. There has been an overwhelming response from across the country with many professionals and students submitting their work for the Awards. The entries are then judged by a distinguished panel of artists and they picked the movies worthy of the “ASIFA India Award of Excellence” trophy.
The awards ceremony was the highlight of International Animation Day 06 and has been celebrated in the evening at the Main Auditorium, NCPA, Mumbai, in 2006. Being among the most anticipated Awards ceremony of the country, in 2007, Mumbai will once again host the event.
JURY MEMBERS:
A respected panel of industry experts were built to judge all of the entries for the ASIFA India Awards of Excellence.
1. Dana Boadway
2. Virendra Chauhan
3. Terrance Masson
4. Sanjiv Waeerkar
5. Serkan Zelzele
