A Beginner’s Guide to Animation

One of the finest creative experiences you can have is creating art. What if, though, you could make your still photos move or even bring a beloved original character to life in a series of your own short film clips? That’s where animation comes in. In its most basic form, animation is the technique of combining still images in a specific order to provide the impression of movement. The most widely used method today is computer animation, also known as CGI, whereas everything was hand-drawn in the beginning. In other words, the same image was drawn repeatedly with little perceptible variations, and the final product was assembled to produce the moving sequence.

In other words, animation is the process of quickly recording a series of similar static images to provide the appearance of movement. It is built around the optical swindle known as “persistence of vision.” Since the eyes can only hold a picture for one tenth of a second, the brain combines images that emerge more quickly. And the majority of animations take 12 to 24 images per second of film in order to achieve this effect. Prior to the widespread use of CGI technology, these graphics were frequently hand-painted or sketched on celluloid, or cel sheets. High-budget productions engaged massive animation teams to complete this labor-intensive process.

However, CGI techniques, which reduce some of the labor involved in the process but still need a high level of expertise, are now increasingly frequently used by animators.

Actually, learning how to animate may seem intimidating. Particularly if you are more accustomed to using a pencil or watercolors than specialized software. But even for a beginner, creating animated graphics like cartoons or utilizing photo elements to create a GIF may be simple with the correct tools.

Let’s take a moment to go over what animation is exactly and how various types of animation are utilized for creative endeavors before we discuss how you may create your own animation. Continue reading to learn more.

Types of Animation

2D Animation

Animations in two dimensions simply have two components — height and width. As a beginner, 2D is a great place to start because there is no depth to think about. Prior to going on to more challenging tasks, it enables you to concentrate on the fundamentals of animation and perfect those talents.

Despite the fact that 2D may seem like an obsolete design, many experts favor this aesthetic for their work. A wonderful example of how 2D is still employed in well-liked movies and television series is anime. Even 2D animation can be used in web design and graphic design projects by using CSS and HTML rather than Javascript, which can make websites load more slowly.

3D Animation

If you were asked to name an animated movie, you would most likely choose something quite recently that was produced with 3D animation software. In fact, the majority of well-liked animated feature films and TV series today are 3D, and carefully modeled after the traits and motion of people and objects. Also, it might be simple to overlook the fact that these characters were made by a computer and are not real at times. However, the purpose of 3D animation is to deceive us into thinking that we are viewing a real person being filmed rather than something created by a computer.

3D animation software might be difficult to get used to if you’re new to this form of creative work. But then, there are many classes you can take to master the fundamentals of how to create an animation in this way.

Stop Motion Animation

One of the more difficult types of animation is stop motion, given that it takes a lot of time and effort to accomplish it effectively. Each scene features miniature figurines or puppets, and each set is photographed. More pictures are then shot when the puppets are gently altered in position. The final image is then created by stitching these photos together in a moving sequence.

The most hand-drawn, classic style of animation is still employed in contemporary movies and television shows. Stop-motion animation was used to make The Moomins, Wallace and Gromit, and Coraline, if you are familiar with these films.

Motion Graphics

The majority of animated productions often follow a predetermined plot —and this helps to guide the order in which the visuals are produced. However, motion graphics are frequently employed in business settings to improve websites, create logos, or create advertisements.

Since you do not have to learn how to translate physical movement onto a computer or worry about complex characteristics like faces or backdrop environments, motion graphics are a wonderful place to start for beginners. Without any prior knowledge of animation, you can add fades, bounces, or even flashes to your photographs. It can be done using some web tools and computer animation programs.

Animation Process

Whether you work as a studio animator, a freelance artist, or a hobbyist, you’ll discover that the animation production process is rather consistent.

Story

Whether your animation is 10 seconds long or two hours long, it should always tell a story. Before you begin production, do not forget to establish a story, no matter how straightforward. This will improve the efficiency of your process and offer you a clear idea. Additionally, it will increase the interest level of your animation.

Script and Concept Art

It’s time to put your story to paper or on the big screen. You can identify any problems with your story by using a script. You can create a recognizable visual aesthetic with the aid of concept art.

Storyboard and Animatics

Planning your storyboard will help you determine your film’s pacing, rhythms, and aesthetic. A storyboard can be developed further with an animatic. This is a fantastic approach to gain a very early concept of the aesthetic of your story.

Animate

The next step is bringing your character to life. To define the precise motions your figure will make, start with a reference video. Next, in your design software, make keyframes to depict the movement’s important elements. These movements can be made more fluid by adding in-between motions and splining them using your software. Then give your character personality, specifics, and flaws to make them realistic.

Post Production

This stage is crucial to the creation of animation. It is time to start working on the special effects and lighting tricks your movie requires to stand out on the screen. In order to collect the data and stills from your movie, you will also need to render your designs. To ensure that every photo matches the previous, color grading and correction are also important.

Music

Finally, it is time for your soundtrack. To enhance your animation, use speech, sound effects, and music.

Best Animation Hardware

Drawing Tablet

Digital sketches are made using a drawing tablet as a tool. If you want to create concept art or just sketch out a scene for a storyboard, this is a requirement.

A Good Computer

Processing power is required to animate scenes with intricate setups, moody lighting, and numerous moving parts. You will require quick memory and a powerful graphics card. High or mid-range gaming PCs ought to contain all you require if you are unsure exactly what to acquire. The greatest computers for animation are discussed in a number of excellent articles on this website.

Key Takeaway

The process of animation has come a long way in the industry, being a powerful creative tool that drives the act of storytelling in a modern setting. Many animators have produced best-selling and popular animated films, with the use of high-end tools and software. Several animation studios also offer their services to create professional animations for organizations. Whether they are 2D, 3D, motion graphics, character animation, stop motion, or whiteboard animation movies. Your brand will be able to tell stories and spread the message through amusing video material that can be shared on all social media platforms by using animation.