Types of Animation

Arkaprabha Sanyal
Synopsis:
Since the dawn of animation, a lot of techniques have evolved over the days. While some of them have a close
connection to traditional animation, some are completely different from it. Even though most of them still follow the
same principles. In this presentation we will discuss the different types of animation.
The Different Types of Animation:
1. 3D Computer Animation
2. Traditional Animation
3. 2D Vector-Based Animation
4. Stop Motion
5. Motion Graphics
What is 3D Animation:
3D animation is the most popular type of animation for feature films and short films currently. It is also referred to
as CGI(Computer Generated Imagery). In 3D animation, the animator manipulates puppets made digitally to create
movement over time. Separate keyframes are inserted when one movement is inserted and that brings out the
illusion of movement. 3D animation is also used for creating special effects character in live-action movies. The 3D
animation process is very intensive demanding a lot of specially skilled personnel. After each character is animated
over their respective backgrounds and the frames have been interpolated by the computer, the final imagery is
rendered and then composited to finally create the feature film or the short film or the content.
What is Vector Based 2D Animation:
2D vector based animations are created using 2D rigged characters which can be manipulated like puppets. The
character is first hand drawn and then later rigged to give them a bone structure. Some sequences in this type of
animation rely on complete hand drawings. ToonBoom and Adobe Animate are great software to make these types
of animations.
What is Stop Motion Animation:
Stop motion has several variants, but they all involve manipulating real world objects. These objects are moved
slightly, and photographed one frame at a time. When shown in sequence, these frames create the illusion of
movement.
In higher-end stop motion, like the ones created by Laika (Coraline, Kubu and the Two Strings), a specially rigged
puppet is shot on a miniature stage.
Types of stop-motion animation:
Claymation
Claymation is a similar technique. In it, malleable characters are used, though they're generally made out of a substance called plasticine, not actual
clay.
Puppets
Some animators use regular Puppets instead of clay ones, usually also built with some sort of skeleton rig. The faces of the characters can be replaced
based on the expression, or controlled within the rig.
Action Figures / Lego
Some use action figures or Lego characters for animation. This genre is very popular on YouTube with many channels dedicated to creating funny
skits with Lego characters. Robot Chicken is a great example of that. They use famous action figures to make fun of pop culture.
Cut-out
Another variation of stop motion is paper cut-out animation. In this style, characters are built out of paper shapes. They might be pinned together at
the joints to make a posable figure, or pieces might be set in place so that they can be swapped out. They are then moved and photographed frame by
frame, just like a stop motion puppet. That's how South Park was originally animated.
Silhouette
Similar to cutout animation, silhouette animation uses cardboard or some kind of flat material, but the objects are all black and the shot is depicted
with silhouettes only. This is one of the oldest forms of stop motion and is rarely used today.
Pixelation
Pixelation is a form of stop motion that uses real people and real environments to create unreal videos. It uses the stop motion method of taking a still
photo, moving things around, and then taking another photo, but the subject matter is usually real people instead of puppets.
All of these types of stop motion share an important characteristic:
They all have to be shot straight-ahead, which means starting at frame one and shooting each frame one after another, all the way through the end of
the scene.
If a mistake is made on one frame, it's very difficult to fix it without having to start all over again. You can't just redraw that frame like you can in 2D
animation. This makes this type of animation particularly intense and it requires a lot of patience.
What is Motion Graphics:
Motion graphics is the last type of animation. It is usually used in logo animations, cinema intros, etc. The purpose
of motion graphics is promotional content making. Motion graphics can be both 3D and 2D and doesn’t always
include character animation in it’s scope.
Thank you