Computer Animations in Movies

Computer Animation is often called the digital successor of conventional handmade animations or the stop motion technique. The entertainment industry would have been nothing without the computer generated imagery. There are a plethora of different movies and films that heavily rely on computer animations and graphics, especially those made for kids. In general, there are numerous examples of movies in which computer animation reigned and transformed into its better version with time such as Tarzan, Shriek, The Lion King, Smurfs, Mr. Peabody and Sherman, Frozen, Despicable Me, Hotel Transylvania and loads more. Each captivated and won the hearts of the audience with its vivid cinematography and animations. We can hardly think of the time when modern films and video did not include such scintillating elements. Now let’s see what computer animation really is and how it evolved with time.

What is Computer Animation?

Computer Animation is a broad term that refers to the creation of moving images using digital tools and computer software. It is a form of digital media that follows the basic concept of stop motion animations and involves illustrated 2D animations to some extent. In simple words, this means that in order to create an illusion of movements slight modifications are made to each and every piece in the frame by drawing in a step by step manner. The end result is that the characters and objects are given life through a speedy succession of images that adds and shows motions.

In computer animations, each image is presented on the computer monitor which is further altered and followed by a new image. This image is almost the same as the prior one, but a bit forward in time and morphed in terms of action. If we go into the nitty gritty of it, this process consists of 24-30 frames per second but what appears to us is a lively, continuous movement. More or less, it works like a flipbook which narrates a full action story through drawings. Whether it is 2D or 3D animations, both require tweening and morphing techniques in a figure animation. The character’s facial expressions are automatically controlled by computer and key frames for a smooth transition. Some major benefits it has over other techniques are that it requires less manpower and is faster as compared to the hand drawn cartoon animations or the step by step movement of 3D figures in which you have to spend hours to prepare every single frame. 

The origins of computer animations dates back to the time of Alfred Hitchcock and Saul Bass, (1958) when John Whitney first produced his title sequence for the film Vertigo. At that time he used an analogue computer to produce his masterpiece. Today he has earned a distinct mark in the history of animation. But the real surge in modern computer animation took place in the 1960's and 1970's when digital image processing was used in films to give it a more android and pixelated touch. Later on, wireframes, frame buffers and other new technologies bought digital animations into a much more advanced phase. Then in the 1980's solid 3D computer generated images made its way to the industry. Now it is being used in so many movies such as Jurassic Park. The major breakthrough was seen in the movie, Lord of the Rings in the character of Gollum where animators incorporated a real time motion system.

There is no limit to human imagination!

With incremental technological improvements and better software, computer animations has become very common in movies, cartoons and games. People can not only watch high quality animated films but can also experiment and design their own visually appealing and lively characters. All thanks to the amazing tools which they can use on their home computers without enrolling for an animation degree.