How to Make a Cartoon on the Computer With Flash and Skeletal Animation

When researching how to make a cartoon on the computer, one will quickly notice there is quite a reputation around skeletal animation and vector model design. There's a good reason for its being so highly praised, and contrary to popular belief, it's very easy to use.

The best tool for designing your vectors, hands down, is Flash. Anyone who's used to any image editing program will instantly feel at home with Flash's layout, and much of its thought processes. It's best to use CS5, as earlier CS releases tend to be a tad slow on average computers.

You'll notice almost instantly how easy it is to create stylistic lines and fills with Flash, drawing lines, snapping them together and bending the lines into curves. With any artistic talent, this process can lead to very crisp, beautiful cell models that any animation studio would be proud of.

Artistically-minded animators will also find that Flash is great for importing sketched models of characters, and rotoscoping them directly into Flash itself. To do this, simply import an image to the layer that the project has by default. Create a new layer over it, and make a white rectangle over the image. Set its color opacity to about 60% (though it may vary depending on the heaviness of the sketch's pencil work). Make one more layer above this, and then lock the two layers below. Begin following your sketch with the line and pen tools, and in moments, you have a beautiful cell model that's true to your original sketch.

Now, be sure to convert all of the moving pars of your model into distinct symbols (movie clips) by right-clicking on them and selecting "convert to symbol". Remove any rotoscoping layers and imported images at this point. Now, it's a good idea to distribute your moving parts to their own layers, stacked top to bottom by the order they overlap. Group your parts by what they belong to, so that all parts of an arm, for example, are in one single layer. Upon doing this, you're ready to animate your model.

Now, the wonderful thing with Flash since version CS4 is, you don't need another program in order to use skeletal animation on your model. Skeletal animation is also called "bone animation" or "inverse kinematics". Flash refers to this as bones.

When ready to animate, for example, the arm, select the bone tool. From the shoulder, drag a bone to just past the elbow. From this joint, drag another to just past the wrist. Now, selecting the pointer tool, you will find that dragging on different parts of the arm will result in the arm bending in the same way that a real arm would move. Well, you will notice it bends to extents that your arm cannot. To solve this, click on one of the bones, and in properties, simply play with the restrictions until you have it to where it seems proper for your character.

Now, once you've given your character all of his moving parts in this manner, you want to make an animation of them moving. This is very easy to do. Copy the existing frame in your timeline, and decide how many frames in length the motion should take. Select the empty frame for that distance, and paste the frame there. The timeline between the frames will fill out with just a long stretch of the original frame at this point.

In the final frame, move the parts of your model to where they should be once the motion is completed. Now, select all of the frames, and right click on the selection. You can create a classic tween, or a motion tween; Animators have had mixed results in comparing which of these works better, so it's best to try both, and see which one works best for you.

Voila, you've mastered vector model creation, and advanced skeletal animation, and you did it all with one program, in less than two hours!

This is a distinctly faster, and more streamlined method of design and animation than the classic frame-by-frame method that has been used since the birth of the art form. However, in being distinctly different from classic animation, it also looks very different. It takes a skilled animator and designer to not make skeletal animation look "puppety" or robotic. It lacks the organic feel that classic animation forms possess. However, when you look at how much time is saved with this animation style, and if you're willing to practice with it, the tradeoff is most often well worth it.

One last precaution, though, for those who really find this Flash animation method to be promising: don't design your backgrounds in Flash unless you want a vector look to them. Being vectors, Flash cannot provide the painted, detailed types of backgrounds most quality animation forms integrate.

It's Fab Cartoon's hobby to draw, scribble and also create digital art, mostly in cartoon form. In his blog, he shares this passion and introduces the topic to other hobby animators.

Flash animation

A Flash animation or Flash cartoon is an animated film which is created using Adobe Flash or similar animation software and often distributed in the .swf file format. The term Flash animation not only refers to the file format but to a certain kind of movement and visual style which, in many circles[citation needed], is seen as simplistic or unpolished. However, with dozens of Flash animated television series, countless more Flash animated television commercials, and award-winning online shorts in circulation, Flash animation is enjoying a renaissance.

In the late 1990s, when for most Internet users, bandwidth was still at 56 kbit/s, many Flash animation artists employed limited animation or cutout animation when creating projects intended for web distribution. This allowed artists to release shorts and interactive experiences well under 1 MB, which could stream both audio and high-end animation.

Flash is able to integrate bitmaps and other raster-based art, as well as video, most Flash films are created using only vector-based drawings which often result in a somewhat clean graphic appearance. Some hallmarks of poorly-produced Flash animation are jerky natural movements (seen in walk-cycles and gestures), auto-tweened character movements, lip-sync without interpolation, and abrupt changes from front to profile view.

Flash animations are typically distributed by way of the World Wide Web, in which case they are often referred to as Internet cartoons, online cartoons, or webtoons. Web Flash animations may be interactive and are often created in a series. A Flash animation is distinguished from a Webcomic, which is a comic strip distributed via the Web, rather than an animated cartoon. Flash animation is now taught in schools throughout the UK and can be taken as a GCSE and A-level.

Learn to Draw Cartoons: Keep It Simple

Drawing is a wonderful hobby, and drawing cartoons can be a fun hobby for anyone, at any age! You can draw cartoons anywhere - on the bus, in the subway, waiting at the airport, sitting in the doctor's office. It's great to carry a small sketchbook with you, but you can also draw cartoons on just about any scrap of paper you find. There's no need to start a "masterpiece." You can just get out your favorite pencil and begin.

Learning to draw cartoons, like any other art, is all about doing. Yes, you need some basic instruction to get started, but you have to apply those instructions by practicing constantly. You may have noticed that people who love to draw are constantly drawing! They don't just think about it, dream about it, talk about it, or wish they could do it. They spend time at it every day - very often they will grab a pencil and a piece of paper anytime their hands are not busy with something else.

When you learn to draw cartoons, the whole world becomes your model. Cartoons are based on real life. A good cartoon will highlight or exaggerate some aspect of every day life that we can all recognize and relate to, bringing out the humor beneath the surface. If you find yourself chuckling over ordinary things, or seeing the hidden joke that no one else "gets," you might make a very good cartoonist. Learning to draw cartoons gives you the tools to open up that world of hidden humor for others, helping them to see the ridiculous and the unexpected.

Learning to draw cartoons can be a great personal outlet. Some people like to keep a journal, or write poetry, or compose songs; maybe your thing will be drawing cartoons, developing characters of your own that become unique and familiar friends. If you would like to share your art with other people there are so many great ways to do that nowadays. It's fairly easy to set up your own website or blog where you can post your drawings; there are even special WordPress themes for posting cartoons. You can begin with a service that doesn't cost anything.

You can also scan your drawings into a computer and compile them into a digital book that can be shared with anyone who has a smart phone, a digital reader or tablet computer. There are so many ways to share your art that don't cost anything. If you find that many people enjoy your drawings, or you get lots of comments on your skill, then you can explore other possibilities for getting them published.

To get started, visit CartoonDrawing.org for a full set of FREE online lessons by a professional cartoonist.
Learn to draw cartoons from a man with decades of experience, in an easy, informal style.

Learn To Draw Cartoons

One of the most famous and favourite form of drawings would be cartoons. These are very fun to watch or read. If you want to learn to draw cartoons, here are the basic things you should know for you to be able to start out creating your own.

Choose Your Medium: Still Or Moving?

The medium that you would be using is very important. This would have an effect on the overall impact and look of your work. What is it that you want to do? Do you want to go for single cartoons or cartoon strips like the ones you get to see on the comic page of your newspaper or do you want to have a full scale movie? Picking one would affect how you start. However, for beginners, it would be best to save the movie later!

Who’s Your Main Character?

Pick out a main character. Is it a male or female? Is it human or an animal, or maybe a vegetable perhaps? What are its main features? Usually, cartoons have exaggerated features and roughly ignore other ones.

Start Off By Sketching

If you have seen a movie storyboard, you'll know that it’s just a rough outline and overview of what would be happening on a certain scene. It doesn’t have full blown details on it. If you want to draw a strip, it would be better for you to plan out what would be happening in each of your frames. Get the summary of what you want your final cartoon to look like.

Develop Your Main Character

Doing this would take some time. It's way better to at least draw something than be agonized over the exact placement of each line. Try to see early Mickey Mouse cartoons or even early episodes of the Simpsons. Try to compare these to the present and you’ll see that the characters have evolved over the years.

Add Some Drama: Use Emotions!

Don’t forget to add emotions to your main character. May it be a cheeky grin or raised eyebrows, whatever variation you put on his/her features can help in giving him/her more character, life and personality. Unless you intend your main character to be totally expressionless and still, it’s rewarding to give it emotions. If they are scared or angry, you could emphasize this using the next step.

Add Some Life: Use Color!

Assuming that you would be displaying strip on your Web site or you would be printing it off from your colored printer, it is best that you add color to your work. This would give people variety to look at. It also helps give more life to your cartoon. Remember, since cartoons are not always depicting reality, having a non-realistic colored character is all right, take the Pink Panther for instance.

Add Some Depth: Use Shading

Adding a few strokes of shading would go a long way for cartoons. Your readers’ minds would fill out the blanks. Thus, you do not really have to draw each strand of hair, if your character has a hairy leg. Just place enough strands and some hints. Their imagination would do its job and join the dots. In fact, this is extremely effective and would allow your readers to develop their imaginations.

Add Environment: Use A Background

Like shading, this doesn't require too much detail. Placing a pyramid shaped outline if your character is in Egypt would do fine. You do not have to draw the Sphinx, unless your storyline requires it.

Let Them Speak: Add Some Caption

The final touch in giving your character life is by letting is speak. It doesn’t matter if it’s an animal or human. They do speak. Decide whether you are going to put the lines on a speech bubble or simply below the cartoon box.

Top 3D Modeling Services

In this day and age, 3D modeling is a very common tool people are using when creating their works of art. If you are interested in having a 3D model for your project but don't know how to do it yourself there are plenty of 3D modeling services that can get the job done for you. Many services offer pre-made models that you can purchase or they can custom make one to your liking. Regardless here are the top 3D modeling services. Let's take a look at the ones that were named best of the year.

TurboSquid
This is one of the nation's best 3D modeling services. They are a very professional company and work on top-notch projects. However, because this company is so prestigious they do charge more for their services. They have worked with Pixar, Raytheon, CBS, and Boeing, just to name a few.

Falling Pixel
This company is a close second behind TurboSquid but still a very well known 3D service company. They are very professional and accommodating to their clients. They will pull from their pool of artists to make sure your needs are filled to the fullest. If you are a 3D artist looking to sell your work, Falling Pixel has one of the best artist commission rates in the industry with the artist receiving fifty-eight percent of the models sale price.

3d02
This is another great 3D modeling service. Their sight allows you to browse through models by category and formats making it very easy to see which models are a good fit for your work. Here you can buy models individually, collectively, or also have your own model created. 3d02 is also best known for their reasonable prices.

The 3D Studio
This service has thousands of models and textures that work with 3ds max, Cinema 4D, Lightwave, and Maya. The thing to note about The 3D Studio is that their models are far more simple then other 3D modeling services but that may very well suit what you need. It just depends on what you are looking for. They do have a variety of categories to choose from including characters, vehicles, plants, space, sports, industrial, anatomy, architecture and more.

DAZ
DAZ is another highly popular 3D modeling service. The only downfall is they are only compatible with DAZ software. However, they are known to be extremely affordable. Their work produces high quality 3D models. People who are interested in human and non-human figures will find comfort and satisfaction with this company. They are very good with mythical creatures. Their models are very life like. If you are looking for human or mythical characteristics then DAZ is probably the best choice for you.

Hopefully your journey to finding or developing the perfect 3D model is a lot easier and helpful knowing you have these amazing professional companies to work with. Your project is guaranteed to be nothing short of everything you have visualized it to be.

Zco Corporation is a 3D animation company offering services for 3d modeling and 3d animated movies.

How to Make a Cartoon on the Computer the Old Fashioned Way

Animation is ingrained in modern culture and media very deeply. Few children from anywhere in the world do not spend their formative years being entertained and often inspired by the animated motion pictures and television shows that dominate the screens of the 21st century.

What started as a curious experiment by the likes of Fleischer and Disney has now become an expansive industry that not only shapes the art of entertainment, but has also contributed to the advancement of seemingly unrelated fields of science! Few people can honestly say that at some point in their youth, they did not want to try to make a cartoon. For a long time, even if we had the artistic merit to pull it off visually, this was something that would be a pipe dream for most.

That was, before the digital age took full root in society. Computers have changed a lot about how we do things, and they have also brought the power to accomplish great and beautiful works to our hands. Now, it is very easy to learn how to make a cartoon animation on the computer. It is so easy in fact, that we're presented with a veritable cornucopia of choices in how we want to go about it.

But, let's look at a more conventional way to animate, especially for those of us who still feel at home with pens and paper, rather than vectors and inverse kinematics. Animation has for the longest time been the art of taking a series of sequential sketches, painting over them with transparent cells, and photo-implementing them against backgrounds.

This used to involve lots of expensive resources and equipment, fail to mention teams of specialists to operate the processes. Now, a single multi-talented individual can do this very easily. First, it's a good idea to storyboard your animation. This is done in a style similar to a comic strip, but each panel being what is known as a "key frame". These key frames are examples of distinct poses within the animation, between which a smooth series of animations should transition.

Upon designing your key frames, it is best to use thin, non-pulp paper to create your animations. Determine how many frames are between each key frame, and stack your key frames, from the bottom up, with the corresponding amount of blank paper between them. Now, begin tracing your key frame, making minor changes for a frame of movement. When you get to the next frame, trace the previous one, making further changes.

If you've done it right, by the time you hit another key frame, you should have a perfectly smooth transition from the last. This takes time, so be patient, relax, and be precise. Use heavy ink lines, bearing in mind what your next step will be.

Once you have your inked (or pencil if you prefer) animation frames completed, you should scan them, using a common naming convention like "frame01" etc. to preserve order in your files. Be sure to scan them all at the same DPI and dimension!

Now, you want to color your animations, and omit the paper backdrop, right? You can do this with Photoshop. Open an image, and use the magic wand tool to select the ink lines themselves. Adjust its tolerance until it gets all of it. Now, copy it, and paste it in a new payer. Delete the original layer.

Uh oh, the inks are jagged now, aren't they? To solve this, select the layer, and go into channels, and create a new layer. Fill it with white, and a white version of the jagged inks will appear. Now, go to effects, and do a Gaussian blur of less than one percent. Then, adjust the levels until the inks smooth out. Copy this channel layer, go back to your normal layers, and just fill it with black.

Now your inks are beautiful, and over a transparency. You are now free to color your cell as you see fit.

Having made your backgrounds beforehand, you have choices in what you assemble your animations with. The easiest one is Flash, which can import your images in series, if you remembered to always save your scans and colored finals with a sequential name system. Once in flash, you can position the backdrop in a layer beneath the animation cells, and export the movie. It will export as Quicktime. You can use any number of free programs to convert it to any number of formats from this point.

This animation method is not for the impatient or easily tired. It takes hours of drawing, scanning, tweaking and coloring just to get a few minutes of animation. This is why this method is expensive and used less often as the years go by. Other forms such as 3D animation and vector/skeletal animation are faster and far less tedious... but for that organic look and classic, timeless feel... nothing beats the old ways!

It's Fab Cartoon's hobby to draw, scribble and also create digital art, mostly in cartoon form. In his blog, he shares this passion and introduces the topic to other hobby animators. Visit him at http://howtomakeacartooncharacter.com/

Cartoon

A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works. An artist who creates cartoons is called a cartoonist.

The term originated in the Middle Ages and first described a preparatory drawing for a piece of art, such as a painting, fresco, tapestry, or stained glass window. In the 19th century, it came to refer to humorous illustrations in magazines and newspapers, and in the early 20th century and onward it referred to comic strips and animated films.

Fine art

Main article: Modello

A cartoon (from the Italian "cartone" and Dutch word "karton", meaning strong, heavy paper or pasteboard) is a full-size drawing made on sturdy paper as a study or modello for a painting, stained glass or tapestry. Cartoons were typically used in the production of frescoes, to accurately link the component parts of the composition when painted on damp plaster over a series of days (giornate).

Such cartoons often have pinpricks along the outlines of the design; a bag of soot was then patted or "pounced" over the cartoon, held against the wall to leave black dots on the plaster ("pouncing"). Cartoons by painters, such as the Raphael Cartoons in London and examples by Leonardo da Vinci, are highly prized in their own right. Tapestry cartoons, usually coloured, were followed by eye by the weavers on the loom.

Print media

In modern print media, a cartoon is a piece of art, usually humorous in intent. This usage dates from 1843 when Punch magazine applied the term to satirical drawings in its pages,[3] particularly sketches by John Leech. The first of these parodied the preparatory cartoons for grand historical frescoes in the then-new Palace of Westminster. The original title for these drawings was Mr Punch's face is the letter Q and the new title "cartoon" was intended to be ironic, a reference to the self-aggrandizing posturing of Westminster politicians.

Modern single-panel gag cartoons, found in magazines, generally consist of a single drawing with a typeset caption positioned beneath or (much less often) a speech balloon. Newspaper syndicates have also distributed single-panel gag cartoons by Mel Calman, Bill Holman, Gary Larson, George Lichty, Fred Neher and others. Many consider New Yorker cartoonist Peter Arno the father of the modern gag cartoon (as did Arno himself). The roster of magazine gag cartoonists includes Charles Addams, Charles Barsotti and Chon Day.

Bill Hoest, Jerry Marcus and Virgil Partch began as a magazine gag cartoonists and moved on to do syndicated comic strips. Noteworthy in the area of newspaper cartoon illustration is Richard Thompson, who illustrated numerous feature articles in The Washington Post before creating his Cul de Sac comic strip. Sports sections of newspapers usually featured cartoons, sometimes including syndicated features such as Chester "Chet" Brown's All in Sport.

Editorial cartoons are found almost exclusively in news publications and news websites. Although they also employ humor, they are more serious in tone, commonly using irony or satire. The art usually acts as a visual metaphor to illustrate a point of view on current social and/or political topics. Editorial cartoons often include speech balloons and, sometimes, multiple panels. Editorial cartoonists of note include Herblock, David Low, Jeff MacNelly, Mike Peters and Gerald Scarfe.[2]

Comic strips, also known as "cartoon strips" in the United Kingdom, are found daily in newspapers worldwide, and are usually a short series of cartoon illustrations in sequence. In the United States they are not as commonly called "cartoons" themselves, but rather "comics" or "funnies". Nonetheless, the creators of comic strips—as well as comic books and graphic novels—are usually referred to as "cartoonists". Although humor is the most prevalent subject matter, adventure and drama are also represented in this medium. Noteworthy cartoonists of humor strips include Scott Adams, Steve Bell, Charles Schulz, E. C. Segar, Mort Walker and Bill Watterson.

Books

Books with cartoons are usually reprints of newspaper cartoons. On some occasions, new gag cartoons have been created for book publication, as was the case with Think Small, a 1967 promotional book distributed as a giveaway by Volkswagen dealers. Bill Hoest and other cartoonists of that decade drew cartoons showing Volkswagens, and these were published along with humorous automotive essays by such humorists as H. Allen Smith, Roger Price and Jean Shepherd. The book's design juxtaposed each cartoon alongside a photograph of the cartoon's creator.

Animation

Main article: Animated cartoon

Because of the stylistic similarities between comic strips and early animated movies, "cartoon" came to refer to animation, and the word "cartoon" is currently used to refer to both animated cartoons and gag cartoons. While "animation" designates any style of illustrated images seen in rapid succession to give the impression of movement, the word "cartoon" is most often used in reference to TV programs and short films for children featuring anthropomorphized animals, superheroes, the adventures of child protagonists and related genres.

At the end of the 1980s, the word "cartoon" was shortened, and the word "toon" came into usage with the live action/animated feature Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), followed two years later by the TV series Tiny Toon Adventures (1990).

3D Animation Software - A Quick Look At How It Is Used

3D software these days is limitless it seems, there are several types on the market and they all vary in capability, functionality and of course, price. From an amateur to a professional, there is a piece of software out there to suit your every need. Making sure you download animation software that's right for your needs is crucial, or you could end up paying more than you need to.

The first movie that ever to use computer animation software in making the film was 'Westworld' in 1973. This really set the trend in the movie industry by wowing audiences and influencing directors and gave us movies such as 'The Abyss', 'Terminator', 'Forrest Gump', 'Jurassic Park' and 'Toy Story' only to name a few. Video games make use of computer animation software, in a slightly different way, to help the consoles running them cope with the massive frames per second. With 3D animation, the world will quite literally never be the same again. Download animation software to begin creating projects like this and more, depending on your style.

Mostly it used to be just objects that are being used for the process of computer animation, but as technology has developed, many films have used powerful software such as IllusionMage to create stunning human movement including; Beowulf, The Incredibles and Avatar. Things can only get better for the film industry, with the latest craze of 3D being added to movies, the possibilities truly are endless. The existence of animation software has produced an extremely positive effect in the movie industry, today's films would not be the same at all, since almost every one has some form of computer animation involved. This really gets movie enthusiasts more excited about the latest movies, because the realism and stunning effect of the 3D animation really pulls the viewer in and makes for a more dramatic and brilliant cinema experience. To make use of these traits yourself make sure you download animation software that is right for your uses.

There are various types of animation software; the most popular types are computer generated imagery (CGI), Claymation and stop motion. These options should help you see what is used in many TV programs and movies, such as Avatar and Wallace and Gromit.

- Using computer generated imagery, (CGI) objects are modelled with a 3D software package and then rigged up to be able to virtually move them around. The objects can be manipulated and controlled to create the required movements, and the software creates a frame (image) for every slight movement and creates the video to play back at 25fps (UK) or 30fps (US)

- Stop motion uses physical models that are modelled by hand and an image is captured for every movement and again, set to play back at 25fps (UK) or 30fps (US)

- Claymation uses the same process as stop motion, but the objects are modelled out of clay and painted for extra-realism.

I'm Jim Snaith, from Ireland, I direct short films and later add 3D content to them. Animation and films truly are my passion and I wish to share my knowledge and experiences to the world. To see more about animation, take a look at my website: Animation Software

Best 3D Modelling Software - What to Look For

I think we are all aware and amazed by the leaps and bounds made by the 3D animation industry in the past few decades. Like Walt Disney and now you have movies such as Avatar and Tin Tin and the list goes on and on. Cartoons and mixed media. Fluid movements, brilliant colors and spectacular sounds. Just amazing!

And now it's so east for a person to get a piece of software and learn the basics of animation and if you like take it to the next level of making it a career.

For some who don't have an artistic bone in their body, like myself, but an incredible desire to create some form of art, computer software is a god send! You can spend literally hours and hours creating and learning in your spare time just to please yourself. It's typical that once you learn a few things, people start to notice and want to have you create something for them. " that sort of thing. It wasn't very long before I was being noticed by the owner of the company I worked for and asked to take over the duties of updating and modifying the company website - and I might add, making a nice additional income! I did a self-study course over a 14 day period and managed the website for 8 years. It was great.

Nowadays, the software available for you to learn with is so exciting. Designing new games and making super graphics etc. Has gone straight up and vertical in its progression. Fantastic and so mobile and lifelike! I once sat down with a friend and was enjoy a soccer game with him and when I finally realized I didn't recognize the teams I asked him who was playing. The guy I was watching with couldn't believe I was asking who was playing. It's a video game I'm playing!! " and laughed. I didn't know it was a video game. Unreal! but so Real! It was not the only time that has happened to me. Is it just me or do other people feel that this new reality in animation is simply awesome. Young people are so good at these games and don't seem at all awe-struck by the realism.

Well if you're like me and want to learn how to use this type of software for fun and your own entertainment or you would like to take it to a whole new level and adopt it as your career, well there are some awesome programs and software suites out there that will knock your socks off. It's a new adventure just waiting for you to give it a try. Some of the things to look for when shopping for animation software. are as follows:

1] 3D Modelling / Animation / Game Design Software for Home Users
2] Quality 3D Content, 3D Figure Design and Animation, Rendering
3] Real-time Interactive 3D and Games Creation with Live Playback
4] Completely illustrated tutorials and lots of step-by-step video training.
5] Can be used to make high-end game characters and scenery
6] Lots of tools for high-end 3D production this software is forever improving

These are just some of the features that come with software of this kind. This is fun and creative not difficult. The support and tutorials for this stuff are extreme. It always helps a company to have satisfied customers and these guys deliver great support. Very fun and enjoyable. You'll be amazed at how fast you learn this new art.

You can find further information about this type of software at http://www.best3dmodellingsoftware.com Best 3D Modelling Software. Have fun.

Click Here: http://www.best3dmodellingsoftware.com to find out more about the Best 3D Modelling Software.

Models

3D models represent a 3D object using a collection of points in 3D space, connected by various geometric entities such as triangles, lines, curved surfaces, etc. Being a collection of data (points and other information), 3D models can be created by hand, algorithmically (procedural modeling), or scanned.

3D models are widely used anywhere in 3D graphics. Actually, their use predates the widespread use of 3D graphics on personal computers. Many computer games used pre-rendered images of 3D models as sprites before computers could render them in real-time.

Today, 3D models are used in a wide variety of fields. The medical industry uses detailed models of organs. The movie industry uses them as characters and objects for animated and real-life motion pictures. The video game industry uses them as assets for computer and video games. The science sector uses them as highly detailed models of chemical compounds.[1] The architecture industry uses them to demonstrate proposed buildings and landscapes through Software Architectural Models. The engineering community uses them as designs of new devices, vehicles and structures as well as a host of other uses. In recent decades the earth science community has started to construct 3D geological models as a standard practice.

3D modeling

In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object (either inanimate or living) via specialized software. The product is called a 3D model. It can be displayed as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering or used in a computer simulation of physical phenomena. The model can also be physically created using 3D printing devices.

Models may be created automatically or manually. The manual modeling process of preparing geometric data for 3D computer graphics is similar to plastic arts such as sculpting.

Computer Animation Graphics: A Popular Career Choice

The 2012 Academy Awards have reinforced the love affair that Americans have with computer-generated animation. Computer animation is used in the films that are nominated and win, reinforcing the importance and place of these type of programs in American life. It's not just feature-length films like "Rango" and "Puss in Boots." Computer animation shows up in non-animated films as well to create dazzling special effects. Animation is also on television in shows and commercials. Video games would not be nearly as popular without realistic animation programs. There is also the industrial market of corporate and training films that can feature computer animation. There are a lot of places and lot of opportunities in the computer animations field.

The problem is, it is difficult to find opportunities to get the specialized training in this field. Courses are offered at traditional colleges, but they often go very quickly, because people want in on this popular field. The same situation can exist for profit schools, whether they offer classroom or online training. It is possible to learn about this field on your own. It can be done if a person has the right software and support materials for instruction.

Self-instructional animation software should give a user who is serious about learning computer animation fully featured 3D animation that can rival what the professionals do. Illusion Mage provides those capabilities while providing the user with the type of instruction that they need to get started, and to which they can refer when working on animation projects. Illusion Mage provides that support with six hours of video instructional material to guide a user step by step through a computer animation course. This course guides a user through using powerful software without costing a small fortune. The company that provides this software should also believe in the product and be willing to back it. While some animation programs can costs $1,000's, the software program Illusion Mage is reasonably price and provides a 60-day money back guarantee for its product.

Major films and independent productions use 3D computer animation as do commercial and industrial video producers. Whether users want to make a demo reel for a company, or want to start making independent releases as an independent producer, Illusion Mage can help them start on that path on an animation course. Illusion Mage can help people make good-looking animation and provides the support materials that people need.

Starting with computer animation can be achieved in your spare time by following a instructional course that gives you all the information and instruction you need. You can also attend a local college course but these courses are normally over subscribed so can be difficult to get on. One of the best ways is to study in your spare time learn the basic's then look at getting a start with a studio, hands on experience is by far the better way to learn. It is for this reason we recommend Illusion Mage it is a reasonable priced course that you can follow at your own pace with some very good instructional video's, learn more at http://3d-computer-animation-software.com

Computer Graphics & Animation

In this exploding new industry that's inventing itself as it grows, to prepare for a career you need an insider to show you the ropes.

Question
I want to work in computer animation, but the industry is so new that it would be easy to invest a lot of money and time -- and wind up with the wrong skills or not enough of them.

There seems to be a pretty clear path for a regular graphics career but, how do I prepare for a career in computer animation? Is self-study a viable way to go? What do I need to know about the industry? Finally, what do employers look for in a resume?

Insider Advice from
Michael Klouda
Klouda Studios

The Computer Graphics industry is hot. Every year the biggest movies tend to have the biggest effects. Movies that are fully computer animated, once a far-off dream, are now playing at your local movie house. Television commercials use more Hollywood effects than ever before, and the gaming industry is bursting with computer graphically created products. Colleges and universities are offering degrees in computer graphics, also often called computer animation, and are turning out tens of thousands of graduates eager to work on the next major blockbuster.

CG Is More Than You Think
When most people think of computer graphics they think of Terminator 2, or Jurassic Park. Perhaps they have even heard of Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) and Pixar. But film effects are only a part of the computer graphics industry. Computer Graphics (CG) is used in broadcast graphics, games, theme parks, industrial animation, virtual reality, and scientific and medical research. For this Industry Insider I will be focusing more on the animation side of the industry, but it’s important to note that there is very heavy use of CG in the design community too (automotive design, consumer products, industrial design and interactive design).

When someone is thinking about getting into the CG field they need to understand that there are many kinds of jobs working in many different industries. To say that you want to be a 3D animator is like saying you want to be a musician. You need to make choices. Certainly there is an overall level of understanding (like music theory), but beyond that you need to choose your instrument and your style.

Lots of Job Choices
For instance, you could be a modeler, an animator, a character animator, a lighting specialist, a compositor, a texture artist, a CG programmer, a technical director or an art director. Each of these jobs is different. You may be interested in all of them and your school may be teaching the basics, but the earlier you can focus on an area that you are particularly good at, the better off you will be once you get out in the working world.

Inside The Computer Graphics Industry
Let’s look at a few realities of the industry.

CG is big business. Like any other business, CG companies need to be profitable. It’s a common misunderstanding that the companies that do effects make a lot of money. But, many film effect houses have closed in the past few years because they have not been able to produce a steady profit. Many of them have turned to doing commercials to make money, and they do film effects to build their prestige.

The CG industry is project-oriented. When a project is completed, there are often layoffs. So, being a CG animator is not all that secure of a job.

The CG business is centered in a few major metropolitan areas including Los Angeles and New York. This means you will probably have to move to one of these cities if you want a CG career. There are jobs elsewhere, but comparatively few. (Remember, we are talking about the animation side of the business. If you are interested in computer graphics in general, you are not so locked into Hollywood.)

The people in CG are not your normal bunch. You need to keep in mind that you’re essentially working in the entertainment industry, which means you will be working with quite a lot of odd, quirky, egotistical, competitive and often unpleasant people. You will also work with a lot of really great people, too. But, sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.

What You Need To Get In The Door
Okay. Now that I've given you a few warnings, we can talk about what it takes to prepare for a job and a career in CG. There are some obvious things that you need to get started. You need to have skill, talent and a portfolio or demo reel.

The skills require a significant investment in time and study. How much money you invest depends on how you approach your education. You can acquire the necessary skills at school or through diligent study at home with some good software and time. [Don't forget to check schools that offer a computer science degree online. Online degrees give you the flexibility to gain the right skills and work experience. -Ed.] Talent comes with practice and experience. And jobs come from having a good portfolio and demo reel that show an employer what you can do.

The Academic Approach
When evaluating schools there are some key criteria I suggest you keep in mind.

What will you learn?
Is the school going to teach you how to be an animator or a computer operator? Some schools teach just the technical skills. While that might qualify you to be a computer operator, it’s a sad experience to graduate and realize you don’t have the design and conceptual skills necessary to be an animator.

So, take a careful look at that school before you enroll. Will it teach you concrete design and conceptual thinking? Will it teach you how to draw and how to tell a story? These are critical skills for an animator. If the school is focused just on computers and technology, your career will be limited. Don’t let the school make your choice for you. Before you select a school, decide what your career goal is and make sure the school’s offerings fit your needs.

How good are the teachers?
This matters as much as the school’s specialization. Look beyond the course catalog and find out if the teachers really know the material. What are their credentials? Have they actually worked in industry? What are their own accomplishments in the field? (What do they have in their portfolios?) Talk to students who are already enrolled. How do they like the program? What are their complaints?

How good are the graduates?
Look at students who are graduating and examine the level of their work. Talk with graduates who are working in the CG industry. Do they have good jobs? Are they satisfied with their education? Talk with the companies that employ these grads — are they happy with the skills of their new workers? Checking a school’s references takes time and effort, but it’s critical. If you select an inadequate school, your career will suffer.

Is there depth in the course offerings?
What non-computer graphic courses are offered? You’re going to need some depth in your training, and that depth lies beyond computer technology. Does the school provide traditional animation courses? Are there courses in photography and film? Courses in design, drawing, scriptwriting and acting will be important in your training and in your career. These are the skills that can make you stand out as a great job candidate. [For more about traditional design training, see Eric Szantai’s Industry Insider: Graphic Design: Getting An Education.]

How good is the lab?
Finally, how complete and how large is the CG lab? A good school will provide you with the newest computers, software and graphic technologies available — something you may not be able to afford if you attempt to learn CG purely through self-study. So, ask to see the lab before you sign up. Find out how accessible the lab is. Is it open evenings and weekends? Is it well-maintained? Are there enough systems and printers to accommodate all the students? A great lab is no good to you if you always have to wait to use it.

The Self-Study Approach
If you have lots of time, lots of money, and want to develop expertise without attending school, you can set yourself up with a system and learn to use computer animation tools on your own. Some of the books and software that you'll need are listed below.

The problem with this approach is that you will learn the tools, but you probably will not acquire the skills that make a great employee (e.g., interpersonal skills, like the ability to communicate well). You will also miss out on the opportunity to learn one-on-one from expert teachers.

No matter how you acquire your expertise, don’t expect to become proficient at animation overnight. It will take you two to four years to build a good, solid foundation of knowledge. Then it will take additional time to hone your particular talents. If you can afford to go to school and you have a system at home, then you are in great shape.

Most of the older professionals working in the field today had to learn on their own because there were no schools for computer graphics. Today there are a lot of great schools, but you still need to augment your courses with additional self-study if you want to excel. Practice at home all you can, and start a personal library. Acquire additional books about the software your school uses, and subscribe to publications that influence the animation industry.

The Basic CG Library
Here a few books that I believe are important to anyone starting out in the animation field:

* The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
* Understanding Animation by Paul Wellis
* Animation From Script to Screen by Shamus Calhane
* A Bug's Life: The Art & Making of An Epic of Miniature Proportions by Jeff Kurtti

The Software Tools
Any training (or self-study) for a job in CG should include training in how to use the four main software packages that are used in the industry.

These packages are:

* Alias PowerAnimator/Maya
* Kinetix 3D Studio Max
* SoftImage
* Lightwave

(With Alias Maya I include PowerAnimator, a heavily used software package that is being superceded by Maya, but which is still very much in use.)

All these tools are available for the PC; some also have Unix versions. At this time Lightwave is the only one available for the Mac, and I’m sorry to say it is not used very much for animation. Many animation companies use these tools along with their own proprietary software. Pixar is a great example of a company that develops its own software to solve problems they encounter during the creation of a feature.

Your First "Job": An Internship
Okay, now you’ve completed your studies and you are getting ready to graduate, whether from a school or from your own "basement lab". You’ve developed your particular skills and talents in computer graphics and you are going to hit the job market. Or, perhaps you are a year off from graduating and you are starting to think about where you want to work. It’s time to get some practical experience in the industry.

The best way you can do this is by getting an internship. An internship is essentially a low-paying job (sometimes, there’s no pay at all) where you do all the grunt work in exchange for valuable experience. Many schools have internship programs already running so you could start there. You may have to take an internship in a company that is only indirectly related to the CG industry.

What matters is the experience you’re going to gain. Consider it "paying your dues" or "doing an apprenticeship". Either way, it can be important to your success. There’s no academic education or self-study that will teach you how to actually do the work — you need to learn from others in a production environment. Make sure your apprenticeship (or first job) is relevant to your career goal. You could work for a video company, a television station, a theatrical agency, a photographer or even a printer. All of these jobs can give you valuable production experience.

The Demo Reel & Portfolio
A critical part of winning a job is having a good portfolio and a demo reel; these feature samples of your work.

A basic portfolio will include character sketches, sortboards, paintings, illustrations, figure drawings and motion studies that you have done. It could also feature other work you have done in photography or design, if it showcases your talents well.

A demo reel is a video tape that shows off your best work. The key here is your best work — not all your work. Even if you have only a few projects under your belt, it’s still critical that you carefully select what you are going to put on your reel. Remember: an employer is expecting to see your best. If you "throw it all in", you won’t come across well.

Your school may have courses on how to put together your portfolio. This is a good start, and looking at other people’s work is a great indicator of what recruiters are looking for. But, you need to keep in mind that there are thousands of other job hunters out there taking the same courses and often producing portfolios that look pretty much alike. Your goal is to stand out — never forget that. In the end, the best way to create a great portfolio and demo reel is to follow your own judgment and emphasize the areas in which you really shine.

The Demo Reel Is Your Resume
A typical demo reel includes:

* opening title
* 2D pencil tests
* a walk cycle
* a decently rendered scene with a camera move
* a space scene
* a scene that's "just not done yet because I didn't have time to get it to tape and the equipment was down . . ."
* closing title

This is a typical reel. But, "typical" is not what you want because it is what everyone is showing. This industry is competitive and if you show a demo reel that is like the one listed above then you will not look any different than anyone else.

So, what should you do to stand apart from your competition? What is it that the industry is looking for?

The Ask The Headhunter Edge
We all know that you are hard-working and interested in the industry; that you are a quick learner; and that you probably have a system at home with software that you grabbed off the Internet. That describes your competition, too. To go the extra mile, ask yourself two critical questions:

* Why should a company hire you?
* Why should they pay you good money to work for them?

These are not easy questions — they are the kinds of questions The Headhunter discusses in The Basics and in his books. Every employer needs something different. It’s up to you to find out what. No school can tell you that; you must do research on the company to find out for yourself. To make yourself stand out, you need to know what you can bring to a specific company to help it be more successful. Once you figure that out, you can produce a resume and demo reel that will make the company stand up and take notice of you.

In other words, a great demo reel shows off skills and abilities that are most relevant to a particular emloyer.

You do not need to have a lot in your reel. Just something that is good that reflects your interests and talents and will clearly state why you would be a useful addition to a creative staff. Are you particularly good at modeling or at setting up a composition? Do you have a talent for creating dynamically lit scenes? Are you really good at animating characters with lip-synch? If so, prove it. The best demo reel is the one that leverages your strengths; so, build yours that way.

Join The CG Community
Remember that you will most likely be working as part of a creative team, so being a team player is very important. Having great ideas counts, but it’s just as important to be able to work as part of a team that works together to produce great content. So, be positive and confident, but not egotistical or overly-opinionated. Project a team-oriented attitude.

Finally, you need to become a part of the CG community. You need to be actively involved. It is critical that you learn to network and meet people. You can join user groups, Internet communities, go to conferences (Siggraph in particular) and other animation or design clubs. The best way to locate computer graphic clubs, animation or film clubs is through the Internet. Some important sites are:

* Siggraph, the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics: http://www.siggraph.org/
* Animation World News: http://www.awn.com/
* 3dSite: http://www.3dsite.com/
* 3DCafe: www.3Dcafe.com

When you participate in the CG community always be friendly and remember that you are representing not only yourself (and your employer, if you’re working), but also others in your industry. Don’t just take; give something back. Participate actively. That’s what will increase your own value when it comes time to seek a job.

So, get to work! Spend some time reflecting on who you are and what you do well, and put something together that will impress. This is an exciting and satisfying industry to work in. Position yourself to be an exciting animator and a "satisfying employee", and you’ll be on your way to a successful CG career.

Michael Klouda is a computer graphic artist specializing in modeling for design and animation. He has worked as a Senior Art Director for a design agency, and as a designer for a broadcast effects company. An occasional lecturer and instructor on computer graphics and graphic design, Michael now runs his own firm, Klouda Studios, providing services including web design, multimedia and 3D animation/illustration.

NOTE: 
The advice provided above is an opinion, not a professional service. Ask The Headhunter and the author of the advice are not responsible for its accuracy, use or mis-use.

Top 5 Disney Sidekicks

The stories created by Disney are those of fairy tales and fantasy. Usually a hero will have to overcome insurmountable odds in order to succeed, but very rarely do they do it alone. As with superheroes in comic books, it's the same with Disney stories. The main character, be it the hero or princess gets by with a little help from their friends, the sidekicks.

Now, in the world of Disney, anything is possible, so sidekicks can take on the form of any creature, willing and loyal to the end, whether they are life-long friends or newly acquainted. So let's take a look at the top 5 Disney sidekicks.

Max, Tangled

The super-cop horse starts his journey hunting down Flynn Ryder in pursuit of the stolen crown. It takes more than brawn to evade this clever horse though as he tracks down is adversary through the forest where Rapunzel is hidden.

However, this cunning quadruped is willing to put aside his differences with Flynn so that Rapunzel can see the floating lights on her birthday. When this happens we find that Max isn't actually a ruthless horse bent on taking down criminals. He is actually quite a good friend and begins to warm to the couple, including Pascal, the little chameleon.

In the end, Max rallies together some ruffians to save Flynn from the dungeons and evade the palace guards just in time to save Rapunzel from her evil captor. What a horse!

Sebastian, The Little Mermaid

I think we can all agree that Ariel's decision to change her fins to legs for the price of her voice was a little hasty. But, hey, that's love I guess. In fact Ariel's actions almost cause Sebastian, the little crab, to have multiple heart failures and as King Neptune's advisor, he's worried about losing more than just his job.

Despite pleading with Ariel not to go through with her deal with the evil sea witch, involving a catchy 'under the sea' tune, he sticks with her until the end. In fact he even helps her win over the prince with another catchy tune and if it wasn't for the sea witch, he would have succeeded.

This is one loyal maestro I would like to have on my team any day of the week.

Mushu, Mulan

Eddie Murphy provides the voice of one of his most memorable animated appearances. I'm talking about Mushu the dragon of course!

Even under the threat of the entire Hun army, Mushu helps Mulan become a fighting warrior for the Chinese dynasty. Although his advice might be a little questionable at times he honours the family descendant's wishes by sticking with Mulan even in the face of an avalanche!

Mushu fulfils his duty by saving the Emperor and fighting off the Huns...with a little help, but still in is plucky style.

Dory, Finding Nemo

Although spending the first moments with Dory might be a little frustrating as she forgets things that happened 5 seconds ago, she manages to stay faithful throughout. Even through the face of danger, she manages to stay positive and her approach to dangerous situations encourages Marlin to plough on in the search for his missing son, Nemo.

What's heart-warming about this friendship is Dory's ability to remember things when she is with Marlin. She even memorises 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney! Her ability to speak whale is doubtful though.

Even at the end when Marlin is about to give up, Dory reunites him with his son as a result of her selective, but brilliant, memory.

Timone and Pumba, The Lion King

Hakuna Matata! If there was ever a tune that defined a childhood, it was this, first introduced by Timone the streetwise meerkat and Pumba the endearing warthog. Forming an unlikely alliance with Simba, this trio lived the carefree style in a rainforest munching on bugs and if it's one thing these guys lived by, it was to have no worries.

These chaps could have easily stayed in their cushy lifestyle and left Simba to challenge Scar on his own, but nope. They stick with it right through to the end, even when chased by a pack of ravenous hyenas. If anyone needed a true friend it would be these guys.

Richard Skidmore - FloridaTix

Since 1996 FloridaTix has been the UK's leading supplier for Disney tickets, Universal Studios tickets and many more Orlando attractions. We are an authorised broker of all attractions, theme parks, shows and sightseeing tours offered on this site so we can guarantee you the best possible holiday experience at the best possible price.

Top 5 Evil Disney Sidekicks in Animated Movies

When you think of Disney sidekicks, you probably think of noble characters like Jiminy Cricket, the Seven Dwarfs, and Timon & Pumbaa. But throughout the animation studio’s long history, there have been plenty of sidekicks and henchmen that have not only served the central villain but also upstaged their diabolical masters on a consistent basis. We decided to limit ourselves to those evil sidekicks that had a fair amount of screen time, which explains the absence of such notable figures as Lady in the Tramp’s Si and Am, 101 Dalmatians’ Jasper and Horace, and Sleeping Beauty’s Diablo from the following list:

1. Iago ('Aladdin')
As the sarcastic sidekick to central villain Jafar, Iago immediately establishes himself as exactly the sort of right-hand man that every bad guy needs. Iago’s willingness to help ensure the success of his master’s diabolical plan is only a small part of what makes him the ideal sidekick, with the loud-mouthed parrot’s ongoing words of encouragement for Jafar and his seething hatred of the heroes confirming his place as Disney’s most entertainingly evil right-hand man. (And, of course, you can’t talk about Iago without mentioning Gilbert Gottfried’s hilarious performance as the fast-talking character – with the comedian-turned-actor’s famously grating voice a perfect match for Iago’s curmudgeonly demeanor.)

2. Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed ('The Lion King')
Scar remains one of the most memorable villains within all of Disney’s animated films, and it’s clear that he wouldn’t have gotten to where he is without the assistance of these three vicious, thoroughly devious hyenas. Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed play an instrumental role in executing Scar’s sadistic schemes, with their repeated attempts at eating hero Simba paling in comparison to their role in the murder of Simba’s noble father, Mufasa. The only thing preventing their ascent to the top of this list is their collective decision to turn on Scar in the movie’s final moments, which ensures that they almost manage to redeem themselves after spending much of The Lion King’s running time behaving as ruthlessly as one could imagine.

3. Kronk ('The Emperor’s New Groove')
Though far from the most evil or conniving of sidekicks, Kronk is certainly one of the most entertaining henchmen to ever grace Disney’s animated landscape. Hilariously voiced by Patrick Warburton, Kronk dutifully serves the central villain in The Emperor’s New Groove, Yzma, yet also displays a surprising amount of sympathy for the film’s two protagonists (Kuzco and Pacha). Kronk, who went on to headline a direct-to-video sequel entitled Kronk’s New Groove, is generally portrayed as a dim-witted flunky who relies heavily on the advice of the little angel and devil that appear on his shoulders, with his goofy demeanor ensuring that the viewer can’t help but like him even when he’s doing bad things.

4. Flotsam and Jetsam ('The Little Mermaid')
There are few evil sidekicks within the Disney canon that are as ruthlessly efficient and unquestioningly loyal as Flotsam and Jetsam, as these two psychically-connected moray eels prove instrumental in carrying out central villain Ursula’s various plots and schemes. Voiced by Paddi Edwards, Flotsam and Jetsam use their mystical powers to provide Ursula with a view of the outside world – which the sinister sea witch uses to spy on the comings and goings of Ariel. Their dedication to their master eventually results in their downfall, however, as the pair is killed by a shot that Ursula had intended for Ariel’s two-legged beau, Prince Eric.

5. Pain and Panic ('Hercules')
Perhaps the most incompetent of all the evil Disney sidekicks, Pain and Panic’s bumbling nature ensures that they inevitably wind up foiling most of their master’s evil schemes – with their time instead spent coming up with different ways to avoid Hades’ considerable wrath. And given that the characters are voiced by Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt “Max Headroom” Frewer, it’s not surprising to note that both Pain and Panic are responsible for much of the comedic relief within Hercules. The mischievous imps are nothing short of delighted once Hades inevitably receives his comeuppance, as it means that the best friends will no longer have to cater to their boss’ every whim and desire.

Computer Animation: How It's Changed Everything

The computer has basically revolutionized how we as a society go about our everyday lives. We check our email, go on Facebook, read the news and search for videos on YouTube. In animation school, it became apparent that the old fashioned way of animating was becoming a thing of the past. Not necessarily so: some animators still go the old fashioned route, but computer animation and computer generated effects have pretty much changed the way animation and films are made.

Today's animation schools focus on both the old and the new. While some still have a loving adoration of hand-drawn cel animation, computers have streamlined the process. Say you're watching a film like The Wizard of Oz, which was made with actors in costumes and matte paintings to showcase the backgrounds of the Emerald City; today it would all be done by computer, where the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow would be digitally enhanced characters instead of actors in costume. An actor would have to voice the character, but in some cases there'd be no need for an actor to actually be on set, as it could be animated instead.

When the first film version of The Lord of the Rings was released in 1978, it featured a combination of animated cells and live action rotoscoping (animating over live action), which gave the film a dark and mysterious appearance. However the film was limited in what it could do and it only covered half of the actual story. With the recent Peter Jackson trilogy, many of the issues that the first film was unable to achieve had been remedied with computer technology, where live action was mixed with computer generated characters. The most remarkable element of these films was the use of actor Andy Serkis who played the notorious Gollum, through a process called 'motion capture' where an actor is covered with reflective markers, filmed against a green screen and then a computer generated character is animated over the motion capture image.

Animation school taught me how the motion capture process would revolutionize the way animation and films would be made. The impossible is now possible. The first Star Wars films were made the old fashioned way, by using models of spaceships and matte paintings. In the first trilogy (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back) alien characters were either animatronic puppets or Claymation. By the time the second batch of films were released in the late 1990s, all the alien characters and spaceships were computer generated. This is part of the reason why the series' creator, George Lucas, has gone back and tweaked his original films, to give them more ambience and add more graphical flourishes that were impossible when he made the first film in the 1970s. However this was controversial in some camps, as many die-hard fans felt the original films should have been left alone without the new-fangled embellishments.

However, most animation schools give you the leeway to find your niche. It's good to experiment with both, which gives a chance to decide which works for you. If you love computers, then computer animation may be a good fit. But if you love the way old animation looks, there is still an audience for it and if you're in animation school, you might want to give that style a whirl.

An Animation Writer’s Decision; The Hero’s Journey Versus Good Versus Evil

As an instructor of character animation at the California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) I used to teach my students about animation storytelling by breaking it down to its most basic elements.

In animation there are two basic story structures for most films. They are;

Good Versus Evil and what Joseph Campbell called The Hero’s Journey or what I call, The Adventures of...

Most films these days are of the Good Versus Evil variety because they most readily allow for the production of a sequel or even a series of sequels or even prequels. This form consists of a good guy, the Hero, and a bad guy, the Villain. The basic plot is either that the good guy wants something, he has a set goal and the villain tries to stop him from attaining his goal. Or, the villain has a goal and the hero tries to stop him from attaining his goal. It is not necessary for the villain to die at the end of the story, in fact, it is detrimental to the potential movie series to kill off the villain. Rather he is simply defeated or vanquished, promising to return later for revenge (in the sequel).

Some classic examples of Good Versus Hero animated films are;

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - The first full length animated film pitted sweet, innocent Snow White and her seven little protectors against her stepmother, the Queen, who wanted to kill her simply out of jealousy of her beauty.

Peter Pan - Lost boy Peter fights almost to the death with Captain Hook. Why is never fully explained except that at one time Peter had cut off Hook’s hand and fed it to the crocodile but obviously they were enemies already.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians - Dalmatian dog parents set out to retrieve their stolen litter of puppies wanted by evil fashionista Cruella DeVille who just wanted a new dog coat.

Between Cruella DeVille and Snow White’s step mom what was the message Disney was trying to tell us about women? Ever notice how many Disney characters were motherless? A quick list: Snow White, Peter Pan, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Bambi (after the first half), Cinderella, Arthur (King Arthur from The Sword in the Stone), Mogli (The Jungle Book), Princess Jasmine (Aladdin), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), there are more but you get the point.

For The Hero’s Journey / The Adventures Of story format a character, usually hesitantly, embarks on a journey or quest and substantially changes during the course of the story. A boy becomes a man, a coward becomes a hero, an elephant learns to fly, something happens that changes the character forever. Although this is a classic form it is harder to create sequels from this format as the character going through a change basically is the story and once that’s happened it is hard to come up with more changes. Hercules is an example of a story that dealt with his problem by making the Disney television series version a prequel. We see the character before he started his adventures that lead to his becoming a hero. Some other Disney films based on the Hero’s Journey are;

Pinocchio - A puppet goes through a series of trials with a series of assorted bad guys on his way to becoming a real boy.

Bambi - Basically the life story of a deer in a forest doing deer things with the closest thing to a villain being the humans who kill his mother and burn down his forest, but it wasn’t personal.


Lady And The Tramp - A couple of dogs from opposite sides of the tracks find true love. Of course they are trials along the way but the dogs are essentially fully formed characters when they meet. The only changes they go through are conquering their own prejudices against each others breed.

The Adventures Of style of story gives the most opportunity to explore different societies and life experiences and therefore can be the most educational. Unfortunately, a good guy fighting a bad guy provides a thrill, is easier to write and has the most financial potential.

Computer animation

Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images.

Modern computer animation usually uses 3D computer graphics, although 2D computer graphics are still used for stylistic, low bandwidth, and faster real-time renderings. Sometimes the target of the animation is the computer itself, but sometimes the target is another medium, such as film.

Computer animation is essentially a digital successor to the stop motion techniques used in traditional animation with 3D models and frame-by-frame animation of 2D illustrations. Computer generated animations are more controllable than other more physically based processes, such as constructing miniatures for effects shots or hiring extras for crowd scenes, and because it allows the creation of images that would not be feasible using any other technology. It can also allow a single graphic artist to produce such content without the use of actors, expensive set pieces, or props.

To create the illusion of movement, an image is displayed on the computer screen and repeatedly replaced by a new image that is similar to it, but advanced slightly in time (usually at a rate of 24 or 30 frames/second). This technique is identical to how the illusion of movement is achieved with television and motion pictures.

For 3D animations, objects (models) are built on the computer monitor (modeled) and 3D figures are rigged with a virtual skeleton. For 2D figure animations, separate objects (illustrations) and separate transparent layers are used, with or without a virtual skeleton. Then the limbs, eyes, mouth, clothes, etc. of the figure are moved by the animator on key frames. The differences in appearance between key frames are automatically calculated by the computer in a process known as tweening or morphing. Finally, the animation is rendered.

For 3D animations, all frames must be rendered after modeling is complete. For 2D vector animations, the rendering process is the key frame illustration process, while tweened frames are rendered as needed. For pre-recorded presentations, the rendered frames are transferred to a different format or medium such as film or digital video. The frames may also be rendered in real time as they are presented to the end-user audience. Low bandwidth animations transmitted via the internet (e.g. 2D Flash, X3D) often use software on the end-users computer to render in real time as an alternative to streaming or pre-loaded high bandwidth animations.

Animation

Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways. The most common method of presenting animation is as a motion picture or video program, although there are other methods.

Animation Article Categories

Computer animation

Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images. more>>>>

An Animation Writer’s Decision; The Hero’s Journey Versus Good Versus Evil

As an instructor of character animation at the California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) I used to teach my students about animation storytelling by breaking it down to its most basic elements.

In animation there are two basic story structures for most films. They are;

Good Versus Evil and what Joseph Campbell called The Hero’s Journey or what I call, The Adventures of...

Most films these days are of the Good Versus Evil variety because they most readily allow for the production of a sequel or even a series of sequels or even prequels. This form consists of a good guy, the Hero, and a bad guy, the Villain. The basic plot is either that the good guy wants something, he has a set goal and the villain tries to stop him from attaining his goal. Or, the villain has a goal and the hero tries to stop him from attaining his goal. It is not necessary for the villain to die at the end of the story, in fact, it is detrimental to the potential movie series to kill off the villain. Rather he is simply defeated or vanquished, promising to return later for revenge (in the sequel). more>>>

Computer Animation: How It's Changed Everything

The computer has basically revolutionized how we as a society go about our everyday lives. We check our email, go on Facebook, read the news and search for videos on YouTube. In animation school, it became apparent that the old fashioned way of animating was becoming a thing of the past. Not necessarily so: some animators still go the old fashioned route, but computer animation and computer generated effects have pretty much changed the way animation and films are made. more>>>

Top 5 Evil Disney Sidekicks in Animated Movies

When you think of Disney sidekicks, you probably think of noble characters like Jiminy Cricket, the Seven Dwarfs, and Timon & Pumbaa. But throughout the animation studio’s long history, there have been plenty of sidekicks and henchmen that have not only served the central villain but also upstaged their diabolical masters on a consistent basis. We decided to limit ourselves to those evil sidekicks that had a fair amount of screen time, which explains the absence of such notable figures as Lady in the Tramp’s Si and Am, 101 Dalmatians’ Jasper and Horace, and Sleeping Beauty’s Diablo from the following list: more>>>

Top 5 Disney Sidekicks

The stories created by Disney are those of fairy tales and fantasy. Usually a hero will have to overcome insurmountable odds in order to succeed, but very rarely do they do it alone. As with superheroes in comic books, it's the same with Disney stories. The main character, be it the hero or princess gets by with a little help from their friends, the sidekicks. more>>>>

Computer Graphics & Animation

In this exploding new industry that's inventing itself as it grows, to prepare for a career you need an insider to show you the ropes. more>>>>

Computer Animation Graphics: A Popular Career Choice

The 2012 Academy Awards have reinforced the love affair that Americans have with computer-generated animation. Computer animation is used in the films that are nominated and win, reinforcing the importance and place of these type of programs in American life. It's not just feature-length films like "Rango" and "Puss in Boots." Computer animation shows up in non-animated films as well to create dazzling special effects. Animation is also on television in shows and commercials. Video games would not be nearly as popular without realistic animation programs. There is also the industrial market of corporate and training films that can feature computer animation. There are a lot of places and lot of opportunities in the computer animations field. more>>>

3D modeling

In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object (either inanimate or living) via ,,, more>>>

Models

3D models represent a 3D object using a collection of points in 3D space, connected by various geometric entities such as triangles, lines, curved surfaces, etc. Being a collection of data (points and other information), 3D models can be created by hand, algorithmically (procedural modeling), or scanned. more>>>

Best 3D Modelling Software - What to Look For

I think we are all aware and amazed by the leaps and bounds made by the 3D animation industry in the past few decades. Like Walt Disney and now you have movies such as Avatar and Tin Tin and the list goes on and on. Cartoons and mixed media. Fluid movements, brilliant colors and spectacular sounds. Just amazing! more>>>>

3D Computer animation

3D Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images. more>>>>

3D Animation Software - A Quick Look At How It Is Used

3D software these days is limitless it seems, there are several types on the market and they all vary in capability, functionality and of course, price. From an amateur to a professional, there is a piece of software out there to suit your every need. Making sure you download animation software that's right for your needs is crucial, or you could end up paying more than you need to. more>>>>

Cartoon


A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works. An artist who creates cartoons is called a cartoonist. more>>>>

How to Make a Cartoon on the Computer the Old Fashioned Way

Animation is ingrained in modern culture and media very deeply. Few children from anywhere in the world do not spend their formative years being entertained and often inspired by the animated motion pictures and television shows that dominate the screens of the 21st century. more>>>>


Top 3D Modeling Services

In this day and age, 3D modeling is a very common tool people are using when creating their works of art. If you are interested in having a 3D model for your project but don't know how to do it yourself there are plenty of 3D modeling services that can get the job done for you. Many services offer pre-made models that you can purchase or they can custom make one to your liking. Regardless here are the top 3D modeling services. Let's take a look at the ones that were named best of the year. more>>>>

Learn To Draw Cartoons

One of the most famous and favourite form of drawings would be cartoons. These are very fun to watch or read. If you want to learn to draw cartoons, here are the basic things you should know for you to be able to start out creating your own. more>>>>

Learn to Draw Cartoons: Keep It Simple

Drawing is a wonderful hobby, and drawing cartoons can be a fun hobby for anyone, at any age! You can draw cartoons anywhere - on the bus, in the subway, waiting at the airport, sitting in the doctor's office. It's great to carry a small sketchbook with you, but you can also draw cartoons on just about any scrap of paper you find. There's no need to start a "masterpiece." You can just get out your favorite pencil and begin. more>>>>

Flash animation

A Flash animation or Flash cartoon is an animated film which is created using Adobe Flash or similar animation software and often distributed in the .swf file format. The term Flash animation not only refers to the file format but to a certain kind of movement and visual style which, in many circles[citation needed], is seen as simplistic or unpolished. However, with dozens of Flash animated television series, countless more Flash animated television commercials, and award-winning online shorts in circulation, Flash animation is enjoying a renaissance. more>>>>

How to Make a Cartoon on the Computer With Flash and Skeletal Animation

When researching how to make a cartoon on the computer, one will quickly notice there is quite a reputation around skeletal animation and vector model design. There's a good reason for its being so highly praised, and contrary to popular belief, it's very easy to use. more>>>>

The 3D Adventure

The exciting adventure into a magical world with multiple dimensions where your imagination is allowed to run wild is the world of 3D animation. Take a swim in the deep blue sea exploding with tropical, colourful fish that you can almost touch and feel with your fingers. Walk through a fierce blizzard where you can feel the icy wind blowing and touch the magical snowflakes with your fingers. Trek through the Sahara Dessert whilst you can see the hot sand blowing on your face, watch the camels as if they were real life and enjoy the experience almost as if you were there now. more>>>>

The Guilty Pleasures Of Pixar Films

As a thirty year veteran of the Hollywood Animation Industry I may have a bias against 3D computer animated films since CGI animation effectively put my generation of animation artists out of work. But I’ve noticed how the obsolescence of traditional 2D animation has been reflected as a theme in the 3D films of Pixar. more>>>>

The History of Japanese Animation


Early animation in Japan was produced by amateur animators who took inspiration from American and European animators. The first Japanese animations were produced in 1917 and released as one-reel short films. By the 1920s, animated versions of Japanese folk tales were being created by animators such as Junichi Kouchi, Oten Shimokawa and Sanae Yamamoto. Eventually, as the popularity of animation grew, theatrical companies began funding productions in exchange for distribution rights. more>>>>

Anime

Anime is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation." In English-speaking countries, anime refers to a style of animation originating in Japan, characterized by colorful graphics and often featuring themes intended for an adult audience. The intended meaning of the word 'anime' sometimes varies, depending on the context. more>>>>

The History Of Anime (Japanese Animation) 81

The glorious history of anime begins shortly before the second world war. Of course, everyone knows Walt Disney as the one of the first and probably, most successful cartoonists of all time. Though not many realize that his works inspired other cartoonists the world over. One country where his work had a great impact was Japan. As early as 1914, Japanese cartoonists experimented with different forms of animation. Overtime the Japanese style of animation diverged from the American styles in both character and genre. more>>>>

Film

A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects. The process of filmmaking has developed into an art form and industry. more>>>>

Voice Acting

Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters (including those in feature films, television programs, animated short films, and video games) and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides. more>>>>

Graphics

Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings, or other images. Graphics often combine text, illustration, and color. more>>>>

Graphic arts

A type of fine art, graphic art covers a broad range of art forms. Graphic art is typically two-dimensional and includes calligraphy, photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, lithography, typography, serigraphy (silk-screen printing), and bindery. Graphic art also consists of drawn plans and layouts for interior and architectural designs. more>>>>

Puppetry

Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance which involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 3000 years BC. Puppetry takes many forms but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects. more>>>>