Methodologies and Techniques Used in Animation

The animation is a very wide group of technologies and methodologies used for making visual media interactive, rich, and vibrant. It is a full-fledged industry that has worth measuring in billions of dollars. 2D animation services, 3D animation services, character animation services, and flash animation services, there are just so many animation services available to complete an animation project.

The animation is used in film production, cartoons production, advertisement, web development, art exhibitions, and whatnot. There are several distinct animation approaches, styles, and techniques that can be used to achieve animation successfully. Businesses ranging from dedicated flash website design services providers to full-fledged animation houses make use of many different types of animation methodologies. Some of the most notably used animation techniques and methodologies are briefed up as follows:

Animation Methodologies

2D Animation

Actually a group of several animation methodologies, 2D animation is one of the most notably used animations only after 3D animation. 2D animation services are employed for a number of reasons, ranging from creating animated films and media to make effective websites.

3D Animation

3D animation allows animators to create an animation that fully exploits the 3-dimensional geometry. It is most commonly used in film production and making video games.

Animation Techniques

Character Animation

The specialized area of animation that allows animated characters to be brought to life is character animation. Professionals specializing in character animation are known as character animators. They are also popularly known as “actors with a pencil” or “actors with a mouse.” Character animators are responsible for creating emotion, thought, and personality in animated characters.

Drawn on File Animation

Drawn on file animation is a popular animation technique where footage is produced by creating images directly on the film stock. Several big and small animation studios make use of the technique for achieving vibrant, rich, and compelling animation.

Erasure Animation

There is a very wide room for artistic innovations in erasure animation. The technique involves using traditional 2-dimensional media. The media is photographed at a different time and simultaneously artist manipulates the image.

Flash Animation

Flash animation is actually a software-based animation methodology. It is most notably used by flash website design services providers as well as indie developers.

Hydrotechnics

Part of a technique that is used for several non-animation purposes too, hyrdrotechnics in animation includes the use of fog, fire, water, lights, and lasers with high-definition projections. Mist screens are used in the specific animation technique.

Multi-Sketch

An animation method that combines interactive story-telling with it is the multi-sketch animation. The method was invented by Renat Zarbajlov by combing two distinctive software applications, a sketching software and a screen capturing software. It actually involves creating a sequence of hand-drawn sketches along with the narration. Animation of this format is often catalogued as an extended infographic.

Paint-on Glass Animation

Several animation houses and professionals dedicatedly provide paint-on-glass animation services. Though there are several reasons for which the technique is used, it is most popularly used for making animated films. The technique involves manipulating slow-drying oil paints on sheets of glass.

Pinscreen Animation

In this type of animation technique, a screen filled with movable pins is used. The screen can be used by pressing an object in or out onto the screen. Different sides are used for illuminating the screen so that the pins cast shadows, which is then used as an animation effect. Pinscreen animation provides a number of textural effects that the conventionally used cel animation fails to produce.

Special Effects Animation

Probably the most popular form of animation is the special effects, also known as FX, SFX or SPFX. The animation methodology involves using illusions or visual tricks as required in films, televisions, theatres, games, simulators, etc. There are several hundred, or maybe thousands, of special effects. However, they all fall into two broad sub-categories of special effects animation – mechanical effects and optical effects.