1 Animation and/or Computer Animation Dr. Stephania Loizidou Himona Assistant Professor Frederick University

2 Computer Graphics deals with Geometric Modeling Geometric Modeling Rendering Rendering Animation *** Animation ***

3 What is Animation? One-word definition : Vision One-word definition : Vision The illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of images of static elements : Persistence of Vision The illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of images of static elements : Persistence of Vision The process of bringing life through the use of motion to lifeless things : e.g. Virtual Reality The process of bringing life through the use of motion to lifeless things : e.g. Virtual Reality The “copying” of the real world, to enhance and to take the essence of the motion that is there : Level of Art The “copying” of the real world, to enhance and to take the essence of the motion that is there : Level of Art The technique by which each frame is produced individually : In film/video production The technique by which each frame is produced individually : In film/video production

4 Animation Form generation system Form Selection Timings Texture Coloring Lighting

5 What is Computer Animation? The art of creating moving images via the use of computers The art of creating moving images via the use of computers The use of computers to create animations : also referred to as CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) – especially when used in movies The use of computers to create animations : also referred to as CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) – especially when used in movies The modeling, motion generation, addition of surfaces and then rendering The modeling, motion generation, addition of surfaces and then rendering

6 Thus, Computer Graphics vs Animation (or, Computer Animation, a subfield) Inter-related issues Inter-related issues –Difficult to distinguish one from the other. –Their improvements are done in parallel! –Their effects …

7 However, Major Part of their difference is that Animation involves basically and primarily the concept of Major Part of their difference is that Animation involves basically and primarily the concept of Motion Control Motion Control

8 Different ways of basic CGI 3D Animations, create objects and then render them 3D Animations, create objects and then render them Use standard computer painting tools to paint single frames and composite them Use standard computer painting tools to paint single frames and composite them Use morphing : modify existing images and video Use morphing : modify existing images and video

9 Its Applications A variety of uses of A variety of uses of C.A. FunPracticalEducational

10 Examples : - Medicine - Advertising - Film - Flight Simulation - Television - Simulation - Entertainment - Video

11 The possibilities ( of the applications ) are endless Architecture, Multimedia, Engineering, Architecture, Multimedia, Engineering, Archeology, Chemistry, Art, Education, Archeology, Chemistry, Art, Education, Scientific Visualization, Space Exploration Scientific Visualization, Space Exploration +anything that you can think of !!! +anything that you can think of !!!

12 How is it done? Aim : 24 distinct drawings for one second of animation Aim : 24 distinct drawings for one second of animation produces realistic enough movement! i.e. perceivable due to way the eye and brain process images e.g. Human-Body Movement A Bouncing Ball A Horse Galloping etc.

13 But, such a process, Very time-consuming Very time-consuming –Creating the characters –Programmed the movement(s) –Rendering (a lot of time) Very expensive to produce, and often, Very expensive to produce, and often, Very labor intensive as well as tedious Very labor intensive as well as tedious

14 Styles and techniques of Animation Traditional Animation Traditional Animation Character Animation Limited Animation Rotoscoping Computer Animation Computer AnimationMulti-Sketching Skeletal Animation Morph-target Animation Cel-shaded Animation Onion Skinning Analogue Computer Animation Motion Capture Tradigital Animation

15 Styles and techniques of Animation (continued) Drawn on Film Drawn on Film Special effects Animation Special effects Animation

16 To allow Animation to be viewed on a computer Graphics file formats exist such as Graphics file formats exist such as –GIF –MNG –SVG –Flash (SWF) etc.

17 How is it done (continued) Sophisticated mathematics and/or constructive solid geometry are used To manipulate complex 3D polygons To manipulate complex 3D polygons To apply textures To apply textures To apply lighting To apply lighting To apply other effects to the polygon To apply other effects to the polygon and finally, To render the complete image To render the complete image

18 Sophisticated Graphical User Interface (GUI) is used, usually, to create the animation

19 Some examples (of CGI short films) Finding Nemo Finding Nemo ReBoot (the 1 st one!) ReBoot (the 1 st one!) Robots Robots Chicken Little Chicken Little Toy Story 1 & 2 Toy Story 1 & 2 Waking Life Waking Life Shrek 1 & 2 Shrek 1 & 2 Veggie Tales Veggie Tales Animusic Animusic Bratz Bratz Ice Age Ice Age Father of the Bride Father of the Bride and many-many more!

20 Cartoons Without Politics (since 2001) (some more recent examples!) Films that used CGI, nominated for Academic Awards : The Curse of the Were-Rabbit The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Corpse Bride Corpse Bride Moving Castle Moving Castle In the future, films with excellent animated features, but perhaps without CGI!

21 What is Rendering? The process a computer uses to create an image from a data file The process a computer uses to create an image from a data file The process of generating the pixels of an image based on a high-level description of its components The process of generating the pixels of an image based on a high-level description of its components The process of cutting a character/object from an image so that it can be used in designs The process of cutting a character/object from an image so that it can be used in designs

22 Rendering (continued) A user handles a mesh – a rough representation of an object When s/he is satisfied with the mesh s/he renders the image i.e. every section of the mesh gets colored also, inclusion of hidden-line removal

23 Rendering – a lengthy process Different methods : –Flat shading –Gourad –Phong –Ray Tracing –Radiosity

24 Anti-aliasing Anti-aliasing Articulations Articulations Binary system Binary system Bitmap Bitmap Contouring Contouring Coordinate systems Coordinate systems Digitizing Digitizing Direct Kinematics Direct Kinematics Direct Dynamics Direct Dynamics Face Face Fractals Fractals Human-figure animation Human-figure animation Inverse Kinematics Inverse Kinematics Inverse Dynamics Inverse Dynamics Keyframing Keyframing Modeling Modeling Morphing Morphing Mesh Mesh Onion skinning Onion skinning Pixels Pixels Primitives Primitives Rendering Rendering Resolution Resolution Surface Mapping Surface Mapping

25 Some examples !

26 The future. What awaits us? What is expected : The current level of animation (2D, 3D) to be replaced with Virtual Reality i.e. the person watching a movie to see himself in the movie as a person watching from the side

27 Computer Animation to become the standard way of making every kind of a movie, not just animated movies

28 Realistic simulation of Humans Photorealistic human characters Photorealistic human characters Undergoing physically-correct motion (with clothes, hair, interaction with other human characters Undergoing physically-correct motion (with clothes, hair, interaction with other human characters That is, No difference from real actors No difference from real actors No difference from the real world No difference from the real world The possibilities are endless!!!

29 Art and science meet when they both seek accuracy Etienne-Jules Marey (1888)