ANIMATION FROM THE 1950’S TO THE1980’S

1950’S The Standards Eastern Automatic Computer was designed in 1950 by Russell Kirsch. Using this and a scanner, the first digital image was created by scanning a photograph. The computer was used to extract line drawings, count objects, recognize types of characters and display digital images on a screen. This was a major breakthrough and is considered to be the base of all computer imaging.

RUSSELL KIRSCH’S FIRST DIGITAL IMAGE

1960’S In 1963, Ivan Sutherland created a program called Sketchpad 1, allowing the user directly interact with the images on screen. Sketchpad 1 was the first Graphical User Interface created. It is considered to be on of the most influential computer programs made by an individual.

SKETCHPAD

1970’S Wire-frame modelling was being used in films to create 3D models. Star Wars was one of the first movies to use this technology in It was used in the targeting computers of the X-Wing fighters and for the Millennium Falcon.

X-WING TARGETING COMPUTER FROM STAR WARS

1980’S In the 1980’s, movies started to use 3D CGI extensively. The first movie was Tron in 1982 which actually had less than 20 minutes of animation used. In 1983, Return of the Jedi was released and contained over 27 minutes of CGI. Since then, CGI has been used in many films, TV shows, commercials and in some video games.

LIGHT CYCLES IN TRON