Take Six: Animation

Animation is brought to life through a sequence of images created to produce an illusion of movement. There are many techniques filmmakers can use to make animated films. I’ll start by introducing the first technique that is traditional animation. And just so you can get an idea traditional animation involves many classic Disney films such as The Lion King (1994) and Pinocchio (1940). Traditional animation also goes by cel animation. These films were made through individual frames that are photographs of drawings (first drawn on paper). To create the movement each drawing was made slightly different from the previous image. The drawings are copied onto transparent acetate sheets called cels. This traditional cel process became outmoded by the early 21^st century. Today, animators’ drawings and the backgrounds are either scanned into or drawn directly into a computer system.

Other methods of animation do not involve the use of drawings at all but rather objects like clay, puppets and even people themselves. Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) illustrates the use of puppet animation. The characters of the film are all puppets. I actually got to see some of these puppets in person at the Tim Burton’s Exhibition in Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I’m a big fan of Tim Burton. He has made many films some without the use of puppets but real people. His more known films include The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse Bride (2005), and Edward Scissorhands (non animated). The puppets are extraordinary. As you seen in the pictures above (Jack Skeleton's heads from The Nightmare Before Christmas), there had to be many puppet figures made in order to make this film possible like these heads to illustrate the many different expressions the characters display in the film.

Pixar is a big name in film. Their films are beautiful. Pixar did not originally start as a sister company of Disney. Not until 1991 did Disney and Pixar agree to make an animated movie together. That film, Toy Story, was brought to theaters on November 22, 1995. It was the world’s first computer animated feature film. It made $362 million worldwide. Pixar is a very successful animated film company who has made many films that have won academy awards. Pixar films use photo realistic animation, which is animation that attempts to resemble real life.

One other technique that I’d like to touch on is motion capture which is used when actual live actors wear special suits that allow computers to copy their movements into CG characters. You might be familiar with films that use this technique they include Polar Express (2004) and The Adventures of Tintin (2011). Polar Express was an experience to watch; Tom Hanks played one of the central characters to the story and to see a cartoon look so much like the actual person was incredible.

Animated films have a variety of techniques that filmmakers can use. Each of the techniques takes extreme time and effort. Some animated films even list the name of the newborn babies that were born during the duration of the film production. So next time you watch an animated film you should take note of them. (Side note: Actually each time you watch a film you should always stay for the credits and acknowledge those who made the film possible for you to watch in the first place!)

Animated film recommendations:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Wall-e (2008)
• Up (2009)
• Spirited Away (2001)
• Sherk (2001)
• Chicken Run (2001) *film animated out of clay!