Just what is animation? The textbook definition is the filming of a sequence of drawings or positions to create an illusion of movement. In computer terms, it broadly covers a variety of genres and software applications, but the simplest way to break it down is into the categories of 2D and 3D computer animation. For decades, animation was a skill that was pretty much restricted to the entertainment industry, yet it did require time, elaborate equipment and manpower to accomplish. However, within the industry that has always been known as a moving force, it was time to computerize the process. Since the dawn of computers, animation has become progressively simpler. What was once done with paint, pencils and cels by teams of animators can now be done by one individual using a computer to create animations.

The most familiar form of 2D animations can be found by watching Saturday morning cartoons with your kids, or even simpler animations every day when you surf the web. It takes on the forms of advertisements, e-cards, etc. The basic starting point for all animations is a storyboard that lays out the basic script in a visual format, much like an extra large comic strip. From that point a rough audio track of the script is created to give animators something to sync with their drawings. This form of animation uses “vector graphics,” meaning that the images are based upon mathematical equations, rather than by an array of pixels, such as in “raster graphics.”

Due to its flexibility, 3D is what most people think of when referring to computer animation, even in general terms. Although similar in some ways to 2D animations, 3D computer animation is a different process. For example, to create animations in 3D, a scene is made long before any animation starts.

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