3D Computer Animationin Film and Video Games

3D Computer GraphicsComputer animation is the art of creating

moving images via the use of computers.3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D

computer graphics) are graphics that utilize a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images

Means of AnimatingKeyframingMotion Capture

Computer-Generated ImageryThe application of the field of computer

graphics to special effects.MoviesKeyframed – Just like Mickey MouseDigital successor to the art of stop motion

animation of 3D models and frame-by-frame animation of 2D illustrations.

The Beginning for Movies (1975 – 1993)1976: The movie Futureworld uses CGI to

create a computer-generated fake face and hand.

Created by John Whitney, Jr. and Gary Demos

Star Wars1977 – Larry Cuba uses 3D Wireframe to

create the “Death Star Plans”http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=jbHF63b7g50

Tron1982 – Commercial Failure;Used extensive 3D animation“Light Bike” Scene, Tanks, Solar SailerCreated 15 minutes of special effects with a

computer with 2 MB of memory

The Adventures of André and Wally B1984 - A Lucasfilm animation made by a team

headed by John LassetterTeam would later break from Lucasfilm to

become Pixarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHcmUese

nx4&feature=player_embedded

Other Notable Early Films with CGIAlien (1979) – Used 3D wireframes for the ship’s

navigational systemStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) – Had a one

minute completely CGI.Zelig (1983) – Combined shot footage with earlier

historical films. Precursor to Forrest Gump.The Abyss (1989) – First film to use water effectsBeauty and the Beast (1991) – Combined Hand-drawn

2D animation with 3D environments (the ballroom)Jurassic Park (1993) – First physically textured CGI

(Dinosaur Skin)

The Beginning for Video Games(1970 – 1995)Spasim and Maze War (1974)

Spasim: Players flew in between different “networks”

Maze War: First “First-person Shooter.” Could walk forwards and backwards, left and right.

“The illusion of 3D”Racing games in the 1980’s like F-Zero and

Pole Position were not really 3D, they just appeared to be.

This is called Isometric Graphics: 2D sprite- and tile-based graphics can be made to represent a 3D gaming environment.

Other Notable Early “3D” gamesQ*Bert (1982)Zaxxon (1982)Star Fox (1993)Wolfenstein 3D (1992)Doom (1993)

The Next Generation of 3D CGI in Film(1994 – 2008)Toy Story (1995)First fully 3D computer-generated filmFirst film in a category that includes Shrek,

Finding Nemo, and Tangled

Titanic (1997)Included and combined several different

forms of CGIMorphing (From the bow of the ship to the

underwater wreck)Digitally replacing one actresses iris with

anotherWater effectsFully animated aspects of the ship (deck,

smokestacks, etc.)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)First film to use motion capture to allow a

computer-generated character to interact with real, live actors.

Precedent for Avatar and District 9

Other Notable Films in this eraFight Club (1998)The Matrix (1999)Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)Shrek (2001)The Polar Express (2004)

3D games from 1996-2009QuakeSuper Mario 64HaloBiggest Transformation: Evolution from

worlds based off of “basic” 3D (Racetracks, hallways, etc.) to actual 3D environments and “worlds” (Princess Peach’s Castle, Hyrule, Futuristic Earth, etc.)

Allows movement of cameral to view avatar from a 3D perspective

Comparison

Comparison

Recent FilmsAvatar (2009)Inception(2010)Tron: Legacy (2010)

New: Viewing games in 3DSimilar to AvatarSony’s next big projectUncharted 3SOCOM 4Cars 2: The Video Game

Comparisonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-

3ODe9mqoDEhttp://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNwt7xN5OnU