Animation History and Techniques

Week 9 :CCT370 – Introduction to Computer Visualization

Animation Animate = “to give life to” Specify, directly or indirectly, how ‘thing’ moves

in time and space Tools

Two main categories Computer-assisted

animation 2D & 2 1/2 D Inbetweening Inking, virtual camera,

managing data, etc Computer generated

animation Low level techniques

Precisely specifying motion High level techniques

Describe general motion behavior

Low level techniques Shape interpolation (in-betweening) Have to know what you want

High level techniques Generate motion with set of rules or constraints

Physically based motion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQU7UoS2AfQ

Abstraction

Animator colors each pixel

to

Tell computer to “make movie about a dog”

Perception of Animations Playback rate Sampling or update rate

TV: 30 images/second Sat Morning Cartoons:

6 different images per second Each image repeated five times

Heritage of Animation Persistence of vision: discovered about 1800s

Zoetrope or “wheel of life” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrO2Qc1KyZc&feature=related

Flip-book

Heritage of Animation Camera to make lifeless things move

Meleis 1890 using simple tricks Emil Cohl (1857-1938, French)

Heritage of Animation J. Stuart Blackton (American)

Meet Thomas Edison in 1895 Combine drawing and file: “The Enchanted

Drawing” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYDmH2B9XJw

Six years later: “Humorous Phases of Funny Faces - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGh6maN4l2I

Animated smoke in 1900; First animated cartoon in 1906

Heritage of Animation First celebrated Animator

Winsor McCay (American) Little nemo -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcSp2ej2S00 Gertie the Dinosaur (1914)

Heritage of Animation First major technical development

John Bray /Earl Hurd (1910) Translucent cels (short for celluloid) in compositing

multiple layers Use of grey scale (as opposed to B&W) Color short in 1920

John Randolph Bray'sColonel Heeza Lair.

Heritage of AnimationOut of Bray’s studio Max Fleischer (Betty Boop,,

Popeye) Patented rotoscoping in 1915 Draing images on cells by tracing

over previously recorded live action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UjM9UI40jk

Paul Terry (Terrytoons: Mighty Mouse)

George Stallings(?) Walter Lantz (Woody

Woodpecker)

Heritage of Animation Animation as an art form

First animated character with personality Felix the cat by Otto Messmer (1920s) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxailD4Ofq4&featur

e=fvst Force to reckoned with

Sound and Walt Disney

Disney: Animation as an art form Innovations

Story board to review story Pencil sketch to review motion Multi-plane camera stand Color (not first to use color) Sound!

Steamboat Willie (1928) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBgghnQF6E4

Multiplane Camera Move scene layers independently of camera

MGM and Warner Brothers, etc.

Other Media Animation Computer animation is

often compared to stop motion animation Puppet animation

Willis O’Brian (King Kong)

Ray Harryhausen (Might joe Yong, Jason and the Argonauts)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixF8KumaszM

Other Media Animation Claymation Pinhead animation Sand animation

Physical object is manipulated, image captured, repeat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFPt6Si8Jrg

Hierachy of film/animationPresentation

Act

Scene

Shot

Frame

Production of Animation Preliminary story Story board Detailed story Key Frames Test shot Pencil test Inbetweening Inking Coloring

Computer Animationbasically follows this

pipeline

Computer Animation as Animation Lasseter translated principles of animation as

articulated by two of Nine Old Men of Disney to computer animation Lasseter is conventionally trained animator

Worked at Disney before going to Pixar Many celebrated animations Knick-knack (oscar-winning) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOndBDxZxWA

Short History of Computer Animation

In Research labs NYIT -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhczFRlBT2E

Still frame from Gumby animation by Hank Grebe and Dick Lundin, 1984.

In Research Labs University of Utah

Films on walking and talking figure Animated hand and animated face (1972)

University of Pennsylvania Human figure animation (Norm Badler)

Cornell University architectural walk-throughs (Don Greenberg)

History of Computer Animation 1974: Hunger by Rene Jodoin and Peter Foldes

2.5D system, object interpolation

Current activity Centers University of Toronto's Computer Science Department Simon-Fraser University's Graphics and Mulitmedia Research Lab Georgia Tech's Graphics Visualization and Usability Center Brown Computer Graphics Group Ohio State University's ACCAD Ohio State University's Department of Computer and Information Science George Washington University Graphics Group UC San Diego's Department of Computer Science and Engineering University of North Carolina's Computer Science Department MIT's Media Lab MIT's Laboratory for Computer Science University of Wisconsin at Madison

History of Film & Video Companies

Mathematical Applications Group, Inc. (MAGI) Information International Inc. (III, or Triple-I) Digital Production Digital Effects Image West Robert Abel and Associates Cranston-Csuri.

Current Companies Pixar (Disney Studios) Industrial Light and Magic

(ILM) Pacific Data Images (PDI) Xaos Rhythm & Hues Digital Domain Lamb & Company Metrolight Studios

Boss Film Studios deGraf/Wahrman R/Greenberg Associates Blue Sky Productions Sony Pictures Cinesite Imageworks Apple…. .

Animations that paved the wayPixar Luxo Jr. (1986)

first computer animation to be nominated for an Academy Award

Red's Dream (1987) Tin Toy (1988) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNZtl5SZvbM first computer animation to win an Academy Award

Knick Knack (1989)

Early CG in film Future World (1976) Star Wars (1977)

Lawnmower man (1992, Xaos, Angel Studios) Hollywood’s view of VR

Tron (1982, MAGI) Supposed to look like a computer

The Last Starfighter (1984) Use CG in place of models

Willow (1988, ILM) Morphing video First digital blue screen matte extraction

Howard the Duck (1986, ILM) First wire removal

The Abyss (1989, ILM)

More early CG in film Jurassic Park (1993, ILM)

Forest Gump (1994, Digital Domain) Insert CG ping pong ball

Babe (1995, Rhythm & Hues) Move mouths of animals & fill in background

Toy Story (1995, Pixar & Disney) First full length fully CG 3D animation

Early CG on TV Reboot (1995, Limelight Ltd. BLT

Productions) Similar intention of “inside

computer” First fully 3D Sat. morning

cartoon Babylon 5 (1995)

Routinely used CG models as regular features

Simpsons (1995 PDI)

Early 2D Animation: Used traditional techniques Early 3D Animation: Neglected traditional

techniques. Understanding the 11 Fundamental principles

of traditional animation techniques is essential to producing good computer animation.

Animation Techniques

Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in their 1981 book

1. Squash and Stretch Teaches basic

mechanics of animation.

Defines rigidity of material.

Important in facial animation.

Squash and Stretch Cont. Can relieve the

disturbing effect of strobing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fy8hxGNvS4&feature=related

2. Timing and Motion

Gives meaning to movement. Proper timing is critical to making ideas

readable.

Examples:1. Timing: tiny characters move quicker than larger ones.

2. Motion: can define weights of objects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syih3pmdEyM&feature=related

Heavy vs. Light Objects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MwyTIBiZT0

3. Anticipation

Preparation for an actionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoNxhbUsit8&feature=related

Example:Goofy prepares to hit a baseball.

4. StagingA clear presentation of an idea.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YbvFIYCHaE

Some Techniques:1. Use motion in a still scene or use of static movement

in a busy scene.2. Use of silhouettes (to the side)

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

1. Follow ThroughTermination part of an action.

2. Overlapping ActionStarting a second action before the first has completed.

Example: after throwing a ball

Example: Luxo Jr.’s hop with overlapping action on chord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgcw2d4wFQw

6. Straight Ahead Action and Pose-to-Pose Action

1. Straight AheadAnimator start from first drawing in the scene and

draw all subsequent frames until the end of scene.

2. Pose-to-PoseAnimator plans actions, draws a sequence of poses, in between frames etc.

7. Slow in and OutSpacing of inbetween

frames to achieve subtlety of timing and movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PptuB4WWttk

1. 3d keyframe comp. Systems uses spline interpolation to control the path of an object.

2. Has tendency to overshoot at extremes (small # of frames).

8. Arcs

Visual path of action for natural movement. Makes animation much smoother and less stiff than

a straight line.

9. Exaggeration Accentuating the essence of an idea via the design

and the action. Needs to be used carefully.

Example: Luxo Jr. made smaller to give idea of a child.

10. Secondary Action Action that results directly from another

action. Used to increase the complexity and

interest of a scene.Example:Body movement is the primary action, facial expression is the secondary action

11. Appeal Refers to what an audience would like to see. Character cannot be too simple (boring) or

too complex.

Examples:Avoid mirror symmetry, assymmetry is interesting.

Summary of techniques http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlyed2M5Zok

&feature=related

Role of Personality Animator’s first goal is to entertain. Success of animation lies in the

personality of the characters.

Conclusion

Hardware/Software are simply not enough, these principles are just as important tools too.

Critique

PROs

1. Clear and concepts explained well with pictures and examples.

CONs

1. Need more examples on “bad animation” 2. What really makes good vs bad animation?

Need to make a better one on one comparison.

3. Personality section: is it necessary?

Outline1. Principles of Traditional Animation Applied to

Computer Animation. 2. Animation: Can it facilitate? 3. On Creating Animated Presentations

Overview

Graphics have many advantages. What makes graphics effective ?

1. Congruence Principle2. Apprehension Principle

Can Animation facilitate?

Advantage Graphics

1. Help in communication.2. May save words by showing things that would otherwise need many. 3. Externalize internal knowledge

I. Reduces the burden on memory and processing by off-loading.II. Makes underlying structures and processes transparent.

4. Used carefully can facilitate comprehension, learning, memory, communication and inference

Graphics are not always effective. (text vs graphics)

Criteria 1: Congruence Principle

The structure and content of the external representation should correspond to the desired structure and content of the internal representation.

Animation

By Congruence Principle: should be natural way for conveying concepts of change, just as space in graphics is a natural for conveying actual space.

Appear to be effective for expressing processes ie. Weather patterns, circuit diagrams, or circulatory systems etc.

Compelling and attractive

Evaluating Animation Needs to be compared to graphics that do not

change with time, as it is change with time that animation adds.

How well does animation teach complex systems: mechanical, biological, physical, and operational.

Selective Review of Research on Animation

Incomparable Procedures In Static and Animated Graphics.1. Interactivity versus Animation 2. Prediction versus Animation

Why the confusion? • Success of animation due to advantages of extra information

conveyed, rather than animation of the information. • Animation is attractive and exciting.

Criteria 2:Apprehension Principle

The structure and content of the external representation should be readily and accurately perceived and comprehended.

Why Do Animations Fail?1. Animations may be hard to perceive.

2. Animations may be comprehended discretely.

3. Not universally preferred and often require expertise for understanding.

Conclusions and Implications1. Many apparent successes turn out not to be

successes. 2. Congruence and Apprehension Principles.3. Interactivity may be key to overcome

animations’ drawbacks. 4. Animation must be used with care.

Outline1. Principles of Traditional Animation Applied to

Computer Animation. 2. Animation: Can it facilitate?3. On Creating Animated Presentations

Overview1. Microsoft estimates ~30 million ppt

presentations are made everyday 2. Animation could improve them. 3. PPT is essentially static in nature. 4. Examine how meaningful animations can be

created to improve live presentations.

Authoring Principles for Animations for Presentations

1. Use parameterization at all levels of the system.

2. Treat animations as models - animations are treated as parameterized models that have a single parameter: time.

3. Build slides hierarchically

Example of Parameterization

Example of Parameterization:

Test Harness

Animation Test Harness

Example of Animation Script:

Animation Principles for Presentations.

1. Make all movement meaningful2. Avoid instantaneous changes3. Reinforce structure with transitions4. Create a large virtual canvas5. Smoothly expand and compress detail

Animation Principles for Presentations cont.

6. Manage complexity through overlays Do one thing at a time. Reinforce animation with narration. Distinguish dynamics from transitions.

Resources Milestones of the animation industry in the 20th

Century http://www.awn.com/mag/issue4.10/4.10pages/cohe

nmilestones.php3 http://www.fact-index.com/a/an/animation.html#H

istory%20of%20Animation Brief History of NYIT Computer Graphics Lab

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~ph/nyit/masson/nyit.html

Next class Topic: Visualizing Faces in Digital Spaces (Guest

Speaker: Joseph Ferenbok) Readings:

Slides will be posted after lecture In labs today: Using Google SketchUp to create

specific figures for Photoshop CS4.