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What is 3D Computer Animation?

G. Wiesen
G. Wiesen

3D computer animation is a type of animation created by making and manipulating a digital model in a three-dimensional (3D) graphics program. There are a number of ways in which this animation can be created, though it often includes keyframing methods somewhat similar to those that have been used in traditional two-dimensional (2D) animation. When a 3D computer animation scene is viewed in its entirety, it is quite likely that separate elements of a scene were animated and rendered individually, and then composited together to create the final animated sequence.

The creation of computer animation usually begins with modeling of the object that will be animated. Modeling is the process by which an object is created in virtual 3D space, using shapes and various tools to create the mesh for an object, and then applying different textures to that object. Once the model is created, then it can be used to create 3D computer animation. Different methods can be used for this type of animation, often depending on the particular program being used, but there are certain approaches to such animation that are common regardless of the software.

Man holding computer
Man holding computer

One of the easiest ways to create 3D animation is through a process called keyframing. This involves the creation of key frames, which are modified and adjusted to create a final animation. Someone who wants to have a ball roll across a table, for example, might create a first key frame of the ball in the beginning position, change the time of the animation, and then create a second key frame of the ball at the ending position. When the animator previews the animation, the ball will begin at the first key frame, and then move to the second key frame at a speed based on the time at which he or she set the second key frame.

Adding details, such as the rotation of the ball as it rolls and changing the speed of the ball to make it appear more realistic at the beginning and end, would be done in subsequent steps until the final 3D computer animation is complete. This process, of course, becomes more complicated based on the complexity of the object being animated. Animating a person smiling is much more complicated than making a ball roll across a table, but similar methods are still used.

A final scene of 3D computer animation is often created as individual pieces that are then composited together. If a scene consists of a man jumping up and down while a hose sprays water behind him and a dog stands nearby wagging its tail, each element can be created and animated separately. These three pieces will then be rendered, along with a separate background, and the various layers can be composited together to create a final scene.

Discussion Comments

MrsPramm

@KoiwiGal - I believe with 3D computer animation software they are also able to make it so that characters and backgrounds are running through a program rather than being sketched individually, which can make it more flexible.

I did hear the other day that they can run into some weird computer bugs that would never happen with other kinds of animation though. Like characters that start floating in a strange way or suddenly jump out of their skin or clothes while walking in a scene.

KoiwiGal

@Iluviaporos - I don't actually think they will ever remove 2D animation altogether and you still see it quite often in short films and in companies other than the big studios. The thing is that the big studios often spend years and millions of dollars on a single film and they want to use the absolute latest techniques on that film. With computer animation you can make sure that every single hair is accounted for and moves independently, and you can make crowd scenes where every single person is going about their own personal business.

There's just no way for traditional 2D animation to do that on the same budget and I'm not sure that there is any kind of animation software that would manipulate 2D images in the same way either.

I don't think that 2D animation will ever go away completely, but 3D animation is superior in most ways.

lluviaporos

I'm actually quite sad that traditional animation seems to have been almost completely abandoned. Even computer generated versions of 2D animation don't ever seem to be used these days.

I remember being excited when they were initially talking about making Rapunzel (which was eventually called "Tangled" instead) because they were going to use an animation style that would be closer to traditional cell animation than to 3D style animation, but in the end they went with 3D and I don't think, after the success of that movie and Frozen that they will ever go back to the other style.

I like the 3D animation as well, but I don't think it should replace the other kinds.

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