Computer Animation
Computer animation is the direct successor of stop motion animation utilizing technology to perform the interaction previously required out of human involvement. Computer animation creates 2D or 3D images and takes screens shot after shot with slight movement in between. Images are divided up into multiple Avars or animated variables that are moved. For example, different areas of a face like the corner of an eye or cheek would each contain an Avar that would be moved slightly from frame to frame to create the illusion of movement for a smile or a wink. In this way, basic movements starting from a stick figure with just a few points can be expanded to a wire frame model with many points, and then the final design and color can be added to the framing to form the full animated movement. Computer animation, also referred to as CGI, or computer generated imagery, is well on its way to creating characters so lifelike that it is becoming more difficult to determine what is real from what is not. Animators like Pixar, Disney, and others are now using computer animation to generate their movies that used to have to be created by hand using hundreds of artists and cels. Even feature films are dubbing CGI into scenes that would be difficult to create using special effects and real characters and these are integrated almost seamlessly into the movie.
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