BY CASSIDY, EVHAN, AND JESSE Computer Generated Animation.

BY CASSIDY, EVHAN, AND JESSE

Computer Generated Animation

History

“Invented” around the 40s-70s by Edward E. Zajac, Frank W. Sinden, and others

Short titled “Hummingbird” (1967) by Charles Csuri and James Shaffer http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvQp1TdBqc&safe=active&safety_mode=true

University of Utah developed a short titled: A Computer Animated Hand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdedV81UQ5k’

C.G Animation was also used in Star Wars (1977)

History Continued (2)

• Other films include The Black Hole (1979), and Alien (1979)

• In 1974, Alex Schure established a computer graphics laboratory at the New York Institute of Technology, which attracted George Lucas

• In 1986, a few members of the group spun off into a smaller company called Pixar

• Meanwhile the use of CG Animation was becoming popular in live action movies

History Continued (3)

Tron (1982) utilized C.G Animation for it’s overall look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3efV2wqEjEY

Toy Story (1995), was the first fully computer generated animated film

Influence

CG animation development kicked off in the 80s! Computers became more accessible/affordable There was a much higher demand for CG animation in movies Hardware/software developed at a rapid rate

ie. Autodesk was developed in 1982 1991 is considered a “breakout year for CG animation” as 2

major blockbuster films feature CG animation heavily. (Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Beauty and the Beast)

Influence (2)

Invention of CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) in late 80s through a collaboration between Disney and Pixar Drawings and backgrounds are added into the computer

for painting and other effects ie. The Little Mermaid (1989)

Steps to CG Animation

Basic Steps1. Create a character’s simplified anatomy2. Use avars (animation variables) to

determine the segment of each skeletal piece

1. Different avars are also used for the face/facial expressions

3. By changing the avars, the character changes from frame to frame

4. There are two diffierent ways to maniupulate avars

1. A) Keyframing (traditional) B) Motion Capture (live)

CG Animation Continued

Since CG Animation is 3D, it is done using an X, Y, and Z axis

Animators then use mathematical algorithms to add in the movement/manipulation of the character/object.

Popular Programs: Maya Houdini Lightwave

Sources

http://3d-animation-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

www.google.cawww.google.ca/imageshttp://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_animation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_animation#Methods_of_animating_virtual_characters

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/computer-animation2.htm