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Animation Animation and/orand/or Computer AnimationComputer Animation

Dr. Stephania Loizidou Dr. Stephania Loizidou HimonaHimona

Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor

Frederick Institute of Frederick Institute of TechnologyTechnology

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Computer Graphics Computer Graphics deals withdeals with

Geometric ModelingGeometric Modeling

RenderingRendering

Animation ***Animation ***

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What is Animation?What is Animation?

One-word definition : One-word definition : VisionVision The illusion of motion created by the The illusion of motion created by the

consecutive display of images of static consecutive display of images of static elements : elements : Persistence of VisionPersistence of Vision

The process of bringing life through the use of The process of bringing life through the use of motion to lifeless things : e.g. motion to lifeless things : e.g. Virtual RealityVirtual Reality

The “copying” of the real world, to enhance The “copying” of the real world, to enhance and to take the essence of the motion that is and to take the essence of the motion that is there : there : Level of ArtLevel of Art

The technique by which each frame is The technique by which each frame is produced individually : produced individually : In film/video In film/video productionproduction

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Animation

Form generationsystem

FormSelection

Timings

Texture

Coloring

Lighting

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What is Computer What is Computer Animation?Animation? The art of creating moving images The art of creating moving images

via the use of computersvia the use of computers The use of computers to create The use of computers to create

animations : also referred to as animations : also referred to as CGICGI (Computer Generated Imagery) – (Computer Generated Imagery) – especially when used in moviesespecially when used in movies

The modeling, motion generation, The modeling, motion generation, addition of surfaces and then addition of surfaces and then renderingrendering

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Thus, Thus,

Computer Graphics vs Computer Graphics vs AnimationAnimation (or, Computer Animation, a (or, Computer Animation, a subfield)subfield)

Inter-related issuesInter-related issues

– Difficult to distinguish one from the Difficult to distinguish one from the other. other.

– Their improvements are done in Their improvements are done in parallel! parallel!

– Their effects …Their effects …

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However,However,

Major Part of their difference is Major Part of their difference is that Animation involves basically that Animation involves basically and primarily the concept of and primarily the concept of

Motion ControlMotion Control

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Different ways of Different ways of basicbasic CGICGI

3D Animations, create objects and 3D Animations, create objects and then render themthen render them

Use standard computer painting Use standard computer painting tools to paint single frames and tools to paint single frames and composite themcomposite them

Use morphing : modify existing Use morphing : modify existing images and videoimages and video

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Its ApplicationsIts Applications

A variety of uses of A variety of uses of C.A.

Fun Practical Educational

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Examples : - Medicine - Advertising - Film - Flight Simulation - Television - Simulation - Entertainment - Video

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The possibilities The possibilities ((of the applicationsof the applications) are ) are endlessendless

Architecture, Multimedia, Engineering, Architecture, Multimedia, Engineering,

Archeology, Chemistry, Art, Education,Archeology, Chemistry, Art, Education,

Scientific Visualization, Space ExplorationScientific Visualization, Space Exploration

+anything that you can think of !!!+anything that you can think of !!!

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How is it done?How is it done?

Aim : 24 distinct drawings for one Aim : 24 distinct drawings for one second of animationsecond of animation

produces realistic enough movement!

i.e. perceivable due to way the eye and brain process images

e.g. Human-Body Movement A Bouncing Ball A Horse Gallopingetc.

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But, such a process,But, such a process,

Very time-consumingVery time-consuming– Creating the charactersCreating the characters– Programmed the movement(s)Programmed the movement(s)– Rendering (a lot of time)Rendering (a lot of time)

Very expensive to produce, Very expensive to produce, and oftenand often,,

Very labor intensive as well as Very labor intensive as well as tedioustedious

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Styles and techniques of Styles and techniques of AnimationAnimation Traditional AnimationTraditional Animation

Character AnimationCharacter AnimationLimited AnimationLimited AnimationRotoscopingRotoscoping

Computer AnimationComputer AnimationMulti-SketchingMulti-SketchingSkeletal AnimationSkeletal AnimationMorph-target AnimationMorph-target AnimationCel-shaded AnimationCel-shaded AnimationOnion SkinningOnion SkinningAnalogue Computer AnimationAnalogue Computer AnimationMotion CaptureMotion CaptureTradigital AnimationTradigital Animation

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Styles and techniques of Styles and techniques of AnimationAnimation(continued)(continued)

Drawn on FilmDrawn on Film

Special effects AnimationSpecial effects Animation

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To allow Animation to To allow Animation to be viewed on a be viewed on a computercomputer Graphics file formats exist such asGraphics file formats exist such as

– GIFGIF– MNGMNG– SVGSVG– Flash (SWF)Flash (SWF)

etc.etc.

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How is it done How is it done (continued)(continued)Sophisticated mathematics and/or Sophisticated mathematics and/or

constructive solid geometry are usedconstructive solid geometry are used To manipulate complex 3D polygonsTo manipulate complex 3D polygons To apply texturesTo apply textures To apply lightingTo apply lighting To apply other effects to the polygon To apply other effects to the polygon

and finally,and finally, To render the complete imageTo render the complete image

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Sophisticated Sophisticated Graphical User Graphical User Interface (Interface (GUIGUI))

is used, usually, to create the is used, usually, to create the animationanimation

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Some examples Some examples (of CGI short films)(of CGI short films) Finding NemoFinding Nemo ReBoot (the 1ReBoot (the 1stst

one!)one!) RobotsRobots Chicken LittleChicken Little Toy Story 1 & 2Toy Story 1 & 2 Waking LifeWaking Life

Shrek 1 & 2Shrek 1 & 2 Veggie TalesVeggie Tales AnimusicAnimusic BratzBratz Ice AgeIce Age Father of the BrideFather of the Bride

and many-many more!

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Cartoons Without Politics Cartoons Without Politics (since 2001)(since 2001) (some more recent (some more recent examples!)examples!)Films that used CGI, Films that used CGI,

nominated for Academic Awards :nominated for Academic Awards :

The Curse of the Were-RabbitThe Curse of the Were-Rabbit Corpse BrideCorpse Bride Moving CastleMoving Castle

In the future, films with excellent In the future, films with excellent animated features, but perhaps without animated features, but perhaps without CGI!CGI!

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What is Rendering?What is Rendering?

The process a computer uses to The process a computer uses to create an image from a data filecreate an image from a data file

The process of generating the The process of generating the pixels of an image based on a pixels of an image based on a high-level description of its high-level description of its componentscomponents

The process of cutting a The process of cutting a character/object from an image character/object from an image so that it can be used in designsso that it can be used in designs

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Rendering (continued)Rendering (continued)

A user handles a A user handles a meshmesh – a rough – a rough representation of an objectrepresentation of an object

When s/he is satisfied with the mesh s/he When s/he is satisfied with the mesh s/he rendersrenders the image the image

i.e. every section of the mesh gets i.e. every section of the mesh gets colored colored

also, inclusion of hidden-line removalalso, inclusion of hidden-line removal

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Rendering – a lengthy Rendering – a lengthy processprocess

Different methods :Different methods :– Flat shadingFlat shading– GouradGourad– PhongPhong– Ray TracingRay Tracing– RadiosityRadiosity

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Anti-aliasingAnti-aliasing ArticulationsArticulations Binary system Binary system BitmapBitmap ContouringContouring Coordinate Coordinate

systemssystems DigitizingDigitizing Direct KinematicsDirect Kinematics Direct DynamicsDirect Dynamics FaceFace FractalsFractals Human-figure Human-figure

animationanimation

Inverse Inverse KinematicsKinematics

Inverse DynamicsInverse Dynamics KeyframingKeyframing ModelingModeling MorphingMorphing MeshMesh Onion skinningOnion skinning PixelsPixels PrimitivesPrimitives RenderingRendering ResolutionResolution Surface MappingSurface Mapping

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Some examples !Some examples !

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The future. What awaits The future. What awaits us?us?What is expected : The current What is expected : The current

level of animation (2D, 3D) to be level of animation (2D, 3D) to be replaced with replaced with Virtual RealityVirtual Reality

i.e. the person watching a movie to i.e. the person watching a movie to see himself in the movie as a see himself in the movie as a person watching from the sideperson watching from the side

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Computer AnimationComputer Animation to become the to become the standard way of standard way of making every kind of making every kind of a movie, not just a movie, not just animated moviesanimated movies

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Realistic simulation of Realistic simulation of HumansHumans

Photorealistic human charactersPhotorealistic human charactersUndergoing physically-correct Undergoing physically-correct motion (with clothes, hair, motion (with clothes, hair, interaction with other human interaction with other human characterscharacters

That is, That is, No difference from real actorsNo difference from real actorsNo difference from the real worldNo difference from the real world

The possibilities are endless!!!The possibilities are endless!!!

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Art and science meet Art and science meet when they both seek when they both seek accuracyaccuracy

Etienne-Jules Marey (1888)Etienne-Jules Marey (1888)