Animation is the process of creating a sequence of drawings, pictures, or computer-generated images to give the appearance of motion. Whether it’s for TV commercials, web videos or movies, it’s a great way to communicate an idea in an engaging and fun manner. It requires a unique set of skills, but once you know the basics it’s easy to get started.
The most basic type of animation is hand-drawn, which is still used today to create some cartoons and most traditional feature films. Each cel has registration holes, small slits on the edges of the frame that allow it to be aligned with the next one to form a seamless sequence when photographed for filming. A timing director (usually the film’s main director) creates an “exposure sheet” or X-sheet, a printed table that shows which poses, drawings and lip movements will be needed on each frame to achieve a smooth sequence of action and dialogue.
In order to animate characters, animators first draw key frames of the movement they want to see happen. For example, if the character is waving their arm to the left and right, they will draw several key frames of this gesture. Then the animators add “in-betweening” frames to connect these key frames, which is how a smooth motion is created.
When animating a character, it’s important to make sure their actions match the script they are reading from. For instance, a character cannot be cute and quirky if the script is a serious or formal one. This can cause confusion and confuse viewers. In addition, a clear and consistent tone is crucial to an animated video. animation