Animation Studio - Animation Specialities

Animation Specialities

Certain animation studios may have certain specialties in a certain kind of animation. They can be, but not restricted to, the following:

• 2D/traditional animation- The standard method of creation of movement of pictures in a 2D environment. This is done by sequencing images that show a progression of movement at a rate of 24 frames per second. Some companies providing this service are Toon Boom and DigiCel.
• 2D computer animation- Creation of the seeming movement of pictures in a 2D environment, aided by specialty computer programs, is known as 2D computer animation. This can also be used for the branch of computer science that enables the creation of software for this technique or the models being manipulated. Companies including Disney (using the CAPS technique for digital ink and paint) and Pixar (which usually makes 3D animated films, but sometimes employs this technique).
• 3D computer animation- Animation of objects in a three-dimensional space. Their movement can be changed to mimic those of real objects. Major studios include Pixar and Pacific Data Images (PDI).
• Object animation-Is a form of stop motion animation that involves the animated movements of any non-drawn objects such as toys, blocks, dolls, etc. which are not fully malleable, such as clay or wax, and not designed to look like a recognizable human or animal character.
• Clay animation- Also called claymation, it is a subset of stop-motion that utilises clay figures and objects. Studios utilising this animation are Vinton Studios and Aardman Animation.
• Cut-out animation-
• Visual effects- Studios in this line of animation are Sony Pictures Imageworks and Tippett Studio.
• Engraving on Film
• Ink on Paper- Also known as the traditional cel shaded animation which utilises transparent materials known as cels in order to paint borders and use paint on the objects to be animated on different cels giving a layered feeling to the animation. The last known studio house to employ this for a major motion picture was Studio Ghibli.
• Flash/Internet Animation- It is the animated media created out of the Adobe Flash software package, that enables a user to create vector graphics based animation programmes. Studios utilising this software are Six Point Harness and Disney.
• Live Action- It is a film or media that combines non-animated actors or objects interacting with animated elements. A studio specialising in this form of animation would be DreamWorks Pictures.
• Motion Capture- Motion capture involves measuring an object's position and orientation in physical space, then recording that information in a computer-usable form. Objects of interest include human and non-human bodies, facial expressions, camera or light positions, and other elements in a scene. A good many number of studios now employ this technique, especially when there is a need to associate live action elements in to an animation.
• Paint on Glass
• Pencil on Paper
• Pastel on Paper
• Photos
• Photocopies
• Pixilation
• Puppets- It is the process of moving of puppets through the armature inside them for fluid motion. It has been used extensively on the hit, non-profit American television show Sesame Street.
• Rotoscoping-Rotoscoping is the rotated projection of a sequence of usually photographed action image frames so that the artist can trace from the frame or create an image to superimpose on it. It can be thought of as "painting on movies" efficiently. StudioCanal and Warner Bros. Television are two major studios currently employing this form of animation.
• Sand
• Whiteboard Animation- Also known as video scribing, is a creative way to actively present information by recording the live whiteboard drawing process of an artist at work. Keeping audiences mesmerized by the process of a piece of artwork coming to life, even the most dull information can be turned into an exciting presentation. Companies such as Ydraw and others specialize in this type of animation.