Animation carries a lot of our childhood memories, and even when we grow up, it still continues to be cured by animation. However, animation is not just a synonym for being young and everything sprouts, but a form of artistic expression that combines painting, comics, movies, digital media, photography, music, literature and many other arts.

Today, I graduated from University of Pennsylvania Teacher Lin, a graduate of Pratt 2D Animation, majored in film and visual arts, will take you to understand the true meaning of animation!

Listen to Pratt's sister talking about experimental animation videos

After watching the video, did you find that [Animation] is not equal to [Animation]?

More details about animation, a young art

Please join the natural light

Let's see what Mr. Lin said~

I think animation is a particularly casual profession, which can quickly integrate into other professions, and,

As long as you want, you can use any medium and material to do animation. We also call it experimental animation.

In fact, the so-called experimental animation is that when you have something to express, you can use a

There is no limit and regularity to express your heart. You can also use what other people won't choose

those Materials to make a unique animation.

        What is called experimental animation?

There are many expressions of animation in English, such as animation, Cartoon, animated Cartoon, camera feature... During the face-to-face interview of animation, students always ask what is Experimental Animation in the animation major of American Calarts graduate students.

The Chinese translation of Experimental Animation is an experimental animation, which, as its name implies, is an animation work still in the exploration and experimental stages. Unlike the traditional character animation that most people are familiar with and like, experimental animation occupies more space in the expression of abstract concepts, but it is still in the early stage of the formation of concrete images. recommend: How about studying abroad in CalArts experimental animation?

If you want to give an example of what is called experimental animation, in fact, the well-known Little Tadpole Looking for Mother is not only the first ink style animation in the history of Chinese animation, but also a very representative experimental animation at that time.

Its prototype comes from Mr. Qi Baishi's famous ink painting "Frog Sound Comes out of Mountain Spring in Ten Miles". This 15 minute animation also went through an experimental phase of more than three months before its completion. From the first experimental scene "a frog jumps off a lotus leaf" to the animation action experiment of other animals, the staff of Shanghai Animation Film Studio have done enough animation experiments, Only these excellent ink and wash works can appear before our eyes.

Big Fish and Begonia

Nowadays, the ink style full of Chinese charm has become more and more popular, and even in the eyes of many foreigners, it is a representative of national characteristics. Since it began to be known and well known, ink and wash animation has gradually broken away from the label of experimental animation and become part of the mainstream animation style.

Beautiful Forest

From the evolution of Chinese ink painting, we can easily see two characteristics of experimental animation: 1. Experimental animation is a work of innovation and exploration in the form, materials and technology of animation. 2. When an experimental animation is gradually known and accepted by the mainstream market, it will take off the label of experimental animation and become mainstream animation.

        Animation majors are divided into several types and characteristics:

Animation is also divided into several categories, such as 2D animation, 3D animation, and stop motion

It is freeze frame animation, experimental animation, special effects, motion graphics, etc.

The 2D animation in the animation is the original animation form, and also the animation form we have seen most. Traditional animation, manual cartoon, illustration and so on are all 2D. Its stereoscopic sense and light and shadow are artificially drawn and simulated, so 2D animation requires high painting skills. In countries like Japan, where the animation production mode is mature and the level of animation practitioners is strong, most animation is made in 2D.

The standard that distinguishes 2D and 3D animation is the production method. 3D animation needs modeling, binding, skinning, texturing, rendering and other steps. If 3D animation is not done well, it will make people feel stiff and awkward. However, it has the advantage of strong stereoscopic sense and more realistic picture. 3D animation is catching up with and surpassing 2D animation in popularity, especially in the United States. It actually has a lot in common with special effects.

2D and 3D comparison

Freeze frame animation is different from the previous animation forms. It uses a camera as a shooting tool, and also needs to set up a scene, make or collect the models or objects needed for shooting, and then take a large number of consecutive photos. Each frame of different images is played continuously to produce animation effects. Therefore, freeze frame animation is also called frame by frame animation.

《Shaun the Sheep》

Motion Graphics may sound strange to everyone, but this kind of small animation is very common. For example, we can see this kind of small animation that conveys information and expresses concepts in TV packages, movie titles, MV, advertising videos, interactive design, online games and other places. Therefore, the animation form of motion graphics can be said to be an art form after the combination of graphic design and animation design.

      Animation development under time experiment:

For example, if you want to incorporate a cat into your animation, you may have good results according to the classification of animation

Several methods can be used.

If you want to make a kitten in 2D, you can draw different cats by yourself

It is easy to draw bigger and sharper ears and bend its tail into a love heart shape.

In the early Tom and Jerry, we can see that Tom is exaggerated, sometimes

Even quite obscene.

《Tom and Jerry》

3D can highlight the furry texture of kittens. For example, the Cat in Boots produced by DreamWorks is very real. It wears a hat, a belt, and a sword. Its big eyes are cute and attractive from time to time.

《Puss in Boots》

For stop motion animation, we can refer to the English clay stop motion animation "Chicken Run" released in 2001. This animation was popular in China at that time, and later it was even adapted into a PC game.

《Chicken Run》

Nick Parker, the director of Chicken Run, began to study clay in school Freeze Frame Animation Creativity The animation homework "Strange Holiday" he did was not only the first of his later book "Super Invincible Leader and Gromit", but also an experimental animation that was extremely critical to start the clay animation production career.

        Similarity between 3D and movie special effects:

When it comes to special effects, we can actually combine them with 3D animation

Roger Rabbit is a special effect in which a 2D character and a real character act together in a movie.

Now, with the development of 3D technology, more 3D characters appear around real people, like

Dobby, a domestic elf, and Gulu in The Lord of the Rings, are all made in 3D but played with real people

The role of the opponent.

　　 Why are animated movies popular? The earliest special effect that Chinese people saw was probably Journey to the West. Sun Wukong was always flying from eaves to walls, climbing mountains and going to sea. There were many special effects of 50 cents, but that was in the 1980s. China's TV special effects had just started, which was very primitive indeed. Now, with the improvement of technology, economy and innovation ability, the special effects of Chinese films are becoming more and more exquisite, and the rendering of light, shadow and color is extremely in place!

After the box office of Venom burst, the visual spectacle of Sea King set off a new craze. The 3D film brought us more real action special effects, and the super cute Zou Wu from the Chinese "Book of Mountains and Seas" in "Where are the Magic Animals" was also able to come to the magic world and live on the global screen because of 3D technology.

So I hope that when you create animation, you should not be constrained by the inherent business model

To imitate the style of Riman or Disney animation, but more to pursue their own style

Maybe your style will become a mainstream after that.

After all, all commercial animations and mainstream animations went through a period before they became mainstream and commercial

Time of experiment.

In fact, there are endless examples of such experimental animations turning into commercial animations. Some of Pixar's animated short films released every year can also be classified into experimental animations. From Pixar's previous animated films, we can see their strong experimental spirit, such as the attempt of "Finding Nemo" to simulate the effects of the seabed with computer technology, Later, in the "Ocean Odds" produced by Disney, we can see that the ocean and water body effects simulated by 3D technology have been very realistic and beautiful.

Ocean Romance

There is also the attempt of Superman Special Attack Team on the animation film of pure human characters, and the attempt of Monster Company on hair technology. Pixar's experimental animation determines the technical application and development direction of the new animation film after that.

Although experimental animation can bring some value to commercial animation, its role is not limited to this. The freedom and exploration of experimental animation make most creators no longer trapped in the inherent logical thinking and expression. I think one of the key keywords of experimental animation is "breakthrough", and its breakthrough is not only limited to materials and style, but also in the way of thinking. The innovative way of thinking of artists in artistic creation and performance makes experimental animation a key to open the door to new art in the future.

At the same time, I also hope that you can not pay too much attention to other people's views and comments, after all

There is no strict standard for deciding whether a painting is good or not. Sometimes, too much compliance with previous generations

Footprints may allow you to shackle your potential.

So I hope you can boldly go out of your comfort zone and create more interesting and charming

Animation.

With the changes of the times, animation has long been more than just a "toy" for children to watch. Animation can also be philosophical. It contains different ways of thinking in an era. In countless virtual worlds constructed by dreams and values, countless people's spiritual souls are undergoing changes one after another.

Modern animation also means the spiritual core of innovation and unknown. In addition to the well-known styles, you can also add colors with personal characteristics. Whether it is surreal style, abstract painting style, or Chinese ink painting style, you can use some unfamiliar techniques and expressions to distinguish it from the mainstream, inertial, and fixed expression techniques, It can even be deliberately avoided.

　　 Summarize the words of the tutor of pratt animation professional portfolio:

Today, Mr. Lin told us what experimental animation is; What are the types of animation; Characteristics of various animation types; Similarity between 3D and movie special effects. At the end, I also said that to make interesting and charming animation, we should not blindly follow our predecessors and imitate such industry leaders as Riman and Disney, but should have our own ideas and stick to our own style.

Just like making an excellent animation design work collection, the animation design work collection should also have its own personal voice. It is very important to highlight personal ability, show ideas, creativity and artistic ability. Therefore, students can make more efforts on the theme selection in the early stage of the work collection.

More American animation professional application cases and activities:

Application for SVA and pratt for 3D animation and special effects professional works, successful case of 3D animation and special effects in the United States

What on earth does observational painting "see"? How to obtain effective visual information in observation?

Reglin College of Art and Design "Animation_Game" _ Reglin Game Animation Application Guide

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