For 2D Animation, you’ll need pencils, paper, scanner
or simply a digital pad/tablet; & software (I love open source and I
usually use GIMP for this ). And the process is as simple (or difficult
depending on your expertise) as that- drawing with pencil,
paper/digital pad > scanning > taking the drawing to an animation
software > new file > storyboard > insert series of the images
in apt order > add background & sound/ music> Render
To do animation using software we require a skill-set of ‘animateble’ drawing. 2D software can help to create the desired effect in a faster way. If the animator creates the key frames, multimedia software can help to create the In between, e.g., in a walk-cycle 8 frame drawings can have IBs/ morphing using multimedia software. Some effects which can face many difficulties if created manually/classically,can also be managed using the multimedia software.
I am trying to define the process step by step:


But that does not mean at all that an animator can depend on multimedia software to fill up the IBs. Because, the liveliness of the animated character depends on the artist’s own inputs of emotionally involving moments. How it is going to be conveyed, however, depends on how you are using the software.
A lack of the basic knowledge of drawing & animation will definitely make the animator to depend on the software for the IBs which, in turn, will make the characters look robotic, lifeless. Remember the old Superman series? Oh, definitely you do. Now compare that with the new Superman series and you’ll realize how multimedia application has added the effects in it, earlier animation series like Thunder Cats or He-Man had thesmoothness of classical animation, but after the integration of software these animations became more effective.
To do 3D animation you’ll certainly need a computer with a good processor, GPU & lots of free space, and multimedia software. Here, in 3D, only the character design is done manually, like, front, back & side view. After that the characters are scanned & imported to 3D software where creative people do the modelling using high/low poly techniques which (box modelling/cube method).You have the option to choose NURBS modelling also. Its like a sculpture creation. The steps that follow are Texturing (like colouring a clay model) > Rigging (adding a skeleton like setup to the character) > Skinning (attaching the Rigging to the model) > layout & animation > lighting & shedding > composition >rendering .
I am trying to show you a glimpse of the same:
Animation and effects in movies are in short called VFX (visual effects) which is used widely in everything from big-budget films to video games, TV & even in ads. The use of VFX needs a flawless planning, a big budget. VFX has added a new height to the 3D animation industry. An amazing example out of the many of VFX movies would be Makhhi, Lord of the Rings etc
Before 3D technology, the world of animation was a little commonplace. Masked actors were needed for monsters & Spiderman had to take the pains of climbing wires. These days, a bunch of talented, creative group of 3D modellers, animators, render artists etc. & few superfast computers do most of the magic.
WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH IN THE NAME OF ANIMATION COURSE?
Sadly, maximum institutions promote that there’s no job in 2D. But in West Bengal the fact is instead of big 3D animation studios, there are big 2D animation studio & they don’t get experienced animators. The bigger problem is in the animation course itself. In most institutes, only particular software are taught in the name of 2D animation…to do 2D animation, we need technologies like pure 2D classical methods, Animo, GIMP etc along with 3D integration like Blender or other marketable software. The biggest problem the freshers in this industry face is, their limitation of knowledge about the subject itself.
You need to improve your skill-set more than your knowledge of the tools & the software.
And your woes don’t end here. Have you ever thought about the games you play on your phone, PC or on any social networking site? You love to play those. Don’t you? But have you ever thought how these games are made? Who make these? And heck! what’s the relation between Animation & Gaming? Yes. There DOES exist a relation which you need to be aware of for your own good. Shall talk about this in the next part.
So what do you feel? Listen to the counsellors of those institutes who don’t know or rather don’t want you to know the technical aspects and can’t guide you in a proper way so that you can fly on your wings? Do you know, one fine morning they change their names from Multimedia to Animation to get students and snatch money from them? Or will you dig into the matter & have a second thought on what is the practical need of the market?
Animation is now widely used in all strata of life. A multidisciplinary approach is most suitable for animators as they must be able to grow with the ever evolving art form. But how can you expect that if you go to a run-out of the mill institute & come out with little knowledge?
As an animator, your skill of drawing & a clear understanding of the use of the Multimedia software will keep your creative prowess alive & kicking which is the key factor of the art of animation. Keep reading .. until then
Ohh yes .. let me know if I should write about game development, iOS apps,Android,Windows apps or on game design or anything you are looking for .
To do animation using software we require a skill-set of ‘animateble’ drawing. 2D software can help to create the desired effect in a faster way. If the animator creates the key frames, multimedia software can help to create the In between, e.g., in a walk-cycle 8 frame drawings can have IBs/ morphing using multimedia software. Some effects which can face many difficulties if created manually/classically,can also be managed using the multimedia software.
I am trying to define the process step by step:
But that does not mean at all that an animator can depend on multimedia software to fill up the IBs. Because, the liveliness of the animated character depends on the artist’s own inputs of emotionally involving moments. How it is going to be conveyed, however, depends on how you are using the software.
A lack of the basic knowledge of drawing & animation will definitely make the animator to depend on the software for the IBs which, in turn, will make the characters look robotic, lifeless. Remember the old Superman series? Oh, definitely you do. Now compare that with the new Superman series and you’ll realize how multimedia application has added the effects in it, earlier animation series like Thunder Cats or He-Man had thesmoothness of classical animation, but after the integration of software these animations became more effective.
To do 3D animation you’ll certainly need a computer with a good processor, GPU & lots of free space, and multimedia software. Here, in 3D, only the character design is done manually, like, front, back & side view. After that the characters are scanned & imported to 3D software where creative people do the modelling using high/low poly techniques which (box modelling/cube method).You have the option to choose NURBS modelling also. Its like a sculpture creation. The steps that follow are Texturing (like colouring a clay model) > Rigging (adding a skeleton like setup to the character) > Skinning (attaching the Rigging to the model) > layout & animation > lighting & shedding > composition >rendering .
I am trying to show you a glimpse of the same:
Animation and effects in movies are in short called VFX (visual effects) which is used widely in everything from big-budget films to video games, TV & even in ads. The use of VFX needs a flawless planning, a big budget. VFX has added a new height to the 3D animation industry. An amazing example out of the many of VFX movies would be Makhhi, Lord of the Rings etc
Before 3D technology, the world of animation was a little commonplace. Masked actors were needed for monsters & Spiderman had to take the pains of climbing wires. These days, a bunch of talented, creative group of 3D modellers, animators, render artists etc. & few superfast computers do most of the magic.
WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH IN THE NAME OF ANIMATION COURSE?
Sadly, maximum institutions promote that there’s no job in 2D. But in West Bengal the fact is instead of big 3D animation studios, there are big 2D animation studio & they don’t get experienced animators. The bigger problem is in the animation course itself. In most institutes, only particular software are taught in the name of 2D animation…to do 2D animation, we need technologies like pure 2D classical methods, Animo, GIMP etc along with 3D integration like Blender or other marketable software. The biggest problem the freshers in this industry face is, their limitation of knowledge about the subject itself.
You need to improve your skill-set more than your knowledge of the tools & the software.
And your woes don’t end here. Have you ever thought about the games you play on your phone, PC or on any social networking site? You love to play those. Don’t you? But have you ever thought how these games are made? Who make these? And heck! what’s the relation between Animation & Gaming? Yes. There DOES exist a relation which you need to be aware of for your own good. Shall talk about this in the next part.
So what do you feel? Listen to the counsellors of those institutes who don’t know or rather don’t want you to know the technical aspects and can’t guide you in a proper way so that you can fly on your wings? Do you know, one fine morning they change their names from Multimedia to Animation to get students and snatch money from them? Or will you dig into the matter & have a second thought on what is the practical need of the market?
Animation is now widely used in all strata of life. A multidisciplinary approach is most suitable for animators as they must be able to grow with the ever evolving art form. But how can you expect that if you go to a run-out of the mill institute & come out with little knowledge?
As an animator, your skill of drawing & a clear understanding of the use of the Multimedia software will keep your creative prowess alive & kicking which is the key factor of the art of animation. Keep reading .. until then
Ohh yes .. let me know if I should write about game development, iOS apps,Android,Windows apps or on game design or anything you are looking for .