Film animators create art for 2D or 3D animation, with different skill sets required for each. 2D animation is now done on computers, with individual images played together to create moving images. In 3D animation, multiple animators work together to create a scene with many minor features to consider.
A film animator creates the art that goes into an animated film. This work can be done in two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) animation, and the type of style chosen will have a great impact on the type of work done by an animator. While certain animation principles remain the same, film animators for 2D projects will be doing a very different job than an animator working in 3D and will generally require very different skill sets.
Traditionally, 2D animation was created using paint and ink to create images on clear pieces of thin plastic. These individual images, called cels, were assembled to create images through persistence of vision. Modern 2D animation is usually done on a computer, but otherwise the process is similar. A film animator working in today’s animation industry often works with computers to create artwork, regardless of whether they are working in 2D or 3D animation.
The 2D animation being created these days is usually done on a computer, but it’s still done one at a time. These individual images are played together, one after the other, to create moving images. A film animator working on 2D projects often creates an entire scene and often produces hundreds or thousands of frames of animation to play together. While some animators may focus on background animation and others on character animation, there will usually be a single animator creating a character’s movement in a single scene. For important projects, the animator can only create keyframes and have someone else create the frames in between, but the animator will still create most of the motion.
With 3D animation, however, there will often be multiple animators working together to create a single scene. Scenes in 3D animated works are a bit more complex, so a single film animator will likely focus on a single aspect of a scene. For example, one animator might work with the large movements of a character or characters, while another animator adds smaller details like facial expressions and mouth movements to the dialogue. Another film animator might work on background details, such as an object swaying in the wind or moving when characters interact with it.
All this work together creates the final 3D animated scene. Because computer animation allows for the creation of incredibly detailed 3D objects, animators often have many minor features that need to be considered and included to keep the scene realistic. While this has changed the way animators work together, it remains a group effort that comes from many animators putting in hundreds of hours of work.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
