Reviews & Articles > Animation

Why don't more videographers try animation?

3rd February, 2007 - Graeme Isherwood

My interest (obsession?) in animation began as a natural progression from photographic slides and slide - tape production. I joined what was then Lancaster and Morecambe Cine club and learned all about film (super 8 at that time).

Between about 1981 and 2000 I made many short animations using different styles. Cell, paper, cut outs, toys and even Ritz crackers have been used - all on super 8 film. I even drew on the original film stock...

Since moving to video my efforts have been more experimental but much more immediate - no more waiting two weeks for a yellow envelope.

With various software packages and a fairly decent computer I can not only produce 2d and 3d animation but what is referred to as motion graphics. This includes such elements as titles, moving backgrounds for DVD menus, specialist transitions, time lapse and special effects for live action video.

The Internet has many free or shareware programs to play with such as Blender and Anim8or for 3d use, and an excellent 2d program called Monkey Jam for animating scanned images. Users of Photoshop will find included with the program a package called ImageReady, a very capable animator of your Photoshop images.

"But I can't draw!!"

No problem. Download some of the millions of free graphics found on the internet or cut pictures out of magazines, scan them, and load them into your program of choice. The demo version of Toon Boom Studio comes with a whole package of cartoon characters and backgrounds.

Some other programs which have downloadable demos are:

So go on, give it a try but beware…..the bug will bite. Anyone who tries animation in any of its forms will become addicted very quickly.

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