In this article, 19 various types of animation styles and technologies are detailed. Read ahead.

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VARIOUS ANIMATION STYLES

2. Animation process involves creation of motion illusion through quick displaying of a series of
static pictures subtly different from each other. It is ubiquitous in present digital world.
Movies, advertisements, videos and other media constantly use stop motion animation as
well as 3d modelling services. 2D or 3D figures are subjected to blend of conventional and
stop motion techniques for producing seamless feel of motion.
Detailed below are prevalent various types of animation, and styles.
1) Traditional Animation
In Classical 2D mode, each frame is hand drawn by animators. After a number of frames
have been drawn, they are fed to plastic cells which are subsequently hand painted. The
cells are projected against painted background to create semblance of motion. In famous
movies like Peter Pan, Aladdin etc., this technique has been used. Mickey Mouse is the
classical example. 1st
2D animated figure created in 1908, Fantasmagories was a stick man
created by Emile Cohl. The 75 second long animation used 700 varied images.

3. 2) Digital 2D Animation
Digital techniques are used for animating figures in 2D space. Frames and not digital models
are drawn. Hundreds of animated drawings are imparted momentum. This process has been
eased through software like Adobe Flash which restricts the huge amount of drawings
required earlier. Colour, frame rate and other attributes can be modified instantly by
seeking assistance of experts offering digital 2d animation services.
3) Digital 3D Animation
Realistic portrayal of moving characters in swift manner, for movies or commercials, can be
accomplished through specialized computer software. Modern software like Autodesk 3D
can create graphics that are lifelike. Using this helps in creation of 3d animated character
models with pace and perfection. More realistic feel is assured. They find high-end
applications and are advancing speedily.

4. 4) Stop Motion Animation
Fluidity is imparted to physical and inanimate objects through frame-wise animation in post-
production stage. Puppet animation is perfect example of this. ‘Fun in a bakery shop’ of
1902 was a short length movie that had consumed over fifty hours to be made.

5. 5) Mechanical Animation
This animatronics relieves machinists from creating actual robotic designs. Mechanical
graphics offer glimpses from various angles into the actual working of proposed machines
and help in understanding the functionalities. Benefits of outsourcing animation to India
are countless and mechanical animatronics is an area in which most companies here
specialize.
6) Autonomatronics and Audio Animatronics
If you visit Disney theme parks, you would come across audio animatronics which are
trademark production of Disney Imagineering. The robot Otto can detect the presence of
humans in a room and start conversation. Otto can also gauge the happiness quotient of the
person. Autonomatronics technologically varies from audio-animatronics. In audio-
animatronics, the pre-defined voice sequence is repeated again and again after fixed
interval. Complex camera and sensor architecture underlies Autonomatronics which offers
Otto greater freedom to take independent decisions based on person’s activities.

6. 7) Chuckimation
‘Action League Now’ developers are behind the creation of this popular method.
Chuckimation seamlessly blends live captured sequences with stop frae animation.
Characters are implanted on desired frame. The puppet shows you have watched since long
bear resemblance to this graphics type. These days, such animation services are however
not appreciated much.
8) Puppetry
Life like puppets are used for developing puppetry animation. First puppet motion picture
was released in 1908 with title ‘The Humpty Dumpty Circus’. The creators Albert and
Blackton had eliminated use of physical objects. In cartoons and kid films, this simulation
type is commonly seen. Kingkong of 1933 and U.S. fantasy horror movie ‘The Night Before
Christmas’ of 1993 are famous examples of animatronics usage of this style. In the 1993
movie, 227 puppets were deployed for characterization and emotions of all thinkable types
were achieved through 400 masks.

7. 9) Claymation
It uses clods of clay for moulding characters and then the animator imparts different
motions based on the demands of the story. Clays can be simple, oil based and water based.
Clay occasionally is shaped in freeform. Alternately, armature or wired model is filled up
with clay and the characters are placed on the shooting set, Small movements are used for
filming the scene.
10) Zoetrope
Zoetrope stands for animated toys which surfaced up in 1834 through efforts of William
George Horner. A drum is used for drawing static images and then the drum is trundled
which produces an impression of motion. Animated GIFs of present day are inspired from
Zoetrope.

8. 11) Cut-out Animation
A form of stop motion animation, LotteTeinger used it for 1st
time in 1926 for filming ‘The
Adventures of Prince Achmed’. Well illustrated paper silhouettes were used for projecting
the story. Cut-outs of paper are motioned and camera lens film the same for depicting the
story. Presently, computer generated cut-outs are used. This is one of the operative and
interesting stop motion animation ideas.

9. 12) Sand Animation
Here, the canvas is a glass table sufficiently lit. Sand is moved in various directions over the
table and previous shapes are erased for creating subsequent scene. The sequential process
is captured and post production editing results in beautiful graphics. It is a time consuming
process.
13) Typography
Here, texts like letter and font faces are animated. You would come across this during movie
title depiction. Software is available that easily allows manipulation of texts. However,
these days based 3d animation services India based companies use more advanced
techniques.
14) Paint on Glass Animation

10. A glass canvas with slowly drying painting is used for tweaking the art on it and the same is
photographed. Turpentine is often mixed with paints to offer ease of manipulation. During
post production, all photographs are blended for producing an animated version.
15) Drawn on Film Animation
Here, an exposed reel of film is directly scratched and etched for producing motion effect.
An alternate method is to expose the film reel to light variations through projector in a dark
room for developing shadows perennially etched on the roll. A work-board is commonly
used for sticking the blackened film roll or punching holes in them.
16) Experimental
Herein, a number of art with no logical connection among them are combined for creating
Graphics. Introduction of impertinent paintings at odd regions allow for animation to
develop. A new frame is created every time a thing is introduced and using magnification
lens and multiple frames, animatronics is created.
17) Erasure

11. 2D graphics is used for showing mobility. Charcoal erasure films are photographed and
animated for each change for creating fluidity of motion.
18) Pinscreen
In this, the canvas is subjected to pricking by numerous headless pins. In 1930, this method
was invented by Claire and Alexandre for the movie ‘Night on Bald Mountain’. After pricking
the pins, lighting of screen from one side is carried out depending on pricking depth and
shadow’s profundity.
19) Flipbook
This was there even before computers were there in the scene. A sequence of images drawn
on flipbook is swiftly flicked through for giving impression of motion. This is one of the
oldest techniques but still a really fascinating one.
There are a lot of companies capable of offering impeccable quality 2d and 3d animation
services. Just associate with the best one and you can surely get amazing results.