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3D Animation: A Brief Introduction and A Look at the Future.

Apr 20, 2022

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What Is 3D Animation?

To give the appearance of movement, pictures need to be shown at 12-frames per second or more. Classic animators that draw with their hands 15 frames per second is an most common industry norm to create the cartoon look we all recognize and enjoy. However, for those who use 3D animation software, 24 frames per second is the norm.

Who was the first to invent 3D Animation and When?

It's difficult to respond to this question, since it really is dependent on the type you're talking about.

If we're talking about computer animation, or the introduction of computer generated imagery, or CGI, the 1960s was when we first saw 3D animation style we have today. William Fetter, an employee of Boeing was often acknowledged as the inventor of computer-generated 3D graphics. The short films he made of modified pilots, which were used for testing their ability to reach aircraft controls, are some of the very first forms of 3D motion-based imagery.

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A Brief History of 3D Animation

While 2D animation has been around since the 1800s, 3D graphics emerged with the shift towards computer-generated graphics the middle of the 20th century.

Early Days of 3D Animation Early Days of 3D Animation

Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, computer scientists were working in learning to create animation in 3D for larger-scale projects. Designers Edwin Catmull (who would go later as co-founder Pixar) and Frederic Parke were some of the first to create realistic human hands and faces with wireframed digital rigs. The techniques they developed were put to use on film for the very first time in the movie Futureworld.

The year 1995 was when 3D animation took on its biggest challenge yet: a full-length feature film. That year, Pixar came out with Toy Story, and the movie claimed as the world's first entirely computer-animated film.

3D Animation in Recent History

Since the 90s, CGI and 3D animation methods have continued to evolve and create special effects for virtually every TV and film show on television today. The films like Avatar (2009) and Disney's latest "live motion" remakes of old 2D films today rely heavily on the combination of 3D animation with human actors.

The Future of 3D Animation

Like most technologies, knowing what the future holds is difficult to determine. It's hard to imagine 3D animation getting superior than it is already! However, the rapid growth in virtual reality (VR) and AR and augmented reality (AR) shows how much it's already evolving.

There is also a chance that machine learning, in where inputs are analyzed by a computer and a relevant output is automatically created--will help animators speed the process of making animation. And with all that free time they have in their day it's likely that we'll see many more animations hitting our screens.

3D Animation Examples

Toy Story (1995)

When Toy Story's creation, Pixar was still a startup operated by Steve Jobs and a team of graphic designers who did not have any experience in 3D other than commercials and short films. They managed to pull it off--and the film made over $360 million during its run in cinemas.

Assassin's Creed (2007)

This popular action-adventure video game makes use of highly detailed 3D animations to bring characters and scenery to life. Game players experience events through the perspective of a fictional historic world and take part in mission and adventure before taking on the ultimate assassination attempt of the enemy.

Audible (2018)

The world's leading audiobook company Audible joined forces together with an visual effects business to add 3D animation in the new commercial "I Am What I Hear. In less than 30 seconds, we can see 3D graphics overlayed on human characters, which represent the information and pleasure gained by listening to an audiobook. This is a fantastic example of how brands are in the process of incorporating 3D animation into marketing campaigns.

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