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The world has changed dramatically, and so has the technology of an animation studio. From black and white television to color television to the most bizarre visual effects, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. Both are important elements that make a story come alive in this transformation. They play an important role in the production of a motion picture, whether it is a small TV series, a cartoon, or a big hit movie.
VISUAL EFFECTS – VFX IN AN ANIMATION STUDIO
What is VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects is the process of making and processing visual effects, based on combination with real footage taken on set. The application of VFX to cinematic works helps the film crew save a huge amount of time and costs, as well as contributes to limiting possible dangers to actors. In a nutshell, in a nutshell, VFX makes the unreal the most real, or more eloquently speaking, VFX helps the producers to realize the unreal that even you can’t imagine.
Types of VFX
CGI (COMPUTER-GENERATED IMAGERY)
CGI – Computer Generated Imagery is a general term to describe VFX techniques created with computer software. CGI is used to refer to computer graphics images, which can be in 2D or 3D, however, CGI is more commonly known to be associated with 3D VFX.
3D Modeling is the most talked-about process in CGI. This is the process of creating a 3D version of any object, surface, or surrounding environment in movies or videos. CGI VFX is most easily recognized when artists use them to create things that are not real, such as images of monsters.
Besides, this technique is also applied to create extremely delicate and realistic scenes, which can be images of a stadium full of cheering crowds, a forest, or any other place. In addition, CGI can make an actor look younger than his actual age, like Robert De Niro’s character in The Irishman.
COMPOSITING
Compositing also known as “chroma keying”, is the process of combining real footage on set with images created from various sources through VFX, helping viewers feel as if they were all shot with the same shot, color, and light. This VFX technique requires shots to be taken against a green (green or blue) background, then VFX artists will use more sophisticated and specialized techniques to crop and remove a certain color from live footage.
MOTION CAPTURE
Motion Capture (referred to as Mocap), is known as the technology of capturing the movement of people or objects. This is the process of recording movements and then putting them into the computer for processing, the final product is the moving images created by the computer.
Motion Capture technology relies mainly on sensors or motion capture suits mounted on actors to record movements in the most accurate and realistic way. However, this method is not only applied to actors but also used to record camera movements, helping images and characters receive a closer and more specific view from camera angles.
Movies using Motion Capture technology can be mentioned as The Hobbit, Chappie, or Warcraft.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN AN ANIMATION STUDIO
With the diversity and vastness of the world of Cinematography – VFX, this promises to be a land that brings many attractive job opportunities for young people. Entering this potential field, there is always a long list of positions waiting for you to take up:
- Post-processing specialist,
- Camera Tracker (Capture camera),
- Match Moving Artist (Expert in capturing the movement of 3D models with objects in real footage),
- Matte Painter (Context painter),
- Roto Artist (Spotting image processing expert).
In essence, a VFX production process is extremely complex, requiring a lot of skills and self-study, and research from the artist.
ANIMATION IN AN ANIMATION STUDIO
What is ANIMATION?
Animation is a method by which different sequences of still images appear continuously to give the illusion of motion. Simply put, Animation is the art of creating motion with images. However, Animation’s mission is not only that, this is a technique to breathe life into inanimate things, even if it’s just a stone, statue, or roadside grass.
In traditional animation, images are mostly drawn by hand on sheets of celluloid (transparent glossy paper used to draw or color objects in the traditional hand-drawn animation production process) and then photographed and displayed on film. Today, most of these images are computer-generated.
Types of ANIMATION
The concept of creating motion with images was actually discovered by humans about 5000 years ago. However, it was not until the late 19th century and early 20th century that the Animation industry was rekindled, originating from fairly simple image processing techniques and technologies.
Over the long history of its formation and the creative efforts of generations of artists, the animation industry has witnessed the birth of many different genres of Animation.
TRADITIONAL ANIMATION
Traditional Animation, also known as Classical Animation on Celluloid, is the most original and mainstream animation method in the animation industry and is said to be the foundation of other animation forms developed later.
The image created by this method comes from the skillful hands of the Animators. The hand-drawn images are made on transparent celluloid sheets, from where it takes the artist 12-24 hours to create the movement by connecting the images together. Therefore, the process of producing an Animation film at this stage is extremely complicated and laborious.
STOP MOTION ANIMATIONS
Just like traditional animation, Stop Motion Animations is one of the oldest genres in the animation industry. This is an animation technique where the characters must be erected according to each movement, photographed, and assembled into a complete movie. However, the essence of Stop Motion Animation is an overarching concept, including many different branches such as clay motion (using clay), cut out (using collage images), …
COMPUTER ANIMATION
2D Animation
The 2D animation method appeared with the development of digital technology, the moving images created with this method achieved flexibility and efficiency thanks to the use of computers in the production process. However, in essence, 2D animation is not too different from traditional animation.
In recent decades, movie fans around the world have witnessed countless excellent 2D animation works, “storming” all over the box office. These are Japanese anime genre works: My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, … famous 2D animated series such as Samurai Jack, Rick, and Morty, … or the animated movie The Lion King (1994), …
Read more: What is 3D animation? Is 3D animation better than 2D animation?
3D Animation
3D Animation is a technique of drawing and creating moving images in three-dimensional space made through rendering from 3D models on computers. 3D animation is especially popular in the last two decades with the development of CGI technology. Characters created from 3D Animation are extremely beautiful, smooth, and have a certain depth, giving viewers the most realistic, vivid, and close feeling.
The success in 1995 of the movie Toy Story is considered the beginning of bringing 3D Animation to become more familiar to the majority of audiences. Later, more and more excellent 3D animation works were released and received enthusiastic support from viewers such as Frozen 2, Up, Minions, etc.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN AN ANIMATION STUDIO
Currently, Animation occupies an increasingly important position in the entertainment industry around the world. So, when you choose to embark on this potential career, there are many career positions waiting for you:
- 2d/3D Animation Specialist,
- Lighting Artist,
- Rigging Artist creating motion systems for 3D models,
- Texturing Artist (Expert in coloring and making materials for 3D models), …
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Conclusion
Although there are many differences, in fact, the gap between VFX and Animation in an animation studio is getting closer and closer. Today, VFX always plays an important role in the success of Animation works. We won’t be too surprised to see visual effects that belong to VFX appear on animation footage, or 3D images made from Animation’s foundation are increasingly present in movies with real people.
If it’s just moving images, the movies will look boring, that’s why the resonance between VFX and Animation brings many unexpected and unique creative breakthroughs, bringing a new breath, modern turn images that exist only in the imagination come to life in front of the viewer’s eyes.
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