The nature and history of animation

The main point that Bill seemed to want to get across to us in this lecture was simply 2D animation is still just as useful and good as 3D.

Also he informed us of the processes of when modern 3D techniques were invented originating from pixar led by John Lasseter and other animators. Such as motion-blur and particle systems etc then led on to the achievements in 2D animation using the example of Bambi which I've personally never seen.

It was interesting knowing the process of how Disney created bambi such as they brought in real deers into the studio to use as reference to get accurate anatomy for the movie and using paintings as reference for the forest background and surrounding.

The idea of synthetic nature was quite interesting that we grow up with an idea of what nature is as a result of watching movies aswell as ideology being passed onto new generations through the use of children's movies which I agree with. Children are influenced by the world around them and learn from what they see and hear including movies, especially children will be affected by this. As people are older they are more aware and can interpret things in their own way and have knowledge of how to act. A not so passive influence.

Animation

Bill focused on aspects of 2D animation such as the frame by frame process allowing the animator to create something unique and different in every frame. That a character never makes exactly the same expression when hand drawn unlike with software movements and expressions can be copied.

This made me think of the debates of modern animation in contemporary times, many feel that as a result of software that modern animation is not like it used to be when it was hand drawn. That there is a loss of expression and character and an increase in blocky, straight lined characters that are only ever seen from one view. Examples such as South park, phineas and ferb etc. Mostly because of not only likely to be tight deadlines on producing a series but also software replacing hand-drawn animation skills.

Bill went back to 2D animation to emphasize to us how important it still is which I agree with as it is the core and origin of animation to begin with. 2D began the development of animation which eventually led to 3D
animation and core principles of 2D are used in 3D. As in basic they are trying to achieve the same goal bringing characters and stories to life.

He assessed the looney toons characters bugs bunny and daffy duck and told us that the animator said that they are portrayels of aspects of himself which I found to be interesting. That bugs bunny is how he would like to be and daffy duck is how he actually is.

He reflected on the dynamics of 2D animation something which I have covered in my essay research and writing on how their is a conflict between realism and believability and he even used my example of roadrunner that I used in my essay. The great thing about animation is that a world where a completely different set of rules apply such as in roadrunner coyote seemingly falls off the cliff and dies yet always comes back, yet the audience dont find this odd because this is what happens in this world. This is what is normal for these characters and this place - believability factor. If coyote did actually die the believability would no longer exist and therefore the illusion of realism would be gone.