Assignment 1

Task 1 Techniques

Animation techniques today like CGI would not be possible without these early techniques used in the early 19^th Century. Films like Shrek or Madagascar would be impossible without the installment of these early pioneers’ discoveries. Back then, before we had the technology we have today these techniques were often considered spectacular in the way the created moving image and heavily relied on creating visual illusions to bring them to life.

Persistence of vision:

Created by uses of optical illusions. The human brain subconsciously stores images for approximately 1/25^th of a second which depended on the brightness of the image. So when slightly different images are shown in quick succession the mind recognises it as fluid movement. Visual persistence occurs because of the chemical representation of an image that forms in the eye takes time to fade away. This process gives us time to interpret what it is we are seeing. If a series of images arrives at the eye in rapid enough succession, each will overlap slightly with the previous one.

Famous examples of this is the Phi Phenomenon and The Beta Movement which were both discovered by Max Wertheimer in 1912. The Phi Phenomenon is used to create the illusion of motion between images that progressively differ. The brain will fill the gaps between the images with movement. TV transmission is an example of The Phi Phenomenon. 

The Beta Movement is also an optical illusion that uses static images to create fluid motion but only occurs when the frame rate is greater than 10-12 frames per second.

Due to the advancements of technology techniques like The Phi Phenomenon were eventually able to evolve into Stop Frame animation.

Stop Frame:

Stop frame animation is composed of numerous pictures played quickly to create the illusion of movement. This normally consists of inanimate objects being moved between frames so when played back it appears as if they are moving. This often brings these objects to life on screen and allows more creativity with video production. It is also used to lower the cost of a production but it is often more time consuming to make. The first use of it was used in the film TheHumpty Dumpty Circus in 1898 by J. Stuart Blackton.  An animator would have to make it 24 frames per second and would have to create a separate audio track for the animation. 

Types of stop frame animation include Puppet animation and Claymation. Puppet animation involves using puppets to interact with the environment around them. The puppets themselves have an armature to keep them still on set. Examples of Puppet animation are Fantastic Mr Fox and The Empire Strikes                                                                          Back. 

Claymation uses clay moulded figures in a stop motion animation. Similarly to Puppet animation, the figures have a armature or wire inside them which allow their stature to be manipulated and pose the figures. Examples of this includes Wallace and Gromit and Early Man. 

Because of these advancements, animators would now have to consider things such as frame rates.

Frame Rates:

The amount of frames per second. The human eye could only process moving image for about 1/25^th of a second, so when creating a piece of moving image animators would have to make their products at a minimum of 24 frames per second to make sure their work was fluid in motion. This has been the case since 1927 set by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Editors.

However, in modern day cinema films like The Hobbit run at a smooth 48 frames per second because of things like IMAX cinema and to make their film more visually appealing. It is usually the case that higher frames per second leads to smoother movement. With our advancements in technology it is said that the number of frames per second will only increase when it comes to film making. Without the concern for frame rate cinema would be less visually satisfying for viewers to watch.