How to Know the Animation Process

One of the largest advancements in movie production during the 20th century was the use of animation. Many film directors brought together some of the most unique ideas from cartoons and made them into full length, animated movies. Today the use of animation is popping up all over the big screen. Here are a few steps on how to develop frames and learn about the animation process.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Create your scene and set it up. Make sure you have all of the characters and props you will need for the scene such as characters, buildings, trees, cars or other props. The background should be a solid, dark color.

2. Angle the camera equipment to properly view and record the subjects in the scene.

3. Place the figures in starting position. Then capture the video of that position. Many people use their video camera in conjunction with their computer, so all they have to do is click the mouse to record the shot. (See your video camera user manual for instructions on how to set it up with a computer.)

4. Capture a few frames. Change the positions of the figures and record each on separately. Play back the frames after every seventh to tenth frames. It is a good to check them periodically to make sure they are recording correctly and everything is running smoothly.

5. Be patient. The animation process is something that takes a lot of time to create. A lot of set up and preparation may be required between frames.

6. Record many small movements and play it at a high frame rate for a smoother animation. This will take a time, but will be worth it in the end.