3D CGI Animation

CGI is the use of computer graphics to make or add to movies, video games, images, TV programs and more! 3D CGI was first used in 1976. CGI stands for Computer Generated Imagery. In order for CGI to work, you'll need a powerful computer and software. 

Designers create CGI by making the basic computer generated graphics. Then they add the detail that makes the animation look less cartoony and more realistic to whatever they're working on by adding texture, lighting, colour and tone. Here is a video that shows you what CGI is. Here is a video that shows you how to make a CGI movie. Two well known examples of 3D CGI are Toy Story and Avatar. 

The advantages and disadvantages of using 3D CGI.

Advantages:

• It allows you to make effects that would be really difficult to make any other way.
• You can add digital characters to your creations. For example, Gollum from Lord of the Rings.

Disadvantages:

• You need a very powerful computer to render CGI animations.
• It can look not realistic if it isn't done properly.

2D Computer Graphics Animation

2D graphics started in the 1950s. 2D computer graphics computer based generation of images, these were mostly dimensional objects like 2D geometric objects.

In order to make 2D animation, you're going to need software on your computer to do it. Then you draw each frame on the computer. This video will tell you about 2D computer graphics and this video will show you how to make it. Two well known examples of 2D computer animation are Disney's Aladdin and Alice in Wonderland.

The advantages and disadvantages of 2D animation.

Advantages:

• It takes less time to produce 
• It's not very complicated

Disadvantages:

• It can cost more because of the software
• Thanks to 3D animation, it can look out of fashion

Cell animation

Cell animation was invented by Earl Hurd in 1914. Cell animation is an animation technique where each frame is hand drawn. For the animation to work, you'll need to draw the outline of your image on the front of a cell and on the back you'll need to colour it.

This technique was used for the first half of the 20th century until it was later replaced by cellulose acetate. This video shows you how to make cell animation and this video tells you the history of cell animation. Two well known examples of cell animation is the movie called The Black Cauldron and Disney's Robin Hood. 

Advantages and disadvantages of cell animation.

Advantages:

• The quality of the frames are a lot clearer and higher quality
• You can make it very detailed

Disadvantages:

• It is very time consuming as every frame must be made over again.
• It can be very expensive

Stop-Motion

Stop-motion was invented by Albert E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton in 1897 when they made the stop-motion The Humpty Dumpty Circus. Stop-motion is an animation technique where you take photos of an object and move it very slowly to create the illusion of movement when all the photos have been speeded up.

What you need to make a stop-motion is an object you want to look like is moving, a camera and a computer to edit the photos to speed up. This video will teach you the basics on stop-motion and this video will teach you how to make your own stop-motion! Two of the most known examples of stop-motion is Wallace and Gromit and Fantastic Mr. Fox. 

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of stop-motion?

Advantages:

• You are able to animate inanimate objects
• You can make the animation as long as you want

Disadvantages:

• It can take a very long time to make
• It can be difficult to keep the same lighting and the same exact position the camera is in
  
  

The Flipbook

The first flipbook was invented in 1868 by John Barnes Linnett. The Flipbook is an animation technique that uses a book with a sequence of pictures that create the illusion of movement when the pages of the book are turned quickly. 

This video shows you what a flipbook is and how to use it. This video shows you how to create your own. Some of the most well known flipbooks are the old Disney flipbooks! One of them is the old Mickey Mouse flipbooks and another is of the old Donald Duck flipbooks. 

There are advantages and disadvantages of using the flipbook. 

Advantages:

• You can make your flipbook animation as long as you want as long as you have enough pages.

Disadvantages:

• It can be quite time consuming when making your flipbook.

The Zoetrope

The Zoetrope that you see today was created in the 1860s by William Ensign Lincoln while he was at university.  

The Zoetrope is a cylinder with stationary pictures on the inside along the bottom, just above them are slits to see the pictures. Then you must spin the Zoetrope fast enough, then look through the slits for the animation to work. This is how the Zoetrope worked, and this is how you can create your own.

The most common example of the Zoetrope is of the horse galloping like seen above. Another example of the Zoetrope is of two people running like seen below. 

The advantages and disadvantages of the Zoetrope. 

Advantages: 

• There are some simple versions that can be made.
• It can hold a lot of images compared to the thaumatrope. 

Disadvantages: 

• It can take a lot of resources to make and it can be difficult to make due to the moving parts.
• It requires some artistic ability for the animation to work well. 

The Thaumatrope

The Thaumatrope was invented in London 1824 by John Ayrton Paris. The thaumatrope is a paper disk with pictures on each side of it and is attached to two pieces of string as seen in the picture below.

In order for the thaumatrope to work you need to twirl the strings in between your fingers really quickly. This video shows how to use the Thaumatrope. This video shows you how to create your own simple Thaumatrope.
There are two most known examples of the Thaumatrope. One example is the where the disk has a picture of a bird on one side of the disk, and on the other a cage. Another example has a bare tree on one side and on the other it has the leaves.

There are some advantages and disadvantages of using the Thaumatrope.

Advantages:

• The Thaumatrope is very cheap to make
• The Thaumatrope is very simple to make and isn’t very complicated 

Disadvantages:

• In order for the Thaumatrope allusion to work properly, it’ll require some artistic skill
• The Thaumatrope is a little too simple. It’s impossible for there to be more than two pictures

Hello. This is my first post! :)