2D and 3D animation is a limitless space for creativity. You can create a whole new world full of incredible creatures and fantastic settings without leaving your desktop. But all this remains just words until you know how animation is created. It is not only beautiful, but also complex, and requires a conscious and competent approach.
To create a high-quality product, 2D and 3D animation studios take into account a huge amount of detail. Preparatory work also takes no less time than creating the animation itself. So it’s time to dive deeper into the details and understand in general terms how this all happens.
What is Animation?
We are used to associating the word animation with movement and position change. In fact, it is so. This is a change in the visual display of the properties of one or more objects. Now, this is done using special computer software.
There are 2D and 3D animations. Their main difference is the presence of a third dimension, depth, in the latter, which makes the image three-dimensional. It becomes possible to view it from all sides without creating separate drawings for this. This is possible due to the fact that pre-created 3D models are used for 3D animation.
Basic Stages of Work on Animation
While the steps may differ depending on the procedural format of each 2D and 3D animation company, there are major milestones:
- Gathering information and brainstorming ideas.
- Concept and scenario creation.
- Working on the storyboard.
- Visual approach and design.
- Procedure for creating animation.
- Sound effects and music.
- Final adjustments, rendering and delivery.
Note that creating the animation itself is the fifth step. Before that, you have a lot of preparatory work to do. This proves once again how delicate and multi-component this process is.
Gathering Information and Brainstorming Ideas
The first thing you need to understand is why you are doing animation and what purpose you are pursuing. Even if this is a fairly simple animation of two character movements for the game, you need to know what the character is showing with these movements and what message should be conveyed to the player. For example, seeing them, the player must understand that the character is angry, thoughtful, hesitant, or ready to rush into battle.
The success of this step depends on the thorough communication of the company providing 2D or 3D animation services with the client. Desires and expectations need to be discussed and validated. The best way to do this is to write a brief. This is a so-called questionnaire with detailed questions about an animation project. There the target audience, animation goals, details that need to be highlighted, and so on are recorded.
After the information gathering is complete, the creative team starts brainstorming. Animators offer their ideas for project implementation, discuss them and choose the best one. It is also important here to understand what information is received from the client and whether there is any initial data. If there are limitations, then they are taken into account first during the brainstorming session.
Concept and Scenario Creation
This stage is necessary in order to understand where to start work. Without understanding the sequence of steps, an animation project risks being chaotic.
This uses the information collected and approved in the previous step. The main idea behind the animation depends on the purpose. It can be focused on a specific character or subject, draw attention to a specific event taking place, or convey a certain message.
Working on the Storyboard
A storyboard is a sequence of drawings that helps you create an animation. Even before its creation, it helps to understand what will happen in each next second. The storyboard clearly demonstrates the course of the story and helps to properly establish the process of adding sounds and music if required by the client.
The storyboard is absolutely necessary because it helps the client understand how the animators are going to bring the idea to life. At this stage, you can still make adjustments without doing any harm to the workflow.
Visual Approach and Design
After all the preparatory stages are completed, the artists take over. There are options here. The client can ask to create an animation from scratch or provide the animation company with some finished materials or models that need to be animated. In any case, the team of artists either selects the desired style or adheres to the one provided by the client.
If we are talking about 3D animation, then 3D modelers come into work. They create 3D models of characters and assets that will take part in the animation or will become their key element.
Procedure for Creating Animation
Finally, we have come to the very stage for which we are gathered here. Now you can see how much preliminary work needs to be done before the animators come into play. They take material from artists and modelers and bring 2D and 3D characters and other elements to life according to the client’s requirements.
Sound Effects and Music
This step is optional. If the client has provided for the addition of sound effects, then the sound designers start working right now, after the animation has already been created.
Working on music is the prerogative of composers. If a client needs an original composition written for a project, then it is created from scratch. If the budget is limited, then the team can choose royalty-free compositions from open sources.
Final Adjustments, Rendering and Delivery
When everything is ready, it’s time to get feedback from the client, implement some minor additions and solemnly hand over the project to a satisfied customer.
Wrapping Up
The animation is not only a key attention grabber in any entertainment product, it is also a solution for almost any business problem. At Kevuru Games, animation experts know and value their craft and are always ready to offer their game animation services for the benefit of your project. By working with them, you will be aware of every step and every process. This will allow you to fully control all stages of the project and see with your own eyes how a fantastic animation is created from scratch.