Animation

Animation is a display of a rapid sequence which illustrates images of 2-D or 3-D artwork; creating the illusion of movement. Early examples of animation can date back 1000's of years. One of these early examples was a motion drawing found in Palaeolithic cave paintings; here animals where depicted. The discovery of a 5,000 year old earthen bowl also uncovered the process of animation. It is this that has been claimed as an early animation. However, animation shows images in motion. As no equipment existed 5,000 years ago to show images in motion, they cannot truly be called animation.

In 180AD a Chinese zoetrope-type device was invented. The Chinese zoetrope is known as praxinoscope, or more commonly the flip book. This was a very early and popular animation device, right through the 19th century. This device produced the appearance of movement, though animation didn't really develop any more until the year of cinematography.

There is obviously no single person who can be considered the creator of film animation. Around the 19th century there where several people working on projects involving animation. There are a number of techniques, which have increased overtime.

Traditional animation: Also known as cell animation or hand-drawn animation. This process was used for most animated films of the 20th century. Though, by the 21st century it became obsolete.

Stop motion: this involves physically manipulating real world objects. The process involves photographing the object one frame at a time to create the illusion of movement.

Computer animation: Animation is created uses a variety of techniques, digitally.