The End

As computer technology all but dominates mainstream animation at the start of the century, more and more animation studios look to combine techniques to create unique films. From the self-consciously primitive South Park to the elegant noir-isms of Bellville Rendezvous, animation seen today in films, commercials, games and music videos, represents the coming together of many styles. The animation industry is divided into four disciplines:

Hand Drawn

Traditionally drawn onto clear sheets called cels, and then animated over a painted background using an overhead camera, as seen in Disney's early feature films.

Stop Frame

Exemplified by films like A Nightmare Before Christmas and the Wallace and Gromit series, where models are shot, then adjusted, frame by frame.

Computer Generated 2D

An updated version of hand drawn animation, where drawings are scanned and animated on a computer. Today almost all 2D animation is done this way.

Computer Generated 3D

First brought to a mass audience by Pixar's Toy Story feature film. The use of 3D computer generated images (CGI) involves a variety of techniques that use geometrical shapes to create virtual objects.

The People

Production Designer

Helps create the characters and locations through a series of drawings which establish a look and style to suit the film's narrative.

Storyboard Artist

Produces the comic strip-like storyboard, showing the camera shots, character reactions and dialogue throughout the film. Later a rough animation, called an animatic is produced from it, and is used throughout the project as a rough guide.

Sound Editor

Assembles a version of the dialogue track which animators then use to synchronise the characters' speech. In Japan however, it is the norm for voiceovers to be done after the animation.

Performance Models

Who are actors, are sometimes used by animators as a basis for a character's looks. In the Shrek films, the Donkey's mannerisms were created from footage of Eddie Murphy delivering his lines. Twenty years earlier an actress provided the sensuous movements of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Model Makers

Create models of characters and objects in all forms of animation. Stop frame animation, such as the Wallace and Gromit series, requires many models, called armatures. They must be built in a variety of sizes to allow for different camera shots and types of movement. In 3D CGI films, virtual models are built up, and put through their paces in a variety of actions, allowing a character to develop a characteristic walk.

Layout Artists

Set the stage for the animators. As well as producing the background designs, they also finalise the perspective and lighting in each scene.

CG Modellers

Build three dimensional, virtual models of characters, props, buildings, scenery and special effects, such as explosions. They work in 3D CGI.

Animation Director/Supervisor

Recruits and then runs the animation department. They responsible for meeting the animation budget.

Lead Animators

Start with rough pencil drawings, and then map out key poses in a sequence, synchronising the action to the pre-recorded voice track.

Animation Assistants/Inbetweeners

Link up key poses with accurate in-between drawings. Inbetweening has become easier since computer software was developed to identify objects and predict how they should move between points.

Match Move Artists

Replicate real-life camera movements using 3D graphics engines. By studying live action footage they translate the camera techniques seen on film into computer coordinates. The final result should be the marriage of CGI and legitimate cinematography. They work in 3D CGI.

Render Wrangler

Senior figure in a camera crew, they film the scene as the director instructs, and are key to the composition of every shot, starting and stopping the camera on the commands "Turnover" and "Cut" and seeing that it is run correctly during a take. Works in CGI.

Focus Puller

Compositor comes in at the final stage, to blend together the different mediums used in the film. Layers such as computer generated characters, hand painted backgrounds and lighting effects must combine seamlessly. Works in CGI.