The process of animation filmmaking fundamentally involves creating the illusion of movement from static images. Based on the core principle of animation, this is achieved through a specific technical method.
At its heart, the process outlined involves creating individual drawings or objects, then photographing them one frame at a time, to create the illusion of movement when the frames are played back in rapid succession.
This core technical process can be broken down into these essential steps:
- Step 1: Creating Individual Frames
- This involves producing a series of unique images.
- These images can be individual drawings, paintings, or physical objects (like clay figures or puppets). Each image represents a tiny increment of movement from the previous one.
- Step 2: Photographing Each Frame
- Each individual drawing or object is captured photographically as a single frame.
- This step ensures that the sequence of images is recorded in the correct order.
- Step 3: Rapid Playback
- The series of photographed frames is then played back quickly, typically at a standard frame rate (e.g., 24 frames per second for film).
When these distinct frames are viewed in rapid succession, the human eye perceives the subtle changes between them as continuous motion, thus creating the illusion of movement. This technical method forms the basis of how animation works to bring characters and scenes to life.
While modern animation often utilizes digital tools, the underlying principle of creating and displaying a sequence of slightly different images frame by frame remains the fundamental process for generating movement.
