Time lapse in animation typically refers to applying the technique of compressing time into a shorter duration, either within the animated content itself or as a method to quickly showcase the animation creation process.
Understanding Time Lapse
Based on the provided reference, time-lapse is a creative filming and video editing technique that manipulates how frame rate is captured. Frame rate is defined as the number of images, or frames, that appear in a second of video. In most videos, the frame rate and playback speed are the same.
In traditional live-action time-lapse, this manipulation involves capturing frames at a much lower rate than usual (e.g., one frame every few seconds or minutes) and then playing them back at a standard frame rate (like 24 or 30 frames per second). This causes slow-changing events, such as a sunrise, clouds moving, or crowds passing, to appear sped up.
Time Lapse Applied to Animation
While animation isn't "filmed" in the same way live-action is, the concept of time lapse is relevant in several ways:
1. As a Visual Technique Within Animation
This is the most direct application of the time-lapse effect within the animated piece itself. It involves depicting a slow, drawn-out process happening over a short period in the animation.
- How it Works: The animator plans and creates frames to show significant changes occurring rapidly. Instead of animating every tiny step of a slow event (which would take a very long time), they only animate key stages spread out over what would be a long real-world period.
- Examples:
- Showing a seed sprouting and growing into a plant in just a few seconds.
- Depicting the construction of a building from the ground up quickly.
- Illustrating the decay of an object over time.
- Animating the movement of stars across the night sky.
- Purpose: To convey the passage of time or illustrate a lengthy process efficiently and dramatically without making the animation excessively long or tedious.
2. As a Tool to Showcase the Animation Process
This is perhaps the most common use of the term "time lapse" related to animation, especially in behind-the-scenes content or online videos. It involves recording the animator working and then speeding up that recording.
- How it Works: A camera records the animator drawing, modelling, rigging, or working on software over hours or days. This lengthy recording is then compressed into a short video (often minutes long) by playing it back at a significantly increased speed. This is a time-lapse of the process, not in the final animation.
- Examples:
- A time-lapse showing an artist creating a detailed 2D animation cell.
- A video of a stop-motion animator building a set or posing puppets over many hours.
- A sped-up recording of a 3D modeller sculpting a character from start to finish.
- Purpose: To give viewers a condensed look at the effort, skill, and stages involved in creating animation, often used for marketing, tutorials, or fan engagement.
Key Differences
Here's a simple comparison of the two main contexts:
| Aspect | Time Lapse Within Animation | Time Lapse Of the Animation Process |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | A slow event depicted rapidly in the story | The act of the animator creating the work |
| Result | Part of the final animated film/short | Behind-the-scenes content/making-of video |
| Creation Method | Animated frame by frame to show rapid change | Recording the real-world work session |
Conclusion
In summary, while the core concept of time-lapse comes from live-action filmmaking (manipulating frame capture for playback speed), its application or reference in the animation world primarily relates either to speeding up events within the animated narrative or, very commonly, to creating sped-up videos showing the animation creation process.
