Literature Review

Since early of 19's, a lot of animations had been produced in two dimensional (2D) form. These animations which are also known as classical animation are all hand drawn in frame by frame. The skills of drawing and the knowledge of principles of animation are strongly required to achieve these animations.

But nowadays, with various type of advance technology, the 3D or CG animations have become more and more popular but people seldom think of the root of these technologies which is the classical animation - 2D. Not all but quite a number of 3D animations nowadays may lack of principles of animations such as exaggeration and so on, and always produce stiff animations which can be seen in real life or in theatres. Those animations can be considered as stiff as us - human. Compared to classical 2D animations, the animations are more exciting, interesting by including extreme movement, acting which is more attractive. In my opinion, the principles of animation play the most important role in achieving a good quality of animation. There are several differences while executing principles of animation into 2D and 3D environment in terms of technical, so the efficiency is not the same at all. So to find out the answer, a comparative study is needed to analyze the pros and cons of Implementation of principles of animation in 2D animation in 3D animation.

Basically, the content of the thesis is all about the discussion on the principles of animation in 2D and 3D animations. The flow of the thesis is like this: (Introducing - Explanation - Analyzing - Summarise - Comparison - Identify - Suggestion - Conclusion). The thesis will be divided into 4 different chapters.

The Chapter 1 is mainly about the analysis of "Principles of Animation" in 2D animation. In this chapter, there will be an introduction about the meaning of "Principles of Animation" and explain the importance of it in animation process. Then there will be one by one introduction and explanation of the usage of "principles of animation" in 2D animation. Next, there will be an analysis of the implementation of "principles of animation" in 2D animation which is mainly about the evaluation of the implementation of "principles of animation" such as methods of execution, the value, efficiency, techniques, and etc. Lastly, there will be a summary of the analysis on chapter 1.

Then in the next chapter which is Chapter 2, is mainly about the analysis of "Principles of Animation" in 3D animation. Then, there is an introduction and the explanation of the elements of "Principles of Animation" in 3D animation. Next, there will be an analysis of the implementation of "principles of animation" in 3D animation which is mainly about the evaluation of the implementation of "principles of animation" such as methods of execution, the value, efficiency, techniques, and etc. Lastly, there will be a summary of the analysis on chapter 2.

Next comes to the Chapter 3, which is mainly about the comparison of implementation of "Principles of Animation" between 2D and 3D. The Differences of Principles of Animation in 2D and 3D animation and the Pros and Cons of implementation of Principles of Animation in 2D and 3D animation will be highlighted in this chapter. Then, few suggestions will be provided in order to create a good quality of animation by using 2D and 3D elements such as 3D character in 2D environment, 3D in 2D style and etc. Lastly, there will be a summary of the comparison on chapter 3.

Finally the Chapter 4, which is mainly about the conclusion from Chapter 1 until Chapter 3. Last but not least, the objective of the thesis is to achieve the essence of animation - "Principles of Animation" by producing 2D + 3D animation and to gain insights into the realm of principles of animations. Therefore, in order to make a good quality of animation, the proper executions of principals of animation no matter in 2D or 3D are the most important key factor.

Chapter 1

Animation is an art. Like most arts it takes time to master and do well. A 2D animator needs to have a firm understanding of the principles of physics. Besides that, the animator should understand the effects of gravity, friction, elasticity of many different materials and a good understand of the center of gravity knowing how these laws mean on the actual motion. A 2D animator must keep practicing to improve their drawing skills and the understanding of the 12 principles. Even the best animator must practice and have a solid understanding of all of the principles that have been discussed. In my point of view, in order to achieve all the key of the principles and be a good animator is not easy at all, it requires a lot of practice in terms of physical and mental, to gain more experience in getting the essence of animation. Moreover, I believed that an animator's job is to create the illusion of life by understanding of physics behind the principles and bring out the joy of life in the most interesting way. I think that's the spirit of animation.

Chapter 2

Animation is an art. Like most arts it takes time to master and do well. For 3D animation, it is a bit different, once the animator reaches a certain degree of computer animation skills, they can easily handle the job. All they need is the computer performance and the software updating. But as an animator, they also needs to have a firm understanding of the principles of physics by exploring the effects of gravity, friction, elasticity of many different materials and a good understand of the center of gravity knowing how these laws mean on the actual motion. In my point of view, to be a really good 3D animator is not easy at all. Besides the technical part, they should also take care and practice the content of the animation in order to gain more experience in getting the essence of animation. Moreover, I believed that an animator's job is to create the illusion of life by understanding of physics behind the principles and bring out the joy of life in the most interesting way.

Chapter 3

The implementations of principles of animation are playing the same important role no matter in what type of animation (2D, 3D, claymation, and etc.) But, there are several differences in the way they implement it because of the animation techniques are not the same at all. As the result, the efficiency will also different from each other. Nothing in this world is perfect; this same goes with all kinds of animations by having the pros and cons. But sometimes, by combining the various type of animation together, the negative part could be eliminated in such a way. In other words, by taking out the good elements of the animations and blend it together, a good quality of animation might be created. Because the amount of implementation of the principles into animation is all depends on the animators, so I hope that the animators will keep upgrading their skills and knowledge of principles of animation and the technologies will keep developing to provide the animators the most useful tool in order to create a good quality of animation. As mention in previous chapter, the main purpose of creating animation is to create the illusion of life but not a copy of life and achieve the essence of animation in the most interesting way.

Chapter 4

Based on the discussions and information above, the review concludes that no matter 2D animators or 3D animators, besides acquiring their skills in drawing and computer software; their also need to keep practice and utilize the principles of animation properly and implement it into animation. This is because principles of animations play an important in creating a high quality of animation.

As the advance technologies are upgrading from time to time, the demand of the animation quality is also keep growing up. This means the animation produced nowadays must have a good quality and should be better than old time's animations. Therefore, this review had come out with some suggestions and recommendations of creating a good quality of animation by using 2D and 3D elements after analysing the implementation of principles of animation in 2D and 3D and its pros and cons. In other words, by taking out the good elements from 2D and 3D animations and blend it together, a good quality of animation might be created.

Last but not least, an animator's job is to create the illusion of life. By understanding the physics and its importance behind the principles of animation, a good quality of animation will be created thus achieving the essence of animation and bring out the joy of life in the most interesting way. I believed that's the spirit and the heart of animation.

Methodology

In order to successfully complete my research, the first and most I read about was about the principles of animation from books, articles and information on the Internet to gain more knowledege about the principles of animation. Besides that, I watched quite a lot of 2d and 3d animations, to enhance my knowledge and analyze the implementation of principles in the animation. Other than that, books and information on 2d and 3d animation were read as to find out the animation techniques which can helps me very much in the research.

With these references, I can understand the principles of animation deeper. Lastly, discussions were also being carried out with different people including tutors, friends and lecturers in order to get more advises and informations.

Findings/Conclusion

The implementations of principles of animation are playing the same important role no matter in what type of animation (2D, 3D, claymation, and etc.) But, there are several differences in the way they implement it because of the animation techniques are not the same at all. As the result, the efficiency will also different from each other. But by combining the various type of animation together, the negative part could be eliminated in such a way. In other words, by taking out the good elements of the animations and blend it together, a good quality of animation might be created.The main objective of animation is to create the illusion of life but not a copy of life and achieve the essence of animation in the most interesting way.