Animation has become the technology of choice for business in this era. Animations illustrate concepts using motion, such as animated objects in web design. Placing motion graphics in the right places can improve your website’s performance, not to mention the great side benefit of teaching your visitors how to use your site quickly and efficiently.
Now, with the help of computers and computer graphics, making animated videos is becoming easier and faster. The result of using computers for animation is what we now call digital animation.
Digital animation is a computer-generated video production consisting of animated graphics and objects, crafted with the use of digital animation techniques. Digital animation includes all animation techniques that are made exclusively with computers. With digital animation, it is possible to perform two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) animations.
But before we delve deeper into digital animation, let’s check out 5 types of animations first.
5 Types of Animation
1. Traditional Animations
Traditional animation is one of the oldest forms of animation. Sometimes, it is called cel animation. In traditional animation, objects are drawn on transparent celluloid paper (hence the name). To create an animation sequence, the animator must draw each frame individually. The mechanism is similar to a flipbook only this is made on a larger scale.
In the early years, animators would draw on a table with a light, so that the creator could see previous animations. While the traditional style is hardly prevalent today, drawing is generally done on a tablet.
Traditional animation is often 2D, but you need to note that not all 2D animation is traditional animation.
2. 2D Animations
2D animation is the art of producing motion in two-dimensional space. It is commonly used to create animated films, cartoons, marketing videos, advertisements, business presentations, educational materials, video games, and many other things.
2D animation can be created in a non-digital environment (traditional drawing animation can be done without computer graphics), as well as in a digital environment.
3. 3D Animations
3D animation is computer-generated animation created in 3D space. The entire process is created in a digital environment that uses motion capture to bring people, props, and other things to life.
Although the process is technically different from traditional animation, it is still related to character animation. Companies are now using computer-generated animations to help them sell their products and services.
3D animation created using computer graphics and rendering software
4. Motion Graphics
Motion graphics is a digital animation or film design that provides the appearance of motion or rotation and is usually used in multimedia projects along with the audio.
Motion graphics is more commonly seen in electronic media, although they can also be seen in manually operated technologies (such as the thaumatrope, phenakistoscope, stroboscope, zoetrope, praxinoscope, and flipbook).
Due to its ability to be visually pleasing, it is used more often in commercials and movie opening sequences than in the movie itself. Companies often use animation to showcase their progressive technology or to convey information in an evolving environment.
5. Stop Motions
Stop Motion is a filmmaking technique that captures an image one frame at a time, with a physical object moving between frames. The illusion of motion will appear when the image is rotated quickly.
The principle of stop motion is similar to 2D animation in early Disney cartoons, but stop motion uses physical objects rather than images/illustrations.
Each object’s movement is captured in an individual frame. Capturing these individual frames will produce multiple images according to the movement of the object so that when this series of frames is rotated rapidly and repeatedly, the object will appear as if it is moving.
Now that you know about all types of animation, you might wonder, which one is digital animations? Well, digital animation requires techniques that exclusively use a computer and computer graphics. So if you use a computer or computer graphics to make the animation, it can easily be called digital animation.
Need to know deeper? Worry not! We will delve deeper by showing you the example of digital animation.
Example Of Digital Animation
Come take a look at several digital animation projects done by Superpixel below.
AIA Medishield Life Plan
This video shows us how digital animation can be fun, but also informative.
The unique approaches to deliver information are our specialty. AIA trust Superpixel to make an excellent explainer video about their producst, Medishield Life Plan. With simple narratives and precise animations, this video explains how AIA Medishield Life Plan is beneficial for audiences.
Putting this kind of brand video on your website will surely make it more lively. Animations like this can have a nice UX effect. You can add colorful animations to the most popular page options so users can see them. You can even increase your conversion rate by using more call-to-action buttons.
National Healthcare Group | Dyslipidaemia
How do you show data that excite the audiences? How do you promote your feature without lulling them to sleep? This digital animation for National Healthcare Group is one way to do it!
Superpixel made a motion graphics animation video with constant action and movement for National Healthcare Group Dyslipidaemia campaign.
With attention to combining motion graphics and voiceovers to present the brand, it suffices to say that this video promotes the brand in an interactive and quirky approach.
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UM3402 (AMD CPU)
Digital animations could also be used to present a new product launch or a new feature. You can take a look at this ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UM3402 (AMD CPU) video. Superpixel creates a video to introduce ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UM3402, a new product launch from ASUS.
Right on point, the narrative explains concisely the feature of this product and how it benefits them.
What Is The Difference Between Traditional Animation And Digital Animation?
But why would you use digital animation? What is the difference with traditional animation?
While digital animators use virtual materials in a digital environment, traditional animators use tangible objects and activities.
Everyone wants a way to complete things as fast as possible, including animation. Traditional animations require more time to sketch each frame, and errors are more likely to occur. This means the time required to finish a project is longer than when you use digital animations. On the other hand, digital animations use (sometimes expensive) tools to make the visual more realistic in a shorter time.
Let’s talk about the cost of production needed for working with traditional and digital animations. When working with traditional animators, the cost of production is very much higher compared to when digital animators are on board. This is because of the tools involved in the production of traditional animation. Digital animators using just computer software remove the need for many extra tools used in traditional animation.
What Do You Use For Digital Animation
With different tools to use for digital animation, below are several options to use.
1. After Effects (Adobe)
Digital artists can use this commercial tool to add visual effects and animation elements to films, television, videos, online content, presentations, and more.
2. 3ds Max (Autodesk)
This commercial animation software tool allows digital artists to produce 3D animation, including developing models and rendering them into 2D or 3D images.
3. Animate (Adobe)
Users can create animations in a variety of media, from animations and banner ads to interactive content for games, TV shows, academic content, and infographics.
4. Blender (Blender Foundation)
This free and open-source 3D graphics creation suite provides a comprehensive feature set for creating animation, digital art, visual effects, 2D and 3D models, and more.
5. Character Animator (Adobe)
Digital artists can use their movements and expressions to create animated characters in real-time.
6. Cartoon Animator 4 (Reallusion)
Digital artists in TV, film, web, and game development with this versatile animation tool can create 2D animations with 3D motion.
7. Muffle (Muffle)
Beginners and experts alike can use this cloud-based software to create animated graphics and videos for a variety of applications, including marketing and training.
8. Dragonframe (DZED system)
The tool’s advanced imaging interface is popular with digital artists in the film industry for stop-motion animation, motion design, and visual effects.
9. Maya (Autodesk)
This commercial software provides digital artists with a comprehensive platform and a wide range of features, including modeling, simulation, and rendering, to create 3D animation on the computer.
10. OpenToonz (Video Digital SpA)
This software tool allows digital artists to create 2D animations. As an open source software, it is free to use, anyone can modify the source code, and it is frequently updated
11. FlipBook (DigiCel)
Whether you draw with a stylus and tablet or use pen and paper, this animation software provides digital artists with intuitive tools for creating 2D animations.
12. Moho Pro 13 (Smith Micro)
Previously known as Anime Studio, 2D vector-based animation software provided digital artists with a variety of tools for creating animations, including 2D and 3D characters.
Upgrade Your Business Up With Digital Animation
It’s very difficult to draw a well-crafted image, let alone thousands of images. Animation is a magical art form that not only has real advantages for business and design but can also elevate ordinary projects to a level of imagination.
How do you start digital animation?
Now that you see how digital animations can voice your brand and project, how can you imagine doing it any other way?
Get started with Superpixel Singapore to be your next crime animation partner!
