What Is Animation?

Summary

In this lesson, the speaker introduces the concept of animation, explaining it as the illusion of movement created by a sequence of still images displayed at a certain rate. Using personal anecdotes, they illustrate how flipping through pages of drawings can create a sense of motion. The discussion includes key terminology such as frames per second (FPS), detailing how different FPS rates affect the number of drawings needed for animation. The speaker explains techniques like animating on ones, twos, threes, and fours, emphasizing their impact on the fluidity of animated sequences.

Takeaways

• 😀 Animation is the illusion of movement created by displaying a series of still images in quick succession.
• 🎨 A personal anecdote illustrates how flipping through drawings can create the illusion of movement.
• ⏱️ Frames per second (FPS) indicate how many images are shown in one second; common rates include 24 FPS and 30 FPS.
• 🔢 Animating on 'ones' means creating a new drawing for every frame shown.
• 🔢 Animating on 'twos' means one drawing is displayed for two frames, effectively halving the number of drawings needed.
• 🔢 Animating on 'threes' means one drawing is shown for three frames.
• 🔢 Animating on 'fours' means one drawing is shown for four frames.
• 🎥 At 24 FPS, animating on 'ones' requires 24 drawings, while animating on 'twos' only requires 12.
• 📚 Understanding FPS and animation techniques is crucial for creating effective animations.
• 🖌️ Basic animation concepts can be learned and practiced even from a young age.

Q & A

What is animation?

Animation is the illusion of movement created by displaying a series of still images in quick succession.

How does the speaker demonstrate the concept of animation from their childhood?

The speaker illustrated animation by drawing a stick figure in different poses on separate pages and flipping through them to create the illusion of movement.

What does FPS stand for in animation?

FPS stands for frames per second, indicating how many individual images are displayed in one second of animation.

How many drawings are shown in one second at 24 FPS?

At 24 FPS, 24 drawings are shown in one second.

What does animating on ones mean?

Animating on ones means creating a new drawing for every frame, resulting in 24 drawings for 24 frames per second.

What does animating on twos mean?

Animating on twos means that each drawing is shown for two frames, requiring only 12 drawings at 24 frames per second.

What are the implications of animating on threes?

Animating on threes means one drawing is exposed for three frames, reducing the number of drawings needed even further.

What does animating on fours involve?

Animating on fours means that each drawing is displayed for four frames, further decreasing the total number of drawings required.

Why is understanding FPS important in animation?

Understanding FPS is crucial because it determines the smoothness of the animation and affects the overall quality and flow of movement.

What are the benefits of using fewer drawings in animation?

Using fewer drawings can save time and resources while still creating an effective illusion of movement, though it may impact the fluidity of the animation.