The art of 3D animation is a relatively new art medium compared to other forms of animation. Art dates back to the time of the caveman and ever since man has roamed the Earth, there has always been the artist and the critic. Animation for me dates back to sometime in the 1980s, when I used to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings and make animated books. However, 3D animation is an art form more associated with the information age and the growth of computer technology. Advances in technology have created what is now far more advanced than Saturday morning cartoons.
3D animation art challenges the intellectual artist. The artist must now be creative in the way he uses traditional methods along with the newest technology. To study this art form, the student must develop an understanding of all the elements necessary to produce a computer animation. The animator must be able to take a concept from infancy to maturity and the end result must be a finished production that is shown to the audience.
The 3D animation art student should be able to conceptualize by taking an inanimate object and bringing it to life through character modeling. After the object has been created or chosen, the animator must create a sequence of detailed views of the model in storyboard sketches. Software packages can play an important role in this process, providing tools that can bring clarity to the story while also providing guidance to save time during the planning stages.
The technique used to acquire old-school 3D animation involves creating a set design, the character (sometimes made of clay or other inanimate objects), a camera, and audio equipment. With today’s newest technology, creating 3D animation art involves 3D modeling and character animation that can be done entirely on a computer. No filming is required as the character and every move can be created with software.
3D animators must understand that the art of 3D animation can be overkill for the viewer if the practitioner cannot define the viewer’s balance line. To clarify this, think about the last time you were the correct distance from a chain-link fence. Did the fence appear to and away from you when you looked at it long enough? The same sensation can occur if the viewer’s senses are overwhelmed. When it comes to 3D animation, sometimes less is more. The art of 3D animation has the ability to simplify the most complex ideas that would require a creative genius.