In this case, moving images are created through computer-generated 3D animation. Three-dimensional models of objects move and interact the way the directors want them to.
George Lucas was one of the first to use computer-generated animation in film. The special effects in the early Star Wars sequels are still more appreciated by many fans than the graphics in today’s films. Lucas’ studio ILM also worked on many famous movie epics with outstanding effects (Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Star Trek) as well as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which combined actors and drawn characters.
Then it became clear that animation could not only serve movies with actors, but also create its own world. The pioneers in the field of computer animation, who did as much for it as Disney did for traditional animation, were Pixar Studios. To this day, it is the most successful animation studio in the history of cinema.
The short 1986 animated film Luxo Junior tells the story of a small table lamp playing with a ball under the care of a parent lamp. The lamps were given the honor of becoming cartoon characters because they allowed them to work with light and show how it reflects different surfaces. This short animated film has what Pixar’s work is still praised for – the innovation of the technology and the emotional vibrancy of the characters. In 1995, the studio released its first fully computer-generated feature film, Toy Story.
The studio is constantly improving the technology and looking for new features. Curly hair in the wind, objects sinking in water, clouds moving, millions of grains of sand on the beach….
In CG movies, textures, weights, motion sequences, and a host of other factors must be taken into account to make everything look convincing. The fact that objects are virtual only makes their “material properties” more important. After all, artists and developers want a rubber ball to bounce and fabric to flutter in the wind just like in real life.
These techniques were adopted by other studios, such as Blue Sky Studios, which produced Ice Age, and Dreamworks (Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Tame a Dragon).
Computer animation allowed the viewer great depth of vision as well as the ability to walk along with the characters and take dizzying flights. These daring camera movements were not possible in classical animation or conventional film. That’s why there are so many races and adventures in 3D cartoons, and the scripts are written with visuals and dynamics in mind.
Of course, good cartoons are not just about technology. But the vast possibilities of animation allow filmmakers to deal with complex issues rather than simply conveying emotion. Hayao Miyazaki talks about harmony with nature, Tim Burton even makes talking about death fun, and Pixar films teach you to accept yourself and deal with your own feelings.