How is Animation Defined?

How is Animation Defined?

In the dictionary Animation is defined as:

animation [ˌænɪˈmeɪʃən]

n

1. liveliness; vivacity

3. (Performing Arts)

a.  the techniques used in the production of animated cartoons

b.  a variant of animated cartoon

Comment – Animated Cartoon

Animated Cartoons where one of the earliest forms of animation, done using a pen/paper sketch drawn for each movement in the scene, each sketch was then drawn on plastic cells for each movement and photographed in a series to make the scene in the cartoon.

Comment - Digital Animation/CGI

Not mentioned in the traditional definition of Animation is Digital Animation or CGI (computer generated imagery), both being new technologies that have developed with the creation of the Computer.

 The continual development of Computer hardware and software has lead to digital Animation and CGI replacing more traditional forms of animation, such as stop-motion" animation of scale-model puppets or drawings. Because of the expensive time-consuming nature of Animation, Computers are now used in every step of sophisticated animation — for example, to supply the in-between drawings for full animation. The simplification and computerization of Animation has been used as an effective cost cutting measure.