What is your style?

Let's do a bit of time travel today.

When I was between the ages of 7-15,there were a range of shows showing on TV channels which includes and not limited to Ben10 on cartoon network, power rangers, house of Anubis, Super ninjas, SpongeBob on Nickelodeon and so on.

Let me not even start with Disney and Disney junior...lol.

Those days my siblings and I literally fought for our Dstv remote whenever there was power supply. If you are in Nigeria, you will understand what I mean.

Despite the range of shows, I discovered that there were some that were my style and some were not.

While growing up, I didn't like Ben 10 and a lot of 2d animations ,the ones people watched and classified the whole of animation industry as people that makes cartoons.

Recently, I checked out Nimona on YouTube and I absolutely loved it even though it's not my style.

Lately, I discovered there were different styles of animation.

A movie like spider man in the spider verse by Sony animations combined different styles together and it was breath taking .

So,

There are about 5 styles and techniques of animation.

1. Traditional Animation: Also known as cell animation, hand drawn or 2D.

It is usually called hand drawn animation because it is drawn by hand, Disney comes to mind when you think about this.

Characters were drawn frame by frame, then the drawings were transferred onto cells according to Bloop animation.

It can be done digitally, analog or a combination of both.

Software used: Toon boom harmony, TV paint.

2. 2D animation (Vector based) :

It's in a separate category because animators are able to create character rigs and move the body parts individually instead of drawing the character multiple times.

In this style of animation, beginners don't need to have a strong drawing skill unlike traditional animation.

Software used: Adobe character animator, Adobe animate cc, Adobe after effects, Toon boom harmony

3. Stop motion animation (claymation,cut-outs):

Stop motion has several variety but everyone involves manipulating real world objects.

According to bloop animation, these objects are moved slightly and photograph one frame at a time.

When shown in sequence, these frames create an illusion of movement.

Types include: Claymation, puppets action figures ,cut-outs, silhouette, pixelation, lego.

Software used: Dragon frame, stop motion studio.

4. Motion graphics:

Simply means graphic design elements that moves, you will usually find them in broadcast, advertisement, commercials, explainer videos, news, tv productions, sporting events. It can be 2D and 3D.

Software used: Aftereffects, Cinema 4D.

5. 3D animation popularly known as CGI(Computer generated imagery) :

This is currently the most popular type and is currently used in Tv, films, video games and so on.

In Bloop animation words, 3D animation is a technically intensive process which often involves many separate specialists to model the character rig with bones and controls, animate it and then texture and light it for the final output.

Software Used: Autodesk Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D etc.

Different styles and techniques exist in the pipeline but most importantly, I see animation as a tool that can change the world.

My only question to you is " what's your style and why?" ,let's talk.

Your style will definitely speak to your original design and authentic self.

Mine is CGI.

My youth in animation and post production classes have started, I am your girl and I will be bringing you all the gist....lol.

Till next time.

With Love,

Taiwo Idris.

( aka The Annointed Animator)