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November 1998
Create Magazine
September 2001
Choosing an Animation Style Based on What’s Right, Not on What’s Possible
Excerpts:
Once a decision has been made to animate a project the choice between cel, computer graphics (CG), claymation or a combination of different techniques needs to be determined. This may sound like a dubious dilemma, but it’s very important when dealing with clients. Because of the proliferation and publicity of computer graphics in animation, many clients think that all animation is computer generated and that it’s cheaper. They are wrong on both counts.
Cel animation is ideal for cartoons and character animation; while, computer animation is best suited for logos, realistic objects, product shots, special effects, and certain types of characters. CG and cel animation are also generally equivalent in budgets. This statement is echoed by Pixar’s John Lasseter in the January 5, 1998 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.
There are certain types of projects that are best animated by hand and others that are suited to computer animation. Artistic problems crop up when a project is animated without regard to artistic style and subjective issues, or just because it’s possible, not because it’s right for the project.
