Best 12 Uses of Animation in Various Industries
3D animation is widely used for various needs of customers. Initially, it was mostly used as a part of media and entertainment industry. However today it is used extensively in different fields for a variety of purposes. Before going through its uses, let us get a proper idea about animation and its different types.
What is Animation?
Animation is an imitation of real life motion through moving pictures. Still pictures when made to move at certain number of frames per second lead to an illusion of continuous motion. Since animation was first used, it has come a long way and has evolved digitally. Traditionally, images to be animated are hand drawn on celluloid sheets which are transparent. The celluloid painted images are then photographed for exhibiting through top animation film. Presently, majority of animations are developed with the help of CGI or computer-generated imagery. With 3D animation, you can achieve high level of detailing. 2D animation is commonly used to fill in gaps for 3D motion graphics where low bandwidth does not permit faster renderings in real time. Apart from digital animation methods, stop motion technique is also popular. Objects in 2D and 3D are made and then each movement of theirs is recorded to be played out sequentially. Cutouts of paper, clay figurine, or puppets are commonly used.
The animation effect is essentially accomplished by making images move over sequentially in quick succession. The difference between two consecutive images is so minimal that human eye fails to understand the same during transition. Phi phenomena and beta movement are thought to give rise to an illusion which brings motion graphics to life. The actual reason for illusory movement is yet to be ascertained.
Animations were earlier broadcasted in analogue mode through TV and video players. Now, the electronic devices play out animation in digital mode. To facilitate display of animation on computers, Flash and Gif techniques were initially used.
For most people, animation is just for entertainment as they do not understand different needs of animation in today’s world. However if you look at the uses of animation in a slew of areas, the possibilities are limitless. It can even be considered as a unique branch of technology which can bring matchless value to a trove of business and entertainment activities. One can without any hesitation say that it certainly is because of the advantages of animation in business, that it is quite extensively used everywhere.
The purpose of digital animation in our lives is more than we can realize. Animation is available through short and feature films, special effects, gifs, motion graphics or images, video games, smartphone apps, IT interfaces, or other modes.
Different Types of Animation
Various types of animation have been developed to cater to different situations at various stages of evolution of this powerful medium of expression.
Traditional Animation
This animation type is a long-drawn process. Much time and energy are invested for drawing each frame. For every movement like the flick of a finger or demonstration of an emotion on the face, a number of frames is needed. In animation movies of the past like Tom and Jerry, such tiresome work was involved. Studios like Disney engaged ace animators who would draw each frame with accuracy for producing stunning movies.
2D Animation
2D animation is vector-based just like traditional animation. The difference is that frames are not drawn manually instead a computer program like Flash or Adobe Animate is used for animating the fundamental frames. There is no need of individually drawing each frame. The option of moving just a portion of the animated object or a definite section of a body exists. The interim keyframes get aligned consequently and seamless motion is achieved.
3D Animation
The awesome graphics that you come across in sci-fi or modern movies are the handiwork of 3D animation for which you need advanced 3D modeling software. The artists also need to be technically proficient in leveraging the various tools available for 3D rendering. In this case, frames are not needed for showcasing the movement. Instead, 3D objects are moved on-screen for simulating the real-time motion.
Animation Through Motion Graphics
The motion graphics animation type is radically different from other animated means. Graphical elements are moved around. This method is commonly visible in infotainment videos, film titles, animated logos, promotional campaigns, and advertisements. In majority of cases, text fragments are used for creation of animation.
Stop Motion Animation
Stop motion animation is a method that tests the patience of the artist. There are different types of stop motion animation such as pixilation, Claymation, cut-outs and lego figure. It starts with the photographing of an object in a succession of images . Each image is a representation of a subtle motion of the object. The movements should be carefully filmed in the correct order. This adds a feel of fluidity to the animation while eliminating the chances of sudden scene-breaks.
Cutout and Collage Animation
The cutout and collage animation methods are used collectively for displaying simple animation over television. In cutout animation, models used are cut from craft or drawing paper. The puppets can be drawn or painted over. These cutout portions are placed loosely alongside each other. They can be arranged after connecting with fasteners. After capturing each movement or model pose, repositioning of the model takes place for taking newer shots. In collage animation, the process followed is usually similar to cutout animation. The difference is that parts which have to be animated are cutouts of clipart, magazines, books and images. Different textures are brought within the same frame through collage. In the animation shows broadcasted over television, usually the cutout and collage animation type is used. Well cut out characters are animated using collage method.
Rotoscoping
This animation method is used for capturing human movements realistically. In this case, live footage of the actors is shot followed by drawing of the characters over it. As the live motion of human actors are used for rendering animation, a unique way of storytelling is devised whose style matches other popular animation forms.
Cel Animation
The transparent cellulose acetate sheet is called cel where the animated frame can be painted. As the cel has a see-through feature, it can also be placed on other similar cels. These are then kept against a painted background. After this, the cells along with background are photographed. It takes a lot of time to create a compelling cel animation. Each detail has to be considered and a high level of organization is required. At first, a storyboard is created for visually communicating the plot to the production team. After this, the creation of animatic takes place for testing the efficacy of movie timing. Once the plot and the timeline get approved, the artists create the required backgrounds or animated characters for matching the overall storyline. During this point, recording of the lines by the actors take place.
For most people, animation is just for entertainment as they do not understand different uses of animation in today’s world. However if you look at the uses of animation in a slew of areas, the possibilities are limitless. It can even be considered as a unique branch of technology which can bring matchless value to a trove of business and entertainment activities. One can without any hesitation say that it certainly is because of the advantages of animation in business, that it is quite extensively used everywhere.
However let us find out some of the most important areas where animation is extensively used.
Use of Animation in Different Sectors
Education
Everybody understands that humans have a tendency to remember videos and images more than textual content. So it is natural that animation for educational purposes can be effectively utilized to enhance the reception levels of the students and trainees. As animated videos can effectively improve the quality of reception of the learners, it brings about exceptional changes to the academic capabilities of people without any doubt. Graphics is already used by several education portals and platforms where even the most complex and difficult concepts are shared to the students with greater reception.
Entertainment
There is no doubt there are various uses of animation in multimedia and entertainment and perhaps it is extensively used for entertainment and perhaps it is the greatest use for computer graphics, as we know it. Diverse animation services are offered by several top animation companies to be used for entertainment in a range of platforms such as TV, internet and even on the phones. There are several animation series and movies created for children and adult audience that can be enjoyed as normal live-action movies. Famous animation programs such as Tom and Jerry, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are created to make everyone laugh all the while sharing important life lessons and moral values. Apart from such series, even a range of movies is created targeted at a wider audience that includes children and adults. Studios like Pixar, DreamWorks and DC Animation Studios are primarily involved with making animated movies.
Advertisement
If you consider the benefits of animation in advertising, they are quite astounding. Advertisements are always about creative visualization and hence, it plays an important role in making effective commercials that can capture the imagination of the audience luring them to buy the product being advertised. Apart from using this for creating advertisements on TV, the advent of internet has also led to the creation of a new platform where animated advertisements can be used in search and display advertisements. If you consider advertisements without animation, large portion of the advertisements will be rendered uninspiring and boring.
Marketing
Animation brings lots of creativity to your marketing, which helps you to reach more demographics. An animated 3d demonstration of your product’s benefits instantly and it may be a more effective conversion.
In Scientific Visualization
It is extensively used to create accurate and representative scientific visualization for the purpose of research and analytical studies. It can be effectively used to represent and create 3D models for a wide range of objects for realistic visualizations. An example could be in medical diagnosis where parts of body can be effectively studied and problems can be diagnosed more efficiently.
Creative Arts
Motion graphics is extensively used to demonstrate and generate the skills required to attend a certain level of creative proficiency. For example, an IT course designed for creative arts. Such courses will utilize animation to get the education across the class leveraging various presentations and diagrams created by means of animation.
Gaming
It would be an impossible task to find an industry where animation is as extensively used as in the gaming industry. It is an industry where everything is dependent on animation as most 3D characters for games are created with animation. It is the very basic upon which everything on a game is modeled and created. Also read our article about 3d character modeling practices for gaming industry. All such activities as texturing, lighting and rigging are done by several graphic professionals as per the requirements of the clients
Simulations
Simulations are utilized in areas where real life training of people is dangerous or cannot be controlled. Military training exercises is one of the most adequate examples for this type of application of animation. Simulations are also used to train pilots without having to invest heavily on machines and fuel and without causing any damage to the trainees in case of any mishaps. Simulations are also used by various organizations to predict the outcome of a range of activities.
Medical
Animation is widely used in the medical industry these days. This allows professionals and medical students to visualize the details of the human anatomy with clarity. The use of animation in medical field is increasing over the years. You can view details of the human anatomy through medical animation, even the ones that the naked eyes cannot see. As a result, surgeons are able to explore the replicas of human body, before conducting surgeries. New interns can get effective training on complex techniques of surgery. 3D animation can visually convey the intended message. Hospitals and other healthcare institutions have realized the benefits of 3d medical animation, and are pairing up with reputed platforms providing animation services.
Retail
The retail industry has immensely benefitted from animated videos. The marketers use animations to showcase product attributes to their customers. 3D modeling and animation can interpret the functions of a product, along with its features in a lucid manner. Evidently, the importance of animated videos in the retail industry is rising. Well, certain products are difficult to be photographed. These products may have microscopic features, or you may have to display the object from multiple angles. In these cases, 3D animations come beneficial in demonstrating these product features.
Architecture and Engineering
3D animation has greatly shaped the marketing mechanism of the real estate and engineering industry. In architecture, it is necessary to explain the proposed designs to potential customers in a simplified manner. The importance of 3d animation in architecture lies in the fact, that these can be produced in quick time and reasonable costs. Besides, they simplify the interpretation process of the structure of the buildings. The construction firms can integrate every detail of the proposed plans in these animations. Designers are aware of the versatile application of animation and integrate these while designing the interiors.
Manufacturing
Animations and computer models are used to develop virtual models of various products in the manufacturing sector. These mechanical designs come handy to the business firms, as they can save a good amount of money in developing the products. Besides, they can detect problems in the models and eliminate the same, before developing the actual product. The uses of animation in different fields are increasing. Technological developments are expected to make these animations more sophisticated and effective.
Conclusion
These are some of the most widely acknowledged areas of application in animation. As the technology evolves and advances with some of the best animation software programs on the way, the demand for professional animation service providers has also boosted. It resulted in the increasing need for varied animated content with the use of 2D and 3D animations. Most of the times, it is 3D animation services which gets the credit for the creation of outstanding projects. Yet 2D animation services still holds its importance for crafting projects even if not implemented extensively. Nowadays, there are a lot of platforms successfully handling animation projects in India as well as abroad. So, individuals get a wide range of options for availing these services at their convenience.