Animation

Synonyms:
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Animation is a term used to describe a variety of filmmaking techniques by which subjects are manipulated from frame to frame to create the illusion of movement. It is distinct from live-action filmmaking in that the subjects of the image are not actually animate, as human actors are.

Types of Animation

There are many methods of animation.

• Traditional Animation, which is done by drawing frames by hand on paper or cels. This method has waned in popularity among major studios over the past few decades.
• Computer Animation, which is done by manipulating models in a computer program. This can be used for 2D animation or 3D animation.
• Stop-Motion Animation, which done by moving real puppets by hand one frame at a time. This includes claymation (e.g. Aardman) and cutout animation (e.g. South Park's pilot).

Fan Animations

Just as fannish writers and artists create works in their preferred mediums, many animators create animated fanworks for their favorite properties. Any of the above animation methods can and have been used for fan animations.

A handful of "re-animated" projects have popped up in various fandoms over the years; the idea is that a large group of animators is each given a brief clip of a larger animated work and re-animate the clip in their own style, after which the clips are combined into a recreation of the whole original work.

Related to fan animations are fan animatics, which consist of storyboard-style illustrations.