NYFA’s Animation School teaches 3D animation and visual effect courses. You need to be able to explain the history and techniques of animation that helped to create and popularize today’s advanced technology. Animation is an essential part of storytelling. Visual effects and 3D animation are two of the most important aspects of storytelling. Understanding other types of animation can allow you to discover new ideas. Animation isn’t just cinema. Graphic novels, comics, and some toys have borrowed from this tradition. There are many inspirations for animation work.

There are five types. As you grow your animation skills, artistic vision, software proficiency, and artistic vision, you will learn to draw from different theories and traditions in animation while you create your unique style.

1. Cel (Celluloid) Animation

This is the original handcrafted cel animation. Before the digital revolution the traditional animation was the standard in the industry.

Traditional animation is a wonderful skill to have. Traditional animation has one major drawback: it can take a long time. But don’t let the tradition-based animation style deter you. There’s plenty to inspire this style: Take a look Aha’s music video “Take on Me” and the incredible Aleksandr Petrov film ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ both based on the Hemingway novel.

2. 2D Animation

This vector-based animation offers two distinct advantages. It is both affordable and simple to access. Basic knowledge of key frames and Adobe Animate CC is necessary.

3. 3D Animation

3D animations and visual effects are simply the future. 3D animation follows different principles. It is more like traditional animation, but with puppetry. Digitally modeling a character is necessary in order to create a skeleton and move it around. You will need to set the frame and let the computer render.

Why is 3D animating so important? If you want to be successful in this industry, you must learn the basics of 3D animating. CGI has become the standard in animation, both for blockbuster films and live-action sequences. NYFA provides training and support for aspiring animators in 3D animation as well as VFX.

4. Motion Graphics

This visual effect technique involves moving graphic components such as text or logos. It’s usually achieved using software such like After Effects.

5. Stop Motion

Stop motion is similar in style to traditional animation. You have clay models to work with and a set to manipulate for animation. Stop motion is also possible with cutouts, silhouettes, puppets and action figures. In the past, live-action movies used stop motion as a special effect. Today, however, 3D animation has replaced stop motion. However, filmmakers such as Tim Burton almost only work with stop-motion. Think Laika Films’s Coraline, ParaNorman and, most recently, Kubo and the Two Strings.

Stop motion can be a fantastic medium for animators. Stop motion can have its own style, which is difficult to replicate in other mediums, and it requires a lot more work than cel animation. Understanding stop motion is also a key to understanding 3D animation and visual effect.