Progression of an Animated Shot

Animating on 3D computer technology can be a long process. The artist has to model the character, rig it so it can move, insert the basic keyframes for all body parts and develop on them until you get to the final product. This video shows the process an animator at Disney went through to reach the final product:


Progression of an Animated Shot: Gothel & Rapunzel Disney's Tangled from Jamaal Bradley on Vimeo.

In some ways it's less complicated to animate using key frames and repeatedly going over the clip because it allows the animator to see their process clearly and perfect it as they continue to develop their work. This also makes it easier to see if the artist goes wrong and how to fix the problem they've encountered without having to undo their hard work.

After seeing a drawn version of the scene done for the basic timing of the animation, I can see how animating in 3D made a big impact on the film. For example the photo below is a screenshot from the film; The colours look very bright and vivid, which would be harder to achieve using traditional materials.

Picture from the film Tangled

Despite Glen Keanes sketches looking good, this film is the first feature length 3D animation that Disney have ever made, which shows how they are adapting their work to appeal to new audiences. This being said, Disney are best known for their drawn animations, setting high standards in this area of film, so was it necessary to risk delving into the 3D world as well? Considering they are partnered with Pixar (since 2006), they do have a lot of experience behind them and they have proved with the films Tangled and Frozen that they are capable of using this technique. It is also good that they are trying to create fresh stories that have a spin on their old fairytales and are starting to create a new name for themselves.