A Brief History of GIF Animation

by Kelly Richardson
kelly.richardson@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist

The Graphics Interchange Format, better known as GIF, exploded onto the technology scene in 1987. Today, GIF animations are still responsible for adding motion and excitement to web pages and interactive applications. With apologies to Stephen Hawking, here’s a Brief History of GIF.

Created by Unisys in 1987, GIF animation was the answer to the traditional black-and-white format. Its low data compression ran much more efficiently than previous models and GIF soon drew a devoted following among web designers and graphic design pros. GIF and XBM dominated the web scene for several years until the arrival of JPEG applications, which offered a greater selection of colors.

GIF Animation on the Web

Here are some characteristics of GIF formatting that will give your projects a new life.

• Sharp Images. Using lossless data compression, the file size of an image may be reduced without degrading the visual quality, making it perfect for simple images such as graphics or logos with solid areas of color.
• Applications. GIF animation is primarily used for short, small animations and low resolution film clips for web pages. This also includes a large portion of web page line art such as logos and design elements.
• Palettes. Although the maximum number of colors that can be included in a GIF file is 256, you can select any combination of 256 colors from an entire palette of over one million possible shades and tints.

GIF Supported Applications

Because GIF animation is such a versatile application, there is an entire generation of software products made expressly for GIF components. Learn any one of these applications and you’ll soon see the power of GIF animation on the web.

• AniTuner. This GIF supported application allows you to be creative with the various Windows cursor images that appear on your computer screen.
• Movie + Image MI Thumbnail ActiveX Control. For web pages with thumbnails, this ActiveX control gives you complete control over how these condensed pics are presented.
• Animated Banner. For advertising with impact, Animated Banner uses the GIF application to create banners with movement and character.

GIF animation is still a thriving platform for web developers and graphic design pros. With some basic training, you can make GIF animation a part of your next project and wow your client.

Sources

Animation—Just Enough, Never Too Much
TechRepublic

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Posted on March 11, 2007 at 12:20 PM

Three Top Flash Animation Software Programs Side-by-side

by Kelly Richardson
kelly.richardson@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist

An animation pro is only as good as the software she’s using. Fortunately, the latest cutting edge flash animation programs have enhanced the capabilities of animators significantly. Here’s a closer look at three of the top flash animation software programs and how they differ from one another. Happy animating!

The enhanced features and functionality of the major software suites are big news in the world of flash animation. Each year, animation professionals explore new ways to improve their ability to create and publish award-winning flash series for a variety of media.

Top Flash Animation Suites

Many animators have trouble choosing among the available flash animation packages, however. It’s quite possible to get lost in the barrage of upgrades and features. To help you choose the right program, here are some highlights of three top flash animation software packages.

• Animo 6.0. Created by Cambridge Animation Systems, the new Animo 6.0 flash program is touted as the first software package to seamlessly integrate 2D and 3D animation. Available for Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS X 10.3, Animo allows for creation in every stage of the design process. Famous clients include Warner Bros., DreamWorks SKG, Nelvana, Colorland, and Loonland.
• CelAction2C V3. You’ll love this professional 2D animation software for films, TV series, and commercials. CelAction2C allows animators to design 2D character models on a computer as resolution-independent vector graphics or scanned bitmaps. CelAction is the technology behind the award-winning series The Big Knights and the ground-breaking 2DTV.
• Toon Boom Studio. A 2005 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award recipient, Toon Boom Studio takes its place as a versatile flash animation favorite. Features include drawing digitally, scanning hand-drawn animations, importing existing artwork, lip-syncing animation, setting up the action in a 3D space, and publishing animation projects for TV, HDTV, the Web.

Each of these animation packages can be purchased as a suite of solutions or in pieces for specific functions. Also, they each have a watered down version that is perfect for newbie flash animation pros just getting used to basic operating procedures.

Choosing the best flash animation product boils down to functionality and comfort. Give each one a test drive and see which program best suits your needs. Then expand your flash animation success through training and practice.

Sources

Cambridge Animation Systems
Celaction
Toon Boom Studio

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Posted on March 7, 2007 at 12:16 PM

Cartoon Network to Offer Content Online

by Kirk Bangstad
kirk.bangstad@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist

British Telecom (BT) is planning to revolutionize at-home communications by offering Internet/phone/TV access on their broadband network. To get the ball rolling, they’ve teamed up with some popular television networks who will offer content to subscribers. The Cartoon Network was the latest company to ink a deal.

The next wave of communication is about to hit the general public—the English public, that is. A number of communication companies in England are gearing up to offer high speed internet, voice, and TV service. BT and NTL, England’s largest cable providers, are racing against each other and BskyB, a satellite TV provider, to be the first to offer these new packaged services.

Cartoon Network among Many Content Providers to Ink Deals

To make their services more attractive, these companies need to provide content that people want to see. Along with contracting the services of the Cartoon Network, BT has signed deals with other large networks, including BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music Group, and National Geographic, among others.

These companies want to be the one-stop-shop for communications. By packaging phone, internet, and TV services together, they can charge their customers a higher monthly rate, but make them feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. This may be true, because the customer won’t have to pay three separate companies’ monthly bills that could possibly amount to more than a combined service package.

Cartoons and Other Content are Key

Content is a big issue however, and the public will just have to wait and see what they’ll get with their subscriptions. Cartoon Network is just the first in what BT hopes will be a comprehensive entertainment package.

Source

Cartoon Network/BT Partnership

About the Author

Kirk Bangstad is a singer living in Chicago, IL. Having received his B.A. in Government at Harvard, Kirk previously worked as a management consultant.

Posted on March 4, 2007 at 12:14 PM

Cartoon Animation Teaches Lessons, Captivate Audiences

By Kelly Richardson
kelly.richardson@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist

Growing up you’ve always been able to draw and doodle. It’s a talent that you enjoy, but never took seriously. Here are some cartoon animation works that are making the world a better place to live. And you can be a part of it using your creative abilities.

One of the phenomena that has recharged the cartoon animation field is the use of shorts to teach valuable lessons. From simple concepts for children to microbiological maxims for the prevention of disease, animators are utilizing their skills for the public good. Businesses and organizations are beginning to see the power of animation as a means to convey crucial messages on how to live better.

The Conscience of Cartoon Animation

Here are a few examples from across the globe of how cartoonists are making a difference.

• When Virus Attacks. This cartoon animation short by Purdue microbiologists promotes the discovery of cures for AIDS and virus-related diseases.
• Arab Recycling. Aimed primarily at Middle Eastern children, this cartoon short emphasizes the important of recycling and waste management.
• Magic Journey. In Kyrgyzstan, kids are taught the importance of meeting new people in an animation from UNICEF.

Perhaps you’ve thought of some meaningful messages that your cartoon animations can convey to those who really need it.

The Animation Career Profile According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the demand for animation professionals will increase in the coming decade to fill Internet and television production roles.

• Basic Training. Successful candidates in the field typically earn a four-year animation or graphic design degree from an on-campus or online program.
• Salary Potential. Median annual earnings for cartoon animators were $38,030 in May 2004, with the middle 50% earning between $29,360 and $50,840.
• Employment Outlook. Employment of cartoon animation pros is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through the year 2014.

So the next time someone tells you that your cartoon animation aspirations amount to nothing more than a hobby or pastime, you’ll know better. Professionals in this career field have the potential to teach the world how to live better.

Sources

MSNBC.com
Occupational Outlook Handbook
UNESCO
UNICEF

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Posted on March 1, 2007 at 12:08 PM

Anime Craze Sparks Animation Career Interest

by Kirk Bangstad
kirk.bangstad@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist

Japanese anime and manga are all the rage with kids these days. This interest has created a strong market for trained animators. If you’re an anime and manga fan, consider pursuing a career in animation.

Japanese anime is a style of animation that developed an underground following thirty years ago. Manga is the name of the comic book genre that incorporates the stylized drawing techniques characteristic of anime. Today anime and manga have grown into household names throughout the U.S. Kids from Baltimore to San Francisco and beyond have decided it’s pretty cool to be anime and manga fanatics.

Anime Events Nurture Artistic Side

The Baltimore Sun recently covered a costume making and drawing event at the public library centered on anime and manga. The event attracted a number of children who were all interested in learning how to draw in the style of anime. Many of these teens have submitted anime drawings to art contests and art compilations, and attribute their interest in drawing to the anime subculture. When asked what they want to do when they grow up, many wanted careers in animation.

Drawing Main Component to Successful Animation Career

Drawing is the most important skill needed to become a good animator, and kids who get into drawing at an early age can get a jumpstart on a future animation career. Animation has evolved into a lucrative career path. With more and more computer animated films being released each year, the demand for good animators has increased—as have animation salaries.

Students who can demonstrate drawing talent can gain admittance to top animation schools. This, in turn, can give them an edge in the job market upon graduation.

Source

Anime Craze in Baltimore

About the Author

Kirk Bangstad is a singer living in Chicago, IL. He received his B.A. in Government at Harvard. Kirk previously worked as a management consultant.

Posted on February 26, 2007 at 12:05 PM