3D Animation. Historical Research

Animation has been around for much longer than we think in terms of traditional artwork, not digital. The subject of 'motion' became a fascination across many countries in history. The first initial discovery of motion within drawing was in 1600 BC when and Egyptian Pharaoh named Rameses II built a temple for the goddess Isis which had 110 columns. Ingeniously, each Clem had a painted figure of the goddess in a progressively changed position.  To horsemen or charioteers riding past, the optical illusion gave the impression that Isis actually moved. Another in recorded history, is when the ancient Greeks decorated all sorts of ornate pots with figures on them poised in successive stages of action. The result in turning or spinning the pot would result in an animated sequence of that figure.

However, as this form of art became more recognizable, it was then where artist's took different measures in order to capture motion in a more appealing way. In 1824 Peter Mark Roget discovered the vital principles, 'the persistence of vision'. This principles rests on the fact that our eyes temporarily  retain the image of anything they've just seen. If this wasn't so, we would never get the illusion of an unbroken connection in a series of images. Roget's principles quickly dawned various optical contraptions, such as the Thaumatrope. A circular piece of cardboard with two sides showing one of a cage and the other of bird, also attached to two pieces of string either side. While pulling or spinning the cardboard whilst holding the two ends of the string, the bird will appear to sit inside the cage. This is due to the same principle that Roget discovered about our eyes registering the last image we saw, so here an illusion is created.

From this, it became evident that animating imagery was a very compelling way to produce artwork. It was from the Thaumatrope that the Americans produce the 'Wheel of Life' or also know as the 'Zoetrope' in 1867. 'Zoe' in Greek meaning life, and trope meaning turn, which evidently gave the name to 'The Wheel of Life'. This was a contraption that had a sequence of poised characters inside a cylinder with small slits around the outside. It would then be positioned on a stand and be spun around. The speed in which the cylinder moves gives off the illusion that the character inside is actually moving, although it really wasn't. This is an early example of how timing creates animation through a collection of 'stills'.

It was from these contraptions that dawned animations today, through the use of traditional and digital practices. Even today items such as flip books are still used to show motion within drawings. It is mainly occurred for productions in 2D format, but can also be used to demonstrate a storyboard for 3D creations too. It is how we today have managed to sustain animated imagery within all forms of entertainment, from movies to video games. In reality not a lot has changed since the Egyptians to now! a lot of it is still drawing frame by frame.