Even today, all Disney animated movies are created using the cel animation technique.
Traditional hand animation, stop motion animation, computer animation, and claymation are all created one frame at a time and require time and attention to detail. While each form differs based on the mediums used, the basic principles of all types of animation revolve around creating a sequence of images to add life to inanimate objects.
Cel Animation
Cel animation, also referred to as classic animation, is the most traditional form of animation. It consists of drawings that progressively change in order animate certain actions. The drawing is traced on a transparent "cel" and then inked and colored in. For each progression of a movement, a new cel is made. Once done, many cels for many different animated objects are layered one on top of the other over a background. Cel animation is very time consuming because it is all done by hand.
Stop Motion
Stop motion animation requires the use of a camera. Animators start by taking a picture of an object and then moving it slightly and taking another picture, until a motion is complete. A single hand wave of a puppet might require two hundred photos, because the animation is created one frame at a time.
Dry-erase whiteboard animation is popular form of stop motion animation because it only requires a whiteboard and dry-erase marker. After taking the initial picture, animators can erase an object and redraw it slightly differently over and over to create animations.
Computer Animation
Computer animation heavily emphasizes the use of 3D computer modeling software and the creation of three-dimensional characters and objects with many geometrical shapes. These characters are manipulated and rendered into animations on a computer.
Claymation
Claymation is a type of stop motion animation. It is unique because the objects of this type of animation are modeled in clay. Clay is very malleable and can be manipulated with precision in between photographed frames.
