Animation can be used

to inspire, educate,
inform and entertain
us, while showing us
the world in a way
we didnt perceive it
before

Industry experts discuss

the current trends and
concepts in animation art.

Animation as an Art Form

Animators are artists as well as entertainers.

They continually explore ways to use the
medium to give us a new window into the
world of our existence. Animation can be used
to inspire, educate, inform and entertain us,
while showing us the world in a way we didnt
perceive it before.
In Animation Mentors special report: Behind
the Animators, (link to report: http://www.
animationmentor.com/report) professional
animators discussed how the art form is
evolving into interesting new areas due in large
part to the huge advances in technology that are
allowing them to do new things.
This got us thinking about the art form and we
decided to ask industry experts who have been
following animation trends for years where they
thought it was headed. Our panel of experts
included Jill Smolin, Computer Animation
Festival Director at SIGGRAPH 2008; Frank
Gladstone, a 35-year animation veteran,

consultant and educator; and Kathy Smith, USC

professor, and chair of the Animation and Digital
Arts school.
Jill Smolin reviewed hundreds of hours of
animation from around the world during
SIGGRAPH. The one thing that struck me was
that most of the submissions were very light and
happy as opposed to dark and heavy as they
have been in previous years, Smolin said.
What she saw as a consistent theme was that
animators found a way to use animation to tell
a powerful story in a way that live action could

www.3dcreativemag.com

page 32

Issue 043 March 2009

Animation as an Art Form

not. When asked to elaborate, she cited the
use of timing, exaggeration and symbolism
in animation to create an environment that
people recognise, but in no way could inhabit.
For example, in Octopodi, which won Best of
Show at SIGGRAPH, a chase scene in Greece
becomes surreal when pink and orange octopi
slingshot through. By taking us into a new
reality, animators can show us characters and
situations in a new light and entertain us in ways
that tickle the imagination, said Smolin. We
love Bugs Bunny and other classic animated
characters because they are complete beings.
They are flawed, fallible, egotistical, funny,
smart, sly, silly and a whole host of other things
that show us who we are.
Kathy Smith has been exploring the bounds of
animation for years and sees animation as a

tool that can help us make sense of our place

in the world. In a quest to illustrate the artistic
process that reflects the way we perceive and
store information, stories and ideas, Smith has
created experimental animation that plays with
the ideas of narrative structure and perception.
I believe the art form of animation developed
as a way to reflect our own physical and mental
evolutionary process animation [is] a powerful
medium for conveying complex ideas, dreams
and emotion, said Smith. Her most recent work,
Slippages, is on display now (link Slippages to
this url: http://www.kathymoods.org/slippages/
slippages.html).
Frank Gladstone noticed that there was more
animation being created than ever by more
people because technology has gotten so

www.3dcreativemag.com

page 33

Issue 043 March 2009

Animation as an Art Form

accessible, affordable, and easy to use. He
calls it the democratisation of the art form.
Its exciting because we are seeing a lot of
diversity in points of view, and were seeing
animation in more venues besides feature films
and TV. There are games, of course, but also
Webisodes, flash animations, art installations
and independent creations of all kinds.
The downside of this democratisation, according
to Gladstone, is that a lot of people are learning
how to use the technology without mastering
the artistic skills necessary for making good
films. If professionals dont begin by learning
the basics such as the nuance of performance
and cinematics, and dont have the artistic
fundamentals required to make good artistic
decisions, they will be unable to produce great

amazing and ranged from funny, to evocatively

is a developing convergence of 2D and 3D

results, he said. As an educator and consultant,

beautiful and had improved tremendously from

techniques as well.

he often works with schools and studios to help

2000. Its a huge difference. Now you have the

train new recruits in fundamental principles, as

ability to do some really cool stuff with Flash. In

All the arts whether its animation, literature,

well as helping them understand that animation

fact, much of what you see on Nickolodean and

dance, painting or sculpture are about telling a

is an art form and, in order to get good at it,

the Cartoon Network today is created in Flash.

story or making a statement. This is what gives

a piece of art resonance and meaning, said

animators need to develop as artists.

Another trend Smolin noticed at SIGGRAPH

Gladstone said he noticed a resurgence of

Gladstone.

was that a lot of great animation was being

old technologies such as stop frame and

created in Flash. The work was unbelievably

2D animation. Its an exciting time now as

The animation art form has an interesting

fantastic! she said. The storytelling was

technology gets better, more intuitive, and there

history. As we look back to early animations

like Steamboat Willie (link to youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEEaT_
UQnVM&feature=related), one of the first sound
cartoons created 80 years ago, we can see that
even then creative storytelling and engaging
characters are what make this piece so special.
As technology continues to evolve and give us
new tools, animators will do well to remember
that. As artists, they will be challenged to use
these new tools to find new ways to tell us
entertaining stories, and show us the world in a
brand new light.

Kris Larson
For more information please visit:
http://www.animationmentor.com
Article courtesy:
AnimationMentor.com

www.3dcreativemag.com

page 34

Issue 043 March 2009

Issue 043 March 2009

Interviews

Grzegorz Jonkajtys
Andrew Hickinbottom

Articles

Animation as an Art Form

- Animation Mentor

Tutorials

NEW!!! Gothic Chrush

Interior Creation
Part 2: Sculpting a Gargoyle in
ZBrush
Speed Sculpting:
Fantasy - Orc
ZBrush Character Creation
Series: Part 7: Vampire

Galleries

Articles

another 10 of the best Images

from around the world including
work from:
Laurent Pierlot
Sven Juhlin
Patrick Beaulieu
plus more!!!

Galleries

Making Ofs

y
bottom and find out wh
artist, Andrew Hickinfreelance artist...
rld of British character
We delve into the wo daily 9-5 routine in favour of becoming a
he broke away from his

Interviews

Grzegorz Jonkajtys & Andrew Hickinbottom

Animation as an Art Form
Patrick Beaulieu, Laurent Pierlot & David Moratilla Amago, plus more!

Patrol
by Henry Lee (Pashkov)
Classical Girl
by Wang Shiyong

Tutorials

ZBrush Character Creation Series: Part 7: Vampire, plus more!

Making Ofs

Classical Girl by Wang Shiyong, plus more!

3dcreative

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