Feature Film Animation Explained
Animated feature films are quite an engaging way to spend your time if you love watching movies! They are usually one or two stories that have longer episodes than normal TV shows, which is what really sets them apart.
Many people enjoy feature film animation for its incredible special effects. While some may consider it too flashy and/or expensive, most feel it adds a level of quality to the movie that makes it more interesting to watch.
Another reason why they are so popular is because many people associate them with children’s cartoons, like those mentioned above. Others may compare them to a live action movie because there isn’t much difference between someone sitting in a room writing a script and someone filming a real scene.
This article will talk about the different types of feature film animations, how to identify them, and then discuss some of the best ones online.
The evolution of animation
Over the past century, animated films have gone through many different styles and genres. Cartoons are considered to be one specific style within film-making, but that’s like saying jazz is just an informal type of music!
Cartoon styles typically contain lots of vibrant colors, exaggerated features, and playful characters. Many people associate cartoons with gags, jokes, and humor, so your movie must feature these well if it wants to be seen as a cartoon.
Other terms used to describe animated movies include anime (Japanese) and manga (Asian). Both refer to graphic novels that use illustrations and storytelling techniques adapted from comics.
Feature length animations were once exclusively for children’s entertainment, but today they're very popular. A few examples include Disney movies or any Pixar production.
Key animation stages
Key animation is one of the most important parts of any animator. You may not know it, but every frame of film is made up of key frames. A key frame is when the artist actually draws the face of an actor/character or changes their expression for a specific length of time.
Intermediate artists typically work under directors and writers to help them with writing scenes and supporting characters. The director will tell you that you are free to go about your business, but make sure you keep watching your neighbor’s feet! (That means making sure everything is in order before starting on your next task.)
The writer will give you some dialogue or action points and then you get to pick what happens next. Your job is to figure out how to convey those messages in a way that feels natural and fluid.
As we have discussed before, great actors use a variety of tools to achieve their goal of bringing the character to life. They look like they are reacting to something even if there was nothing happening at the moment.
Actors also pose well so that the audience can relate to them. There are many ways to learn these tricks, but practicing them alone is never enough.
Conversationalists who love cinema should try experimenting with acting by yourself.
Artistic animation
Another form of animated film is artistic, or expressionistic. Artists create their animations by drawing pictures or shapes to achieve an effect they want to show- such as creating a scene with different settings, characters, etc.
Artist can make use of various tools and techniques to do this. For example, someone who works in illustration may draw from life for background material or possibly even design some parts of the movie!
Artists usually focus more on what style they want to put into their movie rather than on how fast or fluidly they can animate something. This means their movies will not be very action packed, but instead focused on telling a story or displaying a style.
Feature films are typically longer than one minute so there is room for lots of detail and analysis of styles. These lengths also mean that viewers have time to give full attention to the artwork being displayed.
3D animation
Recent developments in feature film production include 3D animation. A popular example of this is Pixar’s Inside Out, which was made using advanced computer software to create landscapes, environments, and characters that interact with each other.
This technology has now been adapted for use in feature films. One of the most well-known examples of it is The Jungle Book, where many scenes were filmed as normal but then later converted into 3D via special effects.
Feature length animated movies are becoming more common, too. While not always necessary, 3D can add an interesting element to your movie.
Digital animation
Recent developments in feature film production have shifted away from traditional animators drawing pictures of characters or filming pre-existing scenes to creating whole new worlds that are interactive. This process is called digital animation.
Interactive films use computer software and technology to create an immersive experience for the viewer. The most well known example of this type of filmmaking is probably Pixar’s Toy Story, where you can move around and look at every part of the scene.
At its core, this kind of movie uses special effects and graphics technology to achieve this level of immersion. For instance, when YouTuber Markiplier played Super Mario Odyssey as a kid, he noticed something very cool happening. When he would pick up any item, like a hatchet, his hands would disappear into the screen with the appropriate sounds and vibrance.
This effect was possible due to advanced video game rendering technology and it inspired directors to adopt similar strategies for moving between environments. In fact, some call these types of shots camera tricks because they resemble how cameras work.
Voice acting
As we have seen, screenwriting is an integral part of film writing. But what about voice acting? While script writers create stories through dialogue, actors bring those stories to life by speaking their lines!
Voice acting can be quite difficult because it requires you as the actor to match up with someone else’s style. Just like when you read a book, there is no way for you to know how someone else writes so you must learn how they write and then find a way to apply that to your own style.
That said, most people are not self-conscious when talking so matching their speech pattern can sometimes be the hardest part! Luckily, there are some tricks you can use to perfect this skill if needed.