3D animation is a very popular, modern form of image representation. We use it in cinema films, TV commercials and small product projects. As current technology, programmes and gadgets have changed significantly, the potential for using animation has increased significantly.

The creation of 3D animation consists of several stages. Depending on the complexity of the scenes, the number of objects, the quality or detail of the the animation creation process will last a long or short time. We certainly know from television or cinema many animated entertainment films, especially for children. Usually such films show an unreal world, a fantasy reality in which knights fight dragons or we follow the adventures of invented characters. Such 3D animation is very time-consuming, often requiring the collaboration of multiple animators and graphic designers. Above all, it involves the modelling of 3D elements - a stage that is both extremely creative and difficult.

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Modelling stage

Modelling is one of the stages in the creation of animated films, a very important stage. As an interesting aside, in the world of cinema, popular animated films took months, even years, to make! First of all, a script is created, then the modellers model every element, every thing, character, heroes that will appear in the film. Usually these are completely invented elements and worlds, just look at the very popular fairy tale series 'Shrek' or the Oscar-winning animated film 'Coco'. Both of these productions are very popular and brilliantly done! Thanks to the fact that the modellers showed off great work in creating every element, from the pebbles to the main characters, the animators had great material to put into motion. This is roughly how the work on most of the animations is done:

Modelling - animating

In small productions, such as product animation whether the work logo looks the same.

• First of all, it is necessary to establish with the client exactly what is to be included in the animation, what elements.
• If possible, the customer provides his products or many detailed product images. The more the better! It is important that they show the exact structure, different perspectives, every important detail. All this will help the modeller a lot in making a copy of the product on the computer. After all, the idea is to show the product as faithfully and genuinely as possible. Then the creative fun begins....
• The modeller, using the appropriate software: creates points. He connects the points with lines. Connected lines form figures. Figures (triangles, squares...) are joined together to form whole solids.
• Once he has modelled the solids into specific elements: a tube of cream, a table, a tree or a face, he carefully checks that it looks good from every perspective.
• If the element is ready, perfectly mirrors the real prototype, has exactly the same dimensions, and is at the right scale to the rest of the elements in the composition, it passes into the hands of the animator.

Animation stage

When all the necessary elements are transferred into the virtual world - they are modelled, the animator creates the appropriate compositions from them. He then sets them in motion. In doing so, he gives life to each successive scene, until the final film is created. The most difficult thing in animation is to set a character in motion - be it a human, an animal or a completely invented character. Of course, as always, everything depends on the initial idea of the style and character of the animated film. However, it is the correct representation of the movement of limbs and the showing of emotions on the face that is the most difficult art in animation. Every detail, even the smallest detail, the movement of the smallest muscle, the right mannerism is an indicator of the quality of the animation.

[...] properly representing the movement of limbs and showing emotion on the face is the most difficult art in animation.

Producing 3D animation is a huge art! In both global productions and small projects for companies, you need to demonstrate the right commitment, knowledge and creativity. Each stage in the creation of an animation is very important, all the more so because the quality of the subsequent stages strongly depends on the previous ones. Here, everything should run like clockwork. Modelling 3D elements is a very creative and artistic part of the whole production. Sometimes it takes the most time. The accuracy of the modeller and the right parameters of the things he creates will improve the work in the next stage.