2D CutOut Animation:
Cut-out animation is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: cut-out shapes arranged on a flat surface, and manually moved and re-positioned to simulate animation. Cut-outs can be on coloured paper, white paper with drawings on it, even photographs, and can be completely flat or can sometimes be 3D objects, though these venture away from cut-out animation and into stop-motion animation. Many of these, often use cut-out animation to make photographs of people and animals to make it seem as if they're talking or moving, often resulting in a 2D marionette effect.
The actual step-by-step process of cut-out animation is quite related to the process in stop-motion animation, and can be just as tedious because it requires manual intervention. First the scene is created using cut-out objects, laid out flat against the background image. This scene is created on an animation stand, with the camera positioned above the animation stand and positioned to pan or zoom over the scene. The camera is used to capture the scene created with the cut-out shapes.
The scene then has to be adjusted to the next frame in the sequence, much like stop-motion animation / claymation - making it notably different from traditional animation. Rather than working between key frames, cut-out animation has to be produced from beginning to end in sequential order, with each change between frames involving minute adjustments to the assembled pieces before the next image in the sequence is captured on video. Sometimes parts of animated cut-out characters need to be changed out, if the character changes the angle of their position or changes facial expressions. Facial expressions can be drawn on different heads, or the different facial features can be cut-outs themselves, allowing them to be moved or swapped out with different features.
This method of animation is what creates the signature somewhat jerky style, even when animators strive to create completely smooth motion. The cut-out pieces can often seem to jitter and bounce in place.
Commercials often also make use of cut-out animation styles, often using a more time-lapse video effect that shows the animator's hands manipulating and moving around the paper pieces, with the playback accelerated to make the animation progress more quickly. One of the most striking images of cut-out commercials in advertising is the Quiznos commercials that use everything from freaky furry monsters to kitten photographs to create cut-out animations.
Despite the difficulty of cut-out animation, it's still a relatively simple animation style, that's quite popular among novices because it requires little drawing or application of complex animation principles - although in the hands of more advanced animators, the technique can produce some surprisingly spectacular results. Some also choose to add in special effects after filming, using programs like Adobe After Effects.
One of the best examples of cut-out animation is the animated franchise South Park. When South Park was originally created, it was actually filmed using construction paper cut-outs against a backdrop, with the characters pieced together from different pieces and filmed one frame at a time on an animation stand. Later the show was upgraded to computer animation techniques, using programs like Flash to simulate the cut-out animation look and feel, right down to mimicking the slight hint of shadow created by the layers of thicker paper stacked atop each other. Much of the show is actually currently produced in 3D, but rendered to look like 3D while retaining the original cut-out style.
The actual step-by-step process of cut-out animation is quite related to the process in stop-motion animation, and can be just as tedious because it requires manual intervention. First the scene is created using cut-out objects, laid out flat against the background image. This scene is created on an animation stand, with the camera positioned above the animation stand and positioned to pan or zoom over the scene. The camera is used to capture the scene created with the cut-out shapes.
The scene then has to be adjusted to the next frame in the sequence, much like stop-motion animation / claymation - making it notably different from traditional animation. Rather than working between key frames, cut-out animation has to be produced from beginning to end in sequential order, with each change between frames involving minute adjustments to the assembled pieces before the next image in the sequence is captured on video. Sometimes parts of animated cut-out characters need to be changed out, if the character changes the angle of their position or changes facial expressions. Facial expressions can be drawn on different heads, or the different facial features can be cut-outs themselves, allowing them to be moved or swapped out with different features.
This method of animation is what creates the signature somewhat jerky style, even when animators strive to create completely smooth motion. The cut-out pieces can often seem to jitter and bounce in place.
Commercials often also make use of cut-out animation styles, often using a more time-lapse video effect that shows the animator's hands manipulating and moving around the paper pieces, with the playback accelerated to make the animation progress more quickly. One of the most striking images of cut-out commercials in advertising is the Quiznos commercials that use everything from freaky furry monsters to kitten photographs to create cut-out animations.
Despite the difficulty of cut-out animation, it's still a relatively simple animation style, that's quite popular among novices because it requires little drawing or application of complex animation principles - although in the hands of more advanced animators, the technique can produce some surprisingly spectacular results. Some also choose to add in special effects after filming, using programs like Adobe After Effects.
One of the best examples of cut-out animation is the animated franchise South Park. When South Park was originally created, it was actually filmed using construction paper cut-outs against a backdrop, with the characters pieced together from different pieces and filmed one frame at a time on an animation stand. Later the show was upgraded to computer animation techniques, using programs like Flash to simulate the cut-out animation look and feel, right down to mimicking the slight hint of shadow created by the layers of thicker paper stacked atop each other. Much of the show is actually currently produced in 3D, but rendered to look like 3D while retaining the original cut-out style.
Blues Clues:
Using cut-out animation, each frame is made up from layered shapes of paper, fabric and other creative materials. Bright colours and soft shapes are also used to create a child based delivery medium. This technique allowed the show’s animators to replicate scenes and shots much more quickly opposed to using conventional animation techniques (such as drawing each frame by hand).
Objects are scanned in; and in the case of Blue’s Clues, combined with a video cut-out of the show’s host, which is then layered on top.
Objects are scanned in; and in the case of Blue’s Clues, combined with a video cut-out of the show’s host, which is then layered on top.
This animation which I found on YouTube was quite interesting and look quite unique. I like the style of this animation as it was all cut out and put together to create this incredible animation. I also like the colours this person has used to get the right feel of being on a ship and also looks quite quirky.
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This animation was really nice and had an authentic feel towards it. I particularly like the idea that this was made with paper. I really like this animation as it is really stunning with how it has been created. It's also quite special in a way as it is truly a magnificent piece of cut out animation.
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This animation was made using After Effects CS3, I really like this animation, The simplicity of this animation really stunning and also, the leaf work in this animation was really well created. This was a really well, thought out and put together animation and worked really well.
- Here is my own stop motion created animation, by the use of newspapers and magazine articles.