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The History of Computer Animation

By Lisafur33

  • ENIAC: Innovation Out of Necessity

    ENIAC: Innovation Out of Necessity
    Out of the Army's need for calculations involving war strategy, the ENIAC computer was created. It was designed to make these calculations at a faster speed that was not previously available. ENIAC. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/birth-of-the-computer/4/78

  • First Computer Generated Film Clip

    In 1967, two gentlemen named James Shaffer & Charles Csuri creates one of the first short clips using an early form of computer animation to make a hummingbird fly across the screen. (Dates are approximated). Halstead, M. (n.d.). History of Computer Animation. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/9817610/History_of_Computer_Animation

  • Computer Generated Imagery Begins to Evolve

    (Dates may not be exact) In this year, mathematicians & physicists were able to create a cat and make it move about the computer screen using a model based in math. This was then manipulated to create a program where frames were developed to make film. (Dates are approximated). A Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI History). (2011, May 11). Retrieved from http://computerstories.net/a-computer-generated-imagery-cgi-history-698

  • Computer Animation is Used for the First Time in Television

    Computer graphics makes its television debut. (Dates are approximated). A Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI History). (2011, May 11). Retrieved from http://computerstories.net/a-computer-generated-imagery-cgi-history-698

  • 2D Animation Used in a Movie

    2D Animation Used in a Movie
    In the movie Westworld, Michael Crichton uses 2D animation in a scene for all of 2 minutes. (Dates are approximated.) A Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI History). (2011, May 11). Retrieved from http://computerstories.net/a-computer-generated-imagery-cgi-history-698

  • 3D Animation Comes to the Fold

    Despite the evolving effects in the world of computer generated imagery, it wasn't until 1976 that 3D animation entered the film industry in the movie Futureworld. (Dates are approximated) A Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI History). (2011, May 11). Retrieved from http://computerstories.net/a-computer-generated-imagery-cgi-history-698

  • George Lucas Begins His Dream

    George Lucas Begins His Dream
    Star Wars is created! George Lucas releases Star Wars which is the first feature length film to use an extensive amount of CGI. It was also in this year that he began experimenting with other effects of the time to begin his dream of new and improved animation. (Dates are approximated) A Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI History). (2011, May 11). Retrieved from http://computerstories.net/a-computer-generated-imagery-cgi-history-698

  • Pushing the Limits in Film

    Movies like Alien uses 3D rasters for the first time to capture more detail than has been seen in years prior. (Dates are approximated) A Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI History). (2011, May 11). Retrieved from http://computerstories.net/a-computer-generated-imagery-cgi-history-698

  • Lucasfilms Invests & Expands

    Lucas welcomes John Lasseter to the team in it's computer division. It was at this time, he participated heavily in several films, one of which was The Adventures of Andre & Wally B. "Our Story." Pixar. Web. http://www.pixar.com/about/Our-Story.

  • New & Improved Animation Techniques Unfold

    Lucasfilm's studio continues to grow by pushing the boundaries of computer graphics by creating more flexible characters as well as motion blur which will continue to be used in the following years. "Our Story." Pixar. Web. http://www.pixar.com/about/Our-Story.

  • Pixar is Born!

    1986 was an epic year for computer animation and more specifically, George Lucas's studio. It was then that the famed Steve Jobs purchased it and transformed it into the now famous Pixar. "Our Story." Pixar. Web. http://www.pixar.com/about/Our-Story.

  • Pixar Continues to Evolve

    In this year in animation history, Menv (modeling environment) is born. It is with this new system that future Pixar films will be created. This was also the year where a computer animated film is given the Academy Award for the first time. "Our Story." Pixar. Web. http://www.pixar.com/about/Our-Story.

  • Renderman Makes Its Launch

    This is the year that Renderman is released on a commercial basis. This would go on to become the standard in the animation industry. Renderman allows effects to blend realistically with real actions. "Our Story." Pixar. Web. http://www.pixar.com/about/Our-Story.

  • CGI Fully Envelops Film

    The movie Toy Story is released as the first full feature length film to be completely created using all CGI. This film would go on to be a favorite of children and adults alike and received numerous nominations.

  • New Life-Like Technique on the Horizon

    New Life-Like Technique on the Horizon
    George Lucas practices a technique called motion capture to help create the actual motion of actors to then create a computer animated effect with it. This will evolve significantly in the next few years. "Our Story." Pixar. Web. http://www.pixar.com/about/Our-Story.

  • Pixar Has A New Home

    It was in this year that Pixar is officially bought by Disney. "Our Story." Pixar. Web. http://www.pixar.com/about/Our-Story.

  • A New Form of "Capture" is Introduced

    The legendary film Avatar uses performance capture to create what is created one of the most realistic CGI films in history to date. "A Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI History)." Computer Stories. 11 May 2011. Web. http://computerstories.net/a-computer-generated-imagery-cgi-history-698.

  • Old Themes, New Technique

    In present day, old themes such as stop-motion seen in earlier films, are now being recreated using computer animation. As technology changes and evolves, it is likely that computer animation will evolve with it.