Animation Definition and 101 Threads

Animation is a method in which figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most animations are made with computer-generated imagery (CGI). Computer animation can be very detailed 3D animation, while 2D computer animation (which may have the look of traditional animation) can be used for stylistic reasons, low bandwidth, or faster real-time renderings. Other common animation methods apply a stop motion technique to two and three-dimensional objects like paper cutouts, puppets, or clay figures.
Commonly, the effect of animation is achieved by a rapid succession of sequential images that minimally differ from each other. The illusion—as in motion pictures in general—is thought to rely on the phi phenomenon and beta movement, but the exact causes are still uncertain.
Analog mechanical animation media that rely on the rapid display of sequential images include the phénakisticope, zoetrope, flip book, praxinoscope, and film. Television and video are popular electronic animation media that originally were analog and now operate digitally. For display on the computer, techniques like animated GIF and Flash animation were developed.
Animation is more pervasive than many people know. Apart from short films, feature films, television series, animated GIFs, and other media dedicated to the display of moving images, animation is also prevalent in video games, motion graphics, user interfaces, and visual effects.The physical movement of image parts through simple mechanics—for instance moving images in magic lantern shows—can also be considered animation. The mechanical manipulation of three-dimensional puppets and objects to emulate living beings has a very long history in automata. Electronic automata were popularized by Disney as animatronics.
Animators are artists who specialize in creating animation.

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  1. H

    Is DNA Animation Truly Real-Time?

    Nicely done. Supercomputer? They say the animation is real time but wouldn't the real thing be much quicker?
  2. P

    MATLAB Animating Vector Addition in Matlab (Looking for improvements)

    Here is my code thus far and it seems to work (I've attached a gif as well so hopefully that works) va1 = [50*cos(pi/3), 50*sin(pi/3)]; %Two different vectors both starting from the origin vb1 = [20*cos(pi/6), 20*sin(pi/6)]; iterator = linspace(1,100,100); %100 iterations for the animation...
  3. S

    Python Animating 2D Heat Map with Varying Time Intervals

    Consider the following heat map: from scipy import special import numpy as np import matplotlib.pyplot as plt u0=200 r0x=25 r0y=25 rmax=2.5 alpha=2 t=0.575 y, x = np.meshgrid(np.linspace(0, 50, 100), np.linspace(0, 50, 100)) r=np.sqrt((x-r0x)**2+(y-r0y)**2)...
  4. Nuwebwave

    Please mention all physics animation videos that you know

    I want to watch and learn more n more physics concepts with the help of animations, please tell me where can i get more n more videos like this. Such as bernoulli's theorem
  5. C

    Python Solving 1-D Schrodinger Equation in Python (Scipy) Numerically

    I've tried to make an animation using python to demonstrate the 1-D simple harmonic oscillator and step potential examples. Hope that it can be useful for some of you. Have fun~ :) https://blog.gwlab.page/solving-1-d-schrodinger-equation-in-python-dcb3518ce454 By the way, If you are...
  6. anorlunda

    B How Do Black Hole Animations Capture Optical Effects?

    Mind bending. It makes our attempts to describe such things using words on PF seem so futile. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210416.html
  7. PeroK

    Graphics and Animation software recommendations

    I've been learning Python and I've got a program to generate Knight's tours on a chessboard. The output is in the format A1-C2 ... What software would I need, for example, to produce an animation of the knight hopping round a chessboard?
  8. Hopf fibration -- fibers and base

    Hopf fibration -- fibers and base

    An animation of fibers in the Hopf fibration over various points on the two-sphere. For a complete description, see http://www.nilesjohnson.net/hopf.html A v...
  9. Russ Edmonds

    I Tippe Top Animation: Real-Time Motion Simulation

    Blender tippe top animation displays motion at 1/33 real time. The location – rotation keyframes were generated by a 6dof tippe top simulation coded in Python. This simulation includes: Full 6dof equations of motion. Stem contact dynamics. Modified Coulomb friction. Coefficient of...
  10. Grinkle

    B Help Interpreting SR Animation: Human-Scale Story

    At the very bottom of this page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minkowski_diagram is the below animation. My understanding is that events in the lower triangle are events that can have had an influence on my present, they are in my past-lightcone. I understand that events must move in and...
  11. J

    I Light Clock Animation App: Find, Start & Feedback

    I have written a Javascript/HTML5 app that simulates a Light Clock as a way to understand the kinematics of relativity. It shows special and general relativistic effects, and how they are related. I would appreciate any feedback on the app, it's correctness, and it's usefulness as a learning...
  12. P

    B Animation of a standing wave formed by components from a free end

    This is not a homework question, it is for my understanding so please do not answer this question with a question. I have found this great animated gif but it appears to be for a fixed end (notice wave inversions at the end). Has anyone seen a similar one for a free end? Many Thanks
  13. anorlunda

    How can I create animated videos with limited artistic skills?

    I would like to produce an animated video to demonstrate some 3D physical motions. I'm a bit intimidated. My artistic skills never got beyond stick men. I have zero experience with video, or animation. I'm worried about the learning curve. My specific ambition is to depict an array of...
  14. Manasan3010

    3D Animation Software used in Physics Videos by Eugene Khutoryansky

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ0yBou72Lz9fqeMXh9mkog
  15. SchroedingersLion

    I Animation of the Drude-Lorentz model of electrons

    Good evening guys, I have to give a talk to my thesis on Friday, and I would like to show a simple animation of electrons moving in a metal according to the Drude-Lorentz model. In this model, the electrons are classical particles that elastically scatter at spatially fixed atomic cores which...
  16. Danny Boy

    Animation using matplotlib query

    I am trying to animate a plot of two distinct points (blue and green points) moving about the complex unit circle using Python's Matplotlib library. The problem I am having is that the animation does not remove and update the previous data points but rather sequentially smears it on the unit...
  17. JD_PM

    Python How to make an animation in SymPy using Python

    I want to make an animation where a (red) ball departs from (0,0) and draws the function ##f(x) = sin x## This is what I know: How to plot ##f(x) = sin x## To do so I followed instructions from the worksheet. Actually I'd have done: But I guess they want to me to it in that way because...
  18. G

    Fortran Best 3D Animation Software for Numerical Simulation Data

    hello everyone, I`m trying to make 3d animation from numerical simulation data. Can someone recommend good software for me Thanks in advance
  19. F

    Need Forum for Outlandish Science Ideas

    Hello, Does anyone know of a science forum that deals with far out, controversial theories & ideas? This would be similar to the science fiction forum here at PF but may even be more outlandish, however postings would receive serious consideration. I have made some simple animations that I...
  20. avischiffman

    B Real-Life Demonstrations of Black Holes for Video

    Hi, I am working on a video, and I was wondering if any of you knew of some real-life demonstrations I can do about black holes? So far I have the gravity well, and the balloon covered by foil that you crush to show same mass but denser. My video is about the anatomy of a black hole, so I cover...
  21. P

    I Free Precession animation - body frame to space frame

    I'm creating an animation of free precession of a cuboid in GeoGebra. The axis of rotation is not one of the principal axes (but does go through center of mass). Since it's much easier to find the angular velocity and L in the body frame, I defined the e1, e2 and e3 axes (as opposed to the...
  22. stickman76

    I Graphic Anim of Special Theory of Relativity: Exploring Interrelationships

    There is a relationship between each of the mathematical values in each of the paradoxes with regard to each observers. There is obviously also a relationship between every situation we study in the Special Theory of Relativity. The Lorentz Transformations obviously prove this. So, I began to...
  23. Ray Fischer

    Create Dynamic Geometry Video of Torbus Animation

    Can a computer dynamic geometry video be made like this frame animation of a Torbus; if so who may I contact to get it made? I have a Mathematica dynamic drawing ( change the kerf dimensions) of the Torbus but I cannot rotate the twisted ring in the Torus.
  24. kolleamm

    I Arm reaching algorithm determine angles

    I'm trying to find an algorithm for extending an arm as close as possible to an object. There's two bones the upper arm bone and the lower arm bone, and three points : shoulder , elbow, hand How can I figure out the closest possible configuration towards a fourth point which is the object it's...
  25. M

    What is the best way to make 3D animations

    Hi, i am 3D Artist and create 3D visualizations like this. Now I want generate a 3D animation about science fiction like star wars. Can I create a 3D animation about Star wars or I need a license of lucasarts. Thanks.
  26. A

    I Exploring Quantum Mechanics: A Visual Journey

    This is an interesting QM video. It would be interesting to get opinions about it from the QM students and experts alike.
  27. P

    Mathematica QM Animation of delta potential

    I'm trying to use the Animate function on Mathematica to show a gaussian wave packet passing through a delta potential. I'm quite new to Mathematica and this is by far the hardest thing I've had to do so please bear with me. I effectively want to solve the integral: ## \phi_k(x) = \left\{...
  28. mktsgm

    B Animation to explain the balance of celestial bodies of the universe

    I am trying to find an animation (from the internet) explaining the intricate balance of heavenly bodies (stars, planets, satellites, comets etc) in their own orbits. What happens if there is a sudden change in anyone of characteristics of those heavenly bodies. Is a small perturbation in...
  29. jedishrfu

    Great YouTube Animation of Earthquakes over Time

    This is a great video animation of earthquake activity across the Earth over time:
  30. H

    MATLAB MATLAB: Plot Contour at 0km Depth

    I'm trying to generate contours that plot with the animation using contour(X,Y) but it's not quite working. I only need it to be in the x-y plane at 0km depth (see picture for greater clarification) % A script to plot two 3D waves. clear %Define the total time for simulation T_total=10; %Set...
  31. Masontc

    I Does this concept have a name? (looping/overlapping time)

    I'm a student working on a short experimental animation. I've always had a fascination with the number 24 because it's divisible by 6 four times and divisible by 8 three times... you can add different numbers at a different rate and end up at the exact same number after a specific amount of...
  32. R

    Man or animation popping in website

    I was going through a website and a man popped out from side in screen. What is this effect called generally? The man stopped talking when I clicked on him but it was not a video. Anybody has gone through this effect?
  33. Greg Bernhardt

    B How was the KSN 2011d Supernova Detected?

    http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6166 Caught for the First Time: The Early Flash of an Exploding Star by Greg Bernhardt posted Mar 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM My question is what exactly were they looking for when analyzing stars to determine one that was about to blow?
  34. edguy99

    Adding expectation values to a CHSH animation

    An animation of the CHSH experiment to generate correlated photons is at: http://www.animatedphysics.com/games/photon_longdistance_chsh.htm @georgir has a program to show the calculations using the formula for photon detection return Math.random() < (Math.cos(r(p-a)*2)+1)/2; yields the...
  35. Tony Stark

    What are the top tools for creating animated videos on profiles?

    Which are the most common tools that can be used to create such videos ?
  36. kelvin490

    MATLAB MATLAB how to automatically read a number of files

    I would like to plot a number of 3D graphs from different data files. For example I am using fid = fopen('SS 1.dat','r'); to read the first file and then plot a graph. How to set the program to change the name to 'SS 2.dat' automatically? Also for the tenth file the name becomes 'SS 10.dat'...
  37. S

    Which Free Program Can Animate a Moving Particle for a Presentation?

    Hello! Can you give me an advice about a program (free program probably) where i can program an animation of a moving particle along some surface for a presentation? Now I'm trying to use Animate in Wolfram Mathematica, but it is not, what I'm looking for from the design point of view... Thank you!
  38. lilknaap

    Reflection coefficient S11 vs Resonator animation

    Hello, I'm trying to do an animation of a photon being absorbed by a resonator vs. the corresponding S11 plot being plotted against frequency. Can anyone give suggestions on how to go about this. As the photon goes through Vin, at other frequencies it will be reflected and probed at Vout. This...
  39. edguy99

    Insights Adding Relativity to Gravity Animation | edguy99

    edguy99 submitted a new PF Insights post https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/adding-relativity-to-a-gravity-animation/ https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/relativityanimation-80x80.png...
  40. N

    Electronics animation for learning about circuits

    I am a mech engineer. Basically i want to start learning electronic circuits with interactive animation like how flip flop works etc. Can suggest a cd to purchase.
  41. edguy99

    Insights Gravity animation: lessons learned - comments

    edguy99 submitted a new PF Insights post https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/gravity-animation-lessons-learned-insight-gained-new-questions/ https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/gravity_animation-80x80.png...
  42. B

    MHB How Did BENBOBBY Celebrate Pi Day with Animation?

    I created this animation to celebrate Pi Day yesterday and thought Id share it with you guys :) BENBOBBY.
  43. Matt Whibley

    Looking for feedback on physics animations

    Hi all I've recently begun developing short (~1 minute) physics animations and would appreciate any constructive feedback. I'm currently uploading them to my Youtube channel here. The purpose of these animations is to work alongside existing teaching. They are not designed or equipped to teach...
  44. matqkks

    MHB Fourier Series Animation Resources for Motivating Students

    Are there any resources which show Fourier series approximating a given waveform? I am looking for examples which have a real impact on students and provides motivation. I am trying to find something visual but it could be just audio based. Something to start the topic of Fourier series so that...
  45. matqkks

    Fourier Series Animation: Examples to Inspire Students

    Are there any resources which show Fourier series approximating a given waveform? I am looking for examples which have a real impact on students and provides motivation. I am trying to find something visual but it could be just audio based. Something to start the topic of Fourier series so that...
  46. Spinnor

    Animation Shows One Year of CO2 Swirling Through the Atmosphere

    From NASA, a year in the life of Earth's CO2, at, http://www.wired.com/2014/11/nature-run-co2-visualization/
  47. T

    3D Computer Animation to Physics?

    I have a BFA in computer animation and currently work in that field, specifically game development. Since I was in high school, I've had an interest in Physics. Lately, I started brushing up on my math (the highest level I took in college was Precal) and decided that I wanted to start studying...
  48. W

    XML Animation List Duration not working

    I am creating a border for an image view using xml. This is what I have: <animation-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" > <item android:duration="200"> <shape android:shape="rectangle" > <stroke...
  49. D

    Is there an animation that potrays overall look of orbitals?

    And how electrons behave in each separate orbital? I was told that, in case of Boron, electron in 3p orbital will not be confined to the imaginary region of the 3p orbital (3px orbital, whose shape resembles a bowtie), but instead will be moving around the nucleus as if its movement was confined...
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