Types of 3D Animations in Gaming That You Need to Know
Game Animation
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March 13, 2024
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3 min read
Table of Contents
3D animation enables animators to create worlds that are impossible to film, transporting viewers to worlds they have never seen before.
The animation method is constantly improving and breaking new ground, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. Unlike typical 2D animation, 3D animation adds height, width, and depth to the subjects, resulting in lifelike details and realistic textures.
Some of the most memorable films we grew up watching - Up, Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Lego Movie, to name a few - were made with 3D animation, primarily by Disney and DreamWorks. Beyond movies, 3D animation technology is employed in commercials, games, and architecture.
Some will say it's the techniques, such as motion capture or cel-shading. Others may argue that it is for a specific purpose, such as an educational video or cartoon.
Finally, one may argue that it is the video's visual style: whether it is reminiscent of Tim Burton, Disney, or SpongeBob. There are no right or incorrect opinions here, only different points of view.
Types of 3D Animation
Before you can decide which animation type is best for your needs, you must first answer a basic question: what are the many types of 3D animation? To put it simply, there are several instances of 3D animation kinds, and we haven't included them all. However, we shall discuss the most popular ones.
Digital 3D
CGI (computer-generated imagery) is the most common style of animation. From the dynamic lightsaber duel in Star Wars to the deadly sandworm in Dune, CGI can be found in practically any modern media. The use of digital 3D can be as easy as adding motion graphics to existing footage or creating entirely new pieces from scratch.
While art comes to mind first, digital 3D has numerous applications in education. For example, you can show your students the insides of a human body without having to cut someone in half, which avoids the moral and legal ramifications.
Furthermore, if you want to market something, special effects can be easily incorporated into an advertisement. You can go as far as you want, from merely displaying a model of your product to going fully insane, as Verizon did.
Interactive 3D
Interactive 3D is commonly linked with video games, but it is not limited to those. The name says for itself: it's a 3D animation that you can interact with in real-time. Their applications in marketing are limited, but they are essential in education, allowing you to simulate everything from autos to planes to open-heart procedures.
Interactive 3D animation provides a far superior experience for the viewer/player, but it takes significantly more work for developers to create a convincing environment that achieves complete immersion.
Virtual Reality 3D
Virtual reality 3D is a natural extension of interactive 3D technology. It provides a far more immersive experience by allowing viewers to interact with genuine things in 3D. This will allow users to better understand the depth of things and space, resulting in a far better gaming or learning experience.
Stop Motion
Stop motion animation has several subtypes that all function on the same principle: it is a series of static images played in fast succession to create the appearance of movement.
This has a wide range of applications, including marketing and education. Stop-motion animation takes significantly longer to create than typical CGI animation but has a distinct artistic approach. The cost is comparable to CGI animation.
Claymation, as the name implies, uses a variety of clay figures in the animation process. Wallace and Gromit is the best-known example of claymation.
Cel shading (toon shading)
Cel shading is an intriguing 3D animation technique that combines 2D and 3D elements. It takes 3D objects and renders them in a 2D style as if they were drawn by hand.
The award-winning Arcane animated series is an excellent example of this 3D animation style. It employs a variety of techniques, giving it a distinct art style, although it all began with cel shading and grew from there.
Motion Capture
Motion capture, or mocap, is a sort of 3D computer animation that records real actors and objects and converts them into animation. This is accomplished by placing specific sensors on the performers, recording their actions, and then turning them into a finished animation.
This strategy is common in movies and video games. For example, the award-winning God of War: Ragnarök makes extensive use of motion capture. You would suspect they were using it for humanoid characters and some objects, but seeing the making of Fenrir really blew our minds.
3D Animation Process
The 3D animation process starts from pre-production, modeling, rigging, and texturing, rendering, and post-production. Let’s take a look at the following:
-
Pre-Production
This phase involves conceptualizing the animation, including storyboarding, character design, and creating a script or outline.
-
Modeling
Artists create 3D models of characters, objects, and environments using specialized software. These models serve as the foundation for the animation.
-
Rigging
Rigging involves adding a digital skeleton to the 3D models, allowing animators to manipulate them like puppets. This step is crucial for creating lifelike movements.
-
Animation
Animators bring the 3D models to life by adding movement, expressions, and actions. This process can involve keyframe animation, motion capture, or a combination of both.
-
Texturing and Lighting
Artists add textures, colors, and lighting effects to the 3D models to enhance their appearance and create a more realistic environment.
-
Rendering
Rendering is the process of generating the final images or frames of the animation. This step can be time-consuming, as it involves calculating lighting, shadows, and other visual effects.
-
Post-Production
In this final stage, artists add finishing touches to the animation, such as sound effects, music, and visual effects. The animation is then edited and prepared for distribution.
By following these steps, 3D animators can create immersive and engaging animations for various applications, including film, television, video games, and more.
Hire 3D Animators for Your Game Development
Our expert 3D animators will help you elevate your game. Bring your characters and places to life with engaging animations that improve gaming immersion. Our team specializes in developing movements and expressions to enhance the depth and realism of your game experience. Don't settle for static visuals—hire our 3D animators and improve your game production immediately.
Table of Contents
3D animation enables animators to create worlds that are impossible to film, transporting viewers to worlds they have never seen before.
The animation method is constantly improving and breaking new ground, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. Unlike typical 2D animation, 3D animation adds height, width, and depth to the subjects, resulting in lifelike details and realistic textures.
Some of the most memorable films we grew up watching - Up, Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Lego Movie, to name a few - were made with 3D animation, primarily by Disney and DreamWorks. Beyond movies, 3D animation technology is employed in commercials, games, and architecture.
Some will say it's the techniques, such as motion capture or cel-shading. Others may argue that it is for a specific purpose, such as an educational video or cartoon.
Finally, one may argue that it is the video's visual style: whether it is reminiscent of Tim Burton, Disney, or SpongeBob. There are no right or incorrect opinions here, only different points of view.
Types of 3D Animation
Before you can decide which animation type is best for your needs, you must first answer a basic question: what are the many types of 3D animation? To put it simply, there are several instances of 3D animation kinds, and we haven't included them all. However, we shall discuss the most popular ones.
Digital 3D
CGI (computer-generated imagery) is the most common style of animation. From the dynamic lightsaber duel in Star Wars to the deadly sandworm in Dune, CGI can be found in practically any modern media. The use of digital 3D can be as easy as adding motion graphics to existing footage or creating entirely new pieces from scratch.
While art comes to mind first, digital 3D has numerous applications in education. For example, you can show your students the insides of a human body without having to cut someone in half, which avoids the moral and legal ramifications.
Furthermore, if you want to market something, special effects can be easily incorporated into an advertisement. You can go as far as you want, from merely displaying a model of your product to going fully insane, as Verizon did.
Interactive 3D
Interactive 3D is commonly linked with video games, but it is not limited to those. The name says for itself: it's a 3D animation that you can interact with in real-time. Their applications in marketing are limited, but they are essential in education, allowing you to simulate everything from autos to planes to open-heart procedures.
Interactive 3D animation provides a far superior experience for the viewer/player, but it takes significantly more work for developers to create a convincing environment that achieves complete immersion.
Virtual Reality 3D
Virtual reality 3D is a natural extension of interactive 3D technology. It provides a far more immersive experience by allowing viewers to interact with genuine things in 3D. This will allow users to better understand the depth of things and space, resulting in a far better gaming or learning experience.
Stop Motion
Stop motion animation has several subtypes that all function on the same principle: it is a series of static images played in fast succession to create the appearance of movement.
This has a wide range of applications, including marketing and education. Stop-motion animation takes significantly longer to create than typical CGI animation but has a distinct artistic approach. The cost is comparable to CGI animation.
Claymation, as the name implies, uses a variety of clay figures in the animation process. Wallace and Gromit is the best-known example of claymation.
Cel shading (toon shading)
Cel shading is an intriguing 3D animation technique that combines 2D and 3D elements. It takes 3D objects and renders them in a 2D style as if they were drawn by hand.
The award-winning Arcane animated series is an excellent example of this 3D animation style. It employs a variety of techniques, giving it a distinct art style, although it all began with cel shading and grew from there.
Motion Capture
Motion capture, or mocap, is a sort of 3D computer animation that records real actors and objects and converts them into animation. This is accomplished by placing specific sensors on the performers, recording their actions, and then turning them into a finished animation.
This strategy is common in movies and video games. For example, the award-winning God of War: Ragnarök makes extensive use of motion capture. You would suspect they were using it for humanoid characters and some objects, but seeing the making of Fenrir really blew our minds.
3D Animation Process
The 3D animation process starts from pre-production, modeling, rigging, and texturing, rendering, and post-production. Let’s take a look at the following:
-
Pre-Production
This phase involves conceptualizing the animation, including storyboarding, character design, and creating a script or outline.
-
Modeling
Artists create 3D models of characters, objects, and environments using specialized software. These models serve as the foundation for the animation.
-
Rigging
Rigging involves adding a digital skeleton to the 3D models, allowing animators to manipulate them like puppets. This step is crucial for creating lifelike movements.
-
Animation
Animators bring the 3D models to life by adding movement, expressions, and actions. This process can involve keyframe animation, motion capture, or a combination of both.
-
Texturing and Lighting
Artists add textures, colors, and lighting effects to the 3D models to enhance their appearance and create a more realistic environment.
-
Rendering
Rendering is the process of generating the final images or frames of the animation. This step can be time-consuming, as it involves calculating lighting, shadows, and other visual effects.
-
Post-Production
In this final stage, artists add finishing touches to the animation, such as sound effects, music, and visual effects. The animation is then edited and prepared for distribution.
By following these steps, 3D animators can create immersive and engaging animations for various applications, including film, television, video games, and more.
Hire 3D Animators for Your Game Development
Our expert 3D animators will help you elevate your game. Bring your characters and places to life with engaging animations that improve gaming immersion. Our team specializes in developing movements and expressions to enhance the depth and realism of your game experience. Don't settle for static visuals—hire our 3D animators and improve your game production immediately.
Written By:
Schouzib I.
Content Lead
Know More About Gaming Industry
