Expert Speaks: Which animation should I do?

We face lot of students and aspirants lost in the question of 2D animation, 3D animation, Classical animation, their difference, their necessity etc etc.

I feel like stating that broadly speaking for students there are only two types of animations – Classical animation and CG animation (keeping stop motion, clay mation, mixed media aside for the moment).

We can say that all animation is actually one type of skill. One who is animator in one medium will be animator in another. But there is a reason why above two categories still seems to exist strongly.

Classical animation as we all know is the animation done on paper or digital paper, drawing each needed frame. How much hold you give to a drawing or how much you reuse the drawing makes it full animation or limited animation.

CG animation is one where any tool/software lends help in providing a digital puppet (it can be 2D flash puppet or 3D puppet/rig). An animator is needed to manipulate this puppet on each frame and don’t have to create from scratch.

SHEIKH CHILLI PROMO

Although so many softwares and platforms exist within CG animation, but switching between them is no big deal. Skill gained in one medium can easily be used in the other. But when it comes to Classical animation, one needs a very serious skill and artform i.e. to be able to draw from scratch a new pose that too on model – physically and mentally. The drawing should match the model sheet, its physicality and mentality. This needs a very planned and rigorous training.

Is Classical animation necessary for CG animation? Well the question is very similar to whether training of Classical Singing is necessary for singing bollywood songs. Chances of making a mark in singing has been high with classical singing training, but there some singers who thrived without any classical animation training.

One as a student would not like to leave anything to chance unless he has no option.

I heard Sonu Nigam saying in an interview that his singing (in bollywood songs) has improved a lot in recent years as well due to long Riyaaz he is doing. Classical animation is very close to that :).