Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Red's Dream (1987)
Tin Toy (1988)—first computer animation to win an Academy Award
Knick Knack (1989)
Geri's Game (1997)—Academy Award winner
These early animations paved the way for three-dimensional computer animation to be accepted as an
art form. They were among the first fully computer-generated three-dimensional animations to be taken
seriously as animations, irrespective of the technique involved. Another early piece of three-
dimensional animation, which integrated computer graphics with conventional animation, was Tech-
nological Threat (1988, Kroyer Films). This was one of three films nominated for an Academy Award
as an animated short in 1989; Tin Toy came out the victor.
One of the early uses of computer graphics in filmwas to model and animate spacecraft. Working in
(virtual) outer space with spacecraft has the advantages of simple illumination models, a relatively bare
environment, and relatively simple animation of rigid bodies. In addition, spacecraft are usually mod-
eled by relatively simple geometry—as is the surrounding environment (planets)—when in flight. The
Last Starfighter (1984, Digital Productions) used computer animation instead of building models for
special effects; the computer used, the Cray X-MP, even appeared in the movie credits. The action takes
place in space as well as on planets; computer graphics were used for the scenes in space, and physical
models were used for the scenes on a planet. Approximately twenty minutes of computer graphics was
used in the movie. While it is not hard to tell when the movie switches between graphical and physical
models, this was the first time graphics were used as an extensive part of a live-action film in which the
graphics were supposed to look realistic (i.e., special effects ).
1.5.3 Animation comes of age (the mid-1980s and beyond)
As modeling, rendering, and animation became more sophisticated and the hardware became faster and
inexpensive, quality computer graphics began to spread to the Internet, television commercials, com-
puter games, and stand-alone game units. In film, computer graphics help to bring alien creatures to
life. Synthetic alien creatures, while they should appear to be real, do not have to match specific audi-
ence expectations. Young Sherlock Holmes (1986, ILM) was the first to place a synthetic character in a
live-action feature film. An articulated stained glass window comes to life and is made part of the live
action. The light sources and movements of the camera in the live action had to be mimicked in the
synthetic environment, and images from the live action were made to refract through the synthetic
stained glass. In The Abyss (1989, ILM), computer graphics are used to create an alien creature that
appears to be made from water. Other notable films in which synthetic alien creatures are used are
Terminator II (1991, ILM), Casper (1995, ILM), Species (1995, Boss Film Studios), and Men in Black
(1997, ILM).
A significant advance in the use of computer graphics for the movies came about because of the
revolution in cheap digital technology, which allowed film sequences to be stored digitally. Once
the film is stored digitally, it is in a form suitable for digital special effects processing, digital composit-
ing, and the addition of synthetic elements. For example, computer graphics can be used to remove the
mechanical supports of a prop or to introduce digital explosions or laser blasts. For the most part, this
resides in the two-dimensional realm, thus it is not the focus of this topic. However, with the advent of
digital techniques for two-dimensional compositing, sequences are more routinely available in digital
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