Where is Animation Heading? Trends And Predictions

Have you ever gone 24 hours without watching animation in some form or another? Chances are, that you have not. Animation is a form of entertainment, education, and enrichment. Think about that. The most beloved and long running television show is the Simpsons. One of the most endearing commercial characters is the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Chances are, you are reading this with plans to watch the Disney movie, Finding Dory. You might also be anticipating the latest release of your favorite series. Even if you dislike cartoons, hopefully your kids have placed a bug in your ear about their own favorite shows.

In any case, the world of animation is continually changing. Technology, trends, and new developments keep both animators and fans on their toes. Keep reading to learn about the latest predictions in the world of animation.

Use of VR in Animated Features Will Become a Reality

Animators using VR in films is still in the 'dipping a toe in the water phase'. Currently, many of the projects that are in the works involve short films. However, since Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard, and other technologies have succeeded in mainstreaming both virtual and augmented reality, there's no denying that this is going to find it's way into feature films in the not too distant future.

Video Game Technology Will Redefine Animation

Even when some of the most advanced computers and skilled artists and technicians are employed, it can take hours upon hours to animate a single frame in an animated movie. This is why the short film, A Boy And His Kite has sent rumbles through the animation industry. This animated short was created in real time by Epic Games using its Unreal Engine technology. What's the big deal? It was created in real time. Naysayers will point out that the production values may not be nearly as high as they are in major studio produced features. This may be true, but the truth is that most animation work isn't about creating feature films.

CGI And Stop Motion Animators Will Use 3D Printers For Prototyping

3D printing hasn't exactly lived up to its hype. However, that doesn't mean that their is no use for the technology. In the world of animation, full color, 3D printing can be used as a great prototyping tool. Animators can use 3D printers to create full models, for example, of characters in different poses and making different facial expressions. This has considerable benefits over creating CGI and stop motion animation from sketches.

Businesses Will Increase Their Use of Animation in Marketing Efforts

According to Warren Green, head of production at Qudos Animations, "Brands are eagerly embracing the use of animation to connect with their customer base.", he goes on to say "Companies are now employing animation that ranges from simple stick figures on whiteboard backgrounds, to fully realized animated shorts." As a result, there is going to be more demand for tools that can be used by business professionals to create animations, and an increasing demand for animation skills among content marketers.

Streaming Services Will Have Big Influence on Consumption And Distribution

Are your kids fans of cartoons that you've never heard of, shows that you've never seen on television, or shows that haven't shown up in your local movie theater? This is because streaming services have and will continue to disrupt established means of consumption and distribution. Imagine being part of an independent animation studio today. In the past, getting your work out to the public would mean gaining the approval and backing of major studios and distributors. After all, how else would you get into movie theaters?

Today, streaming services such as Netflix and other more animation friendly services such as CrunchyRoll make it much more likely and cost effective to get animation out to the public without having tons of money. These services also provide animation fans with the opportunity to consume animation that might not be considered mainstream.

Photorealistic Landscapes And Backgrounds Will Become More Popular

The Good Dinosaur is one of Disney's flagship releases for 2016. Of course the other one is Finding Dory. One of the most compelling things about The Good Dinosaurs is the use of photorealistic backgrounds. In many animated works from the past, backgrounds were either ignored or were an afterthought. Today, on the other hand, photorealistic backgrounds have become a trending force in animation. The Good Dinosaurs does this on a grand school as did the Disney movie, Brave. Network series such as The Amazing World of Gumball have also adapted photorealistic backgrounds while the main characters remain enjoyable,and accessibly cartoonish. Interestingly enough, many of the work that goes into this style of animation was actually conceived by the animators from Disney who created Sleeping Beauty using tapestries as ways to create beautiful and intricate backgrounds.