
Animation in 3D is commonly associated with some form of rigged character, but animation can include other objects within a 3D scene, such as cameras, lights, and even simulated effects or forces.Īnimation in 3D software typically involves keyframing poses along a timeline and manipulating the way the software smoothly transitions between these poses over time. The process of animation in the 3D production pipeline is to take existing 3D assets and bring them to life through movement. Some of these include, vertices, edges, polygons, and NURBs. No matter which tool is chosen, they all share some common concepts and components that are the fundamentals of all 3D modelling. These models can be created using a number of different 3D software packages such as Maya or 3D Studio Max.

Some of these assets can include characters, props, and environments.

Toy Story - Storyboarding by Pixar 3D ModellingĪs the name suggests, this is the stage in the 3D production pipeline where the visual, 3D objects (or models) are created, based on the art that was conceptualised during the pre-production phase, while ensuring that it adheres to the established art direction. Pre-production assets such as concept art, design briefs, storyboards, and animatics are created during this stage, to formally define the art direction and the overall vision of a project. Patrick Ballesteros describes the pre-production as being the stage where “your creative talents come into play, to bring ideas to life, as well as create new ones.”(2017)
