10 Common Animation Terms And What They Mean

July 16, 2022
News

Animation can be a very tricky subject. There are many terms used by animators to describe the process that can cause confusion for beginners. Whether you’re about to embark on your first animation project, or have been animating for years, knowing what these words mean can help strengthen your work dramatically.

Here are 10 common terms that every animator should know:

1. Rigging

In the world of animation, rigging is the process of creating a skeleton for a character. This skeleton is what determines how a character moves when animated. Rigs are usually created in 3D animation programs like Maya or Blender, but 2D characters can also be rigged if they’re complex enough.

The process of rigging can be complicated and time-consuming, but it’s necessary for animators who want to create realistic characters that can be moved and animated in interesting ways.

2. Storyboarding

A storyboard is a visual representation of the shots in your animation. Basically, it’s a sequence of images that’s used to describe the movement and action of an animated scene. You can think of a storyboard as an artist’s sketchbook or blueprint.

A storyboard typically contains drawings of characters, props, and backgrounds; indications of camera placement; and notes on timing and dialogue. They help you plan your animation before you begin work on the actual production.

Storyboards are also useful for communicating your ideas with others. They’re especially important if you’re working as a part of a team on an animated project. The best way to think of it is as a blueprint for your movie or tv show. You don’t need to worry about making them look pretty – just make sure they are clear enough for everyone involved in the project to understand what happens when.

3. Establishing Shot

An establishing shot is a short sequence of film that establishes the setting of a scene. It can be used to introduce the characters and their surroundings, or to provide a visual context for the main action.

An establishing shot is often used to set up a story and its characters. It can also be used to show where an action is taking place. For example, in an animated feature about animals living in a zoo, it would be common for the first scene to include an establishing shot showing the zoo’s entrance and ticket booth.

4. Frame Rate

Frame rate is a term used in animation to describe the number of frames that are created or displayed per second (fps).

Frame rates are typically measured in 24 fps, 30 fps, 48 fps, and 60 fps. 24 fps is the standard frame rate for movies and television shows. 30 fps is standard for many cartoons, while 48 fps and 60 fps are more commonly used for high-quality computer-generated animation.

Since most traditional animation is typically done on “twos” (each drawing is shown for two frames) a typical second of animation will consist of 12 unique drawings.

5. Model Sheets

Model sheets are a series of drawings that show the character’s design from different angles, often with a simple pose. The purpose of the model sheets is to allow animators and directors to easily view and reference the character’s design.

The model sheet also helps ensure consistency in how the character is animated. Having a single place where all your characters are drawn makes it easy to compare them and make sure they’re consistent with each other.

6. Layer

A layer is an individual column, level, or character. In the case of animation, it’s a drawing that moves over another drawing.

For example, you can have multiple characters in one scene, but each character will be on its own layer. This allows you to move each character independently, giving them more freedom to move around and interact with each other. You can also use layers to create more complex animations by having multiple animations running at the same time. This makes it easier to manage multiple animations at once and gives you more control over how they interact with each other.

7. Mouth Chart

An animator’s job is to bring characters to life through movement. This requires them to carefully plan out how each character will open and close their mouths during speech and other lines of dialogue in order to make their performances look natural and realistic. If a character is speaking, for example, but their lips aren’t moving properly with their words, then it can be distracting for viewers who notice this mistake immediately. Mouth charts help animators avoid these problems by providing detailed instructions on how each character should move their mouth while they’re speaking or performing other actions.

The mouth chart is usually drawn on paper or on a computer using Photoshop, and contains all the shapes of mouths that need to be animated. Each shape represents a different facial expression. The animator then draws in the mouth shapes on top of each other to create a sequence of movement.

8. Library

A library is a collection of assets that can be used in multiple projects. For example, an animation studio may have a library of character rigs that they’ve created over the years. They can then use these rigs to create new characters without having to create the same rig from scratch.

In animation, a library could include:

Character Rigs
Animation Cycles
Sound Effects
Backgrounds
Textures
Props

9. Key Poses & In-Between Frames

When it comes to animation, there are two main types of poses that you want to be aware of. These are key poses and in-between frames.

Key Poses: Key poses are the main poses that define an animation sequence. These poses give the illusion of life by providing a sense of action and movement. They can be simple or complex, depending on how much detail is needed for each character and situation.

In-Between Frames: In-between frames are used to create the illusion of motion between key poses. They provide a smooth transition between key poses in order to make it appear like one thing is moving into another thing smoothly.

10. Continuity

In animation, continuity is the consistency of the world, characters, and story.

Continuity errors are often caused by mistakes in animation or art direction, but can also be caused by other factors such as missing lines of dialogue. In order to maintain continuity, animators have to make sure that characters’ clothes don’t change between scenes (unless they have a reason to), that objects don’t suddenly appear or disappear, and that locations remain the same throughout an episode or film.

For example, if there’s an object on the left side of the screen at one point in your storyboard, then it should still be on that same side when you animate later on. This helps keep viewers engaged because it makes everything feel cohesive and real.

Whether you’re a new or aspiring animator, never hesitate to ask questions and try to network with others in the industry. This will help you to improve your skills, develop the right attitude, and make the most of your experience. There is an entire industry out there waiting for you. All you need to do is get started, refine your craft, and find your place!

CAM Institute of Design is a registered college in New Brunswick that provides students with the opportunity to pursue a career in an industry they’re passionate about. The faculty and staff at CAM have years of experience in the design industry, and work alongside students to ensure that they succeed in their chosen career. With diploma programs in Animation, Game Programming, Game Art & Design, Transportation Design, and more, you’re sure to find the career of your dreams. Check out our blog and social media for more helpful tips.

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