Outline of animation

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to animation:

Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby pictures are created or manipulated and then played in sequence to create the illusion of moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animation has been recognized as an artistic medium, specifically within the entertainment industry. Many animations are either traditional animations or computer animations made with computer-generated imagery (CGI). Stop motion animation, in particular claymation, is also prominent alongside these other forms, albeit to a lesser degree.

What type of thing is animation?

Animation can be described as all of the following:

One of the visual arts
Manipulation of imagery to give the appearance of movement

Animation techniques

Animation
- Cel animation (= traditional animation)
  - Full animation
  - Limited animation
  - Rotoscoping
- Stop motion
  - Puppet animation
    - Puppetoons
  - Claymation (= clay animation)
    - Strata-cut animation
  - Cutout animation
    - Silhouette animation
  - Model animation
    - Go motion
  - Object animation
    - Brickfilm
    - Graphic animation
  - Pixilation
- Computer animation
  - Anime
  - Categorization by dimensionality of characters:
    - 2D animation
    - 3D animation
  - Categorization by speed of rendering and capabilities:
    - Pre-rendered animation: Motion is developed in the software. There is a delay for the software to render the animation before it can be viewed.
      - Talking avatar: The user provides or selects a picture of a character and provides a recording of a voice. The software animates lip movements, facial expressions, and small hand and body motions in the character that remains upright and stationary.
        Examples of software: HeyGen Photo Avatar, Aitubo Talking Avatar, Kreado AI, D-ID, Gooey AI Lipsync Maker, Adobe Express Animate from audio
      - Video from text: The user provides a text description of a desired motion, possibly along with other guiding inputs, such as a starting image, a video to transform, or a soundtrack to match. The software interprets the description, influenced by any additional inputs, and generates an animated video from it.
        Examples of software: Raw Shorts, Kaiber, Elai, Pika Labs, Gooey AI AI Animation Generator, Neural Frames, GenMo
      - Video from image: The user provides an image file, which the software uses as the starting point to generate an animated video.
        Example of software: Pika Labs, LeiaPix, Meta AI Animated Drawings,
      - Motion imitation: The user provides an existing video showing the motion of a person and selects or creates a character. The software makes the character imitate the actions of the person in the video, including facial expressions, hand gestures, walking, and dancing.
        Example of software: DeepMotion
      - Full motion: The software can generate an unlimited range and duration of motion based on designs developed by the user.
        Examples of software: Maya, Blender, Adobe Animate, Reallusion Cartoon Animator (2D)
    - Real-time animation (= machinima): Motion develops in the software in response to user input. The animation is displayed nearly simultaneously with the input.
      - Video game
        Examples of video game engines: Unity, Unreal Engine, CryEngine
      - Virtual world (= simulation game)
        Examples: Second Life, The Sims
      - Other real-time animation:
        Examples of software: iClone, Adobe Character Animator (2D), Toon Boom Harmony, Blender