Importance of Animation in Multimedia for the Media Industry

Animation is widely used in the media and entertainment sector on a variety of channels, including TV, media, the internet, and even smartphones. In today’s digital age, animation in multimedia has become an important tool for brands to effectively convey their message easily using explainer videos or animated images. Animation helps in a better understanding of the subject.

In the following blog, we shall talk about the importance of various animation platforms in developing attractive and interactive content. But before diving deep let us first understand what exactly is animation. 

What is animation?

When we hear the word animation, the first thing that comes to our mind is famous cartoon shows such as Tom and Jerry, Mickey Mouse, Doraemon, Shin-Chan, etc. 

Animation refers to the process of creating eye-catching scenes with the help of a rapid display of various pictures and motions. In earlier days, animators used to create all the frames in the animation sequence. These frames were hand-drawn. As a result, it was crucial that the animator must be a highly skilled artist. These series of pictures are then made to move exceptionally quickly one after another to create the effects of animation. 

In today's technological age, there are various animation software for Mac (Macintosh), and Windows to design engaging characters and scenes and make interesting animation. 

Several types of animation styles can be used by a business organization based on the requirements of the project. 

A few important types of animation styles are as follows - 

• 2D animation

2D animation is the art of creating movement within a vector-based two-dimensional (2D) framework. This may include characters, creatures, FX, and backgrounds. 2D animation is also known as traditional animation. 

The illusion of movement is created when individual drawings are sequenced together over time. One second is usually divided into 24 frames. Depending on the style of animation there can be as many as 24 unique drawings in one second of animation (24fps) or as little as two. Conventionally animation is done on "2s" meaning there is a drawing every 2 frames (12fps). This allows artists to save on production time and costs while giving  2D animation its unique look.

With the advancement of technology, there are various 2D animation software that are useful for designing innovative animations and getting engagement in today's digital realm.

• 3D animation

Three-dimensional (3D) animation refers to the process of creating moving images in a 3D environment, thereby giving the illusion that these digital objects are moving through a 3D space. This can be done by using various 3D animation software or by using specialized hardware such as motion capture (mo-cap) devices. 

3D animation tends to provide a greater sense of depth and scale, making it ideal for showing crowds, large landscapes, or altered realities. The use of various three-dimensional animations makes it possible to create images that would be impossible or extremely difficult to generate with traditional 2D animation techniques. As a result, 3D animation tools such as Cinemachine are extremely useful for filmmakers and video game developers who want to develop high-quality and visually compelling scenes.

• Motion graphics 

The key here is "motion",  if it does not move, it is not motion graphics. Motion graphics tend to refer to different animated graphic designs. A skilled motion graphics artist uses various attractive images, text, and animation to convey information in a concise way that complements the video style. There are many advantages that 3D animation has over traditional animation techniques as it enables 3D animators to create characters, environments, and objects that appear more realistic than 2D animation in multimedia. Logos, commercials, television commercials, and movie titles tend to use motion graphics.

Benefits of animation in multimedia

There are various advantages of opting for animation in multimedia, especially in the media and entertainment industry.  They are as follows  -

• Better visual understanding 

Using innovative animation in multimedia allows viewers to visualize and better understand a difficult subject. Animation tends to simplify various complex concepts and messages. In addition, animation also improves the viewer's retention power as the human brain can process visual information efficiently and quickly.

• Quick and Easy Communication

Animation in multimedia tends to enhance communication and make a message more engaging. Implementing colorful and creative animated innovative audio visuals can be used to effectively communicate with the audience. It can capture the viewer's attention and make the message more memorable and enduring. Animations help to inform, instruct, narrate, or explain.

• Cost-effective 

Animation in multimedia can be considered an economical marketing strategy. Animation can be more cost-effective than live action, especially for projects with complex visuals or many special effects. 

• Versatile

Animation in multimedia can be used to create a wide range of content such as introductory videos, feature films, etc. Makers can create characters, objects, and environments that do not even exist in the real world. This level of creative freedom allows makers to tell stories uniquely and imaginatively.

• Improves website traffic 

Business organizations can increase their online website visibility and ranking in Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) with the help of animation in multimedia.  Unique animated videos tend to stand out in search rankings because of their colorful animated thumbnails that attract viewers and make them visit the website.

Wrapping Up 

Animation in multimedia has taken the world by storm. The media and entertainment industry tends to incorporate various engaging multimedia resources such as images, audio, text, animation, video clips, etc in their projects to grab attention and leave a long-lasting positive impression in the minds of their targeted and potential audience group.