How animation makes movement — Computing, 4–6 years
Many still pictures shown quickly can make a character seem to move. Computing, 4–6 years.
Pictures that change
An animation shows a series of still pictures one after another. In each picture, something changes a little, such as a ball being higher or lower. When the pictures change quickly, your eyes and brain join them into movement.
Why make many pictures?
A single picture cannot show a whole action, such as a person waving. People first used series of drawings and photographs because they wanted to show change and movement. Computers make it easier to arrange the pictures and play them at a chosen speed.
Making a bouncing ball
Draw four frames: the ball is high, halfway down, on the floor, and halfway up. Put them in that order. Show each frame for a short moment, then repeat the four frames. The ball now appears to bounce, even though every frame is still.
Too big a jump
A common mistake is moving an object a long way between two pictures. It seems reasonable because fewer drawings take less time. But the object then appears to jump or disappear, rather than move smoothly. Smaller changes usually make the movement easier to follow.
Where animation appears
Animation is used in cartoons, games and short lessons that show how something works. It can show a seed opening, a car turning or a character walking. It is useful when movement is hard to see in one real moment, but it does not replace every real demonstration.
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