Hayao Miyazaki is regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of animation. Over 50+ years, Miyazaki made some of the most critically-lauded animated films; earning him numerous awards, including an honorary Oscar for “inspiring generations of artists to work in the medium and illuminate its limitless potential.” We’re going to rank the best Hayao Miyazaki movies by way of three criteria: story, animation, and direction. By the end, you’ll know the great films in an oeuvre of cinema classics. Continue reading 12 Best Hayao Miyazaki Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers
Over the years, animated movies have changed the landscape of cinema with fantastic imagery, other-wordly stories, and sobering morals. We all remember watching animated movies when we were children, whether it be the work of Disney, Pixar, Studio Ghibli, Dreamworks, or another production house - but there’s so much more to animated movies than what we saw as children. In this article, we’re going to rank the best animated movies of all time - from Aardman Animations to Zootopia.Each film on this list was selected because it offers something extraordinary to the world of animated cinema, whether it be…
Great voice acting is often invisible. You remember the character before you remember the performer. Bugs Bunny, Dory, Donkey, and Nathan Drake feel real because an actor made thousands of tiny vocal decisions that audiences absorbed without noticing.That is what separates good voice acting from legendary work. The most famous voice actors do not simply change their pitch or accent. They build rhythm, breath patterns, emotional logic, and physical energy using voice alone.This list covers the performers who defined the craft across animation, film, and video games. These are the famous voice actors whose techniques reshaped how audiences hear character…
Pixar shorts inspire imagination. They win awards. They deliver the goods. We’ve watched and compiled the best 21 Pixar short films right here, from the first Pixar movie to the most recent. They’re sure to entertain, trigger creativity, and — for filmmakers — spark short film ideas of your own. Storytellers, take heed: there’s a lot to learn on this list of animated short films. Continue reading 24 Best Pixar Shorts List You Need to Watch Today
Some of the most memorable characters in television and film come from the world of 2D and 3D animation. Before these characters are even animated, however, they are designed. Iconic characters are much more than great drawings. They are given personalities and details that make them iconic and serve as the vehicle of a story. This is the goal of character design. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the purpose of character design, what makes a character design so great, and what the process of designing a character entails.Continue reading What is Character Design — Tips on Creating…
Have you ever wondered how Wallace & Gromit and the works of Laika are created? It’s all thanks to a little animation technique known as claymation. Figurines made out of clay come to life, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities for animators. But what is claymation and how do you know if making your next film out of what’s basically Play-Doh is right for you? It’s time to mold your mind with information about the wonderful world of clay animation.Continue reading What is Claymation — A History of Claymation Movies
The release of Toy Story, Pixar’s first feature, in 1995 was a milestone not only in animation but in cinema as a whole. Pixar has gone on to change what we think of a “kid’s movie.” Across nearly three decades of Pixar films, the studio has consistently pushed the boundaries of animation and emotion. To try to decide on the best Pixar movies in the studio’s storied career is a thankless task bound to offend anyone who grew up watching these films. So let’s get started with the ultimate Pixar movie list, complete with emotional insights, critical data, and defining…
Animation takes patience, attention to detail, boundless creativity, and more patience. The beauty of the artform is that, if you are willing to put the work in, there is no image you can’t create, no world you can’t immerse your viewer into. And yet, despite its endless possibilities, most narrative animators follow a certain set of rules. These rules are known as the 12 principles of animation.Continue reading What are the 12 Principles of Animation — Ultimate Guide
Whether you’re making an animated commercial, a live-action short, or a feature film, animatics will help ensure a solid finished product. You’ve probably heard of storyboards and might have seen animatics before, even if you didn’t know that’s what they’re called.So, what is an animatic and what makes them so useful?In this post, we’re going to provide an animatic definition, discuss the reasons why any project can benefit from them and provide some real-world examples. The process of how to make an animatic is much simpler than it might sound. If you’ve already generated storyboards, you're just one step away.Continue…
Animation has allowed storytellers to tell stories in unique ways. The visceral fantastical worlds in animated films can reignite inspiration and the magic of stories no matter what age. So if you’re a storyteller, or want to be, the animation is a great place to start. So what is animation? And what are the types of animation cartoonists and artists use? Let’s jump in.Continue reading What is Animation — Definition, History and Types of Animation
