Method to construct free camera motion using 3DCG on cell animation

Abstract

Computerization of cell-touch animation production started in the 1970s. Most computer systems used 2D computer graphics technology. Even now there are very few systems which use 3D computer graphics technology. The authors have proposed methods and algorithms to produce cell-touch animation image using 3D computer graphics technology such as generation of character lines and an animation spreadsheet. We propose a method to create freer camera motion for cell-touch animation production. We first construct a world in the computer where elements such as camera, lights, objects and cell layers are deployed. 2D characters are mapped on a transparent plate as a layer. Then motion paths and camera directions are set using spline curves. The views can be previewed with wireframes and rendered images. Many camera motions that used to be impossible with conventional cell-animation or 2D-based animation production methods can be achieved with less effort and sometimes automatically.