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To kick off this blog post, let’s start with a simple yet profound question: What is animation?. To answer that, let’s explpoer two perspectives: From an artistic viewpoint, animation is defined as “the art of making inanimate objects appear to move” (Britannica, 2024). In essence, it breaths life into things that naturally lack it. It’s the magic that transform stillness into motion, engaging our imagination and emotions. On a thecnical side, animation involves filming a rapid succession of closely related static images to create the illusion of movement (Adobe)....

Parametric polynomial curves are defined by polynomial functions of a parameter, such as time, steps, or angle. These curves are valued for their smoothness and ease of manipulation and control. Although these curves can be of any polynomial degree, parametric cubic curves are often preferred. Lower-degree curves offer too little flexibility in shaping the curve, while higher-degree curves can introduce unwanted wiggles, result in a loss of local control, and require more computation....

In the last two posts, we explored the connections between computer science, graphics and animation. We observed a parent-child relationship were computer science is the parent, computer graphics is the child and computer animation is the grandchild. Now, I would like to delve deeper into technical aspects of computer graphics, focusing on key concepts that are crucial for understand. Graphics system A graphics system is an integrated set of hardware and software components designed to create, manage, and display visual content on a computer screen....

The definitions of Computer Graphics [CG] and Computer Animation [CA] are often indistinguishable, as both can involve the use of typography or imagery. However, there is a subtle distinction between the two, and it lies in the concept of movement. Computer Graphics encompasses both static and dynamic graphics, while Computer Animation specifically focuses on dynamic graphics. Most of the information presented in this post was extracted from the books: Fundamentals of Computer Graphics - Fourth Edition, by Steve Marschner and Peter Shirley Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice - Third Edition, by John Hughes, Andries Van Dam, Morgan McGuire, David Skylar, James Foley, Steven Feiner and Kurt Akeley....

Building a puzzle without a clear picture of the final image is nearly impossible. While this seems obvious, in many situations, defining the desired outcome isn’t straightforward. Expertise and problem complexity can create doubt and uncertainty. When facing uncertainty, I find it helpful to explore a field broadly before diving into specifics. This general exploration includes understanding basic concepts, applications, and foundational knowledge—elements that might seem irrelevant but are crucial for forming a comprehensive mental picture....