The Basics and History of 3D Animation

3D animation is a type of animation created by animating three-dimensional objects in a digital environment. In this technique, objects have width, height, and depth. Thanks to 3D animation, characters, objects, and environments can be brought to life in a realistic way.

The basics of 3D animation consist of several stages, including modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, and rendering. First, an object or character is modeled in a digital environment. Then, color and texture are added to the model. Lighting enhances the realism of the scene. A skeletal system (rig) is added to make the model movable, and finally, the animation is completed.

The history of 3D animation dates back to the 1960s. The first examples emerged alongside the development of computers. The short film “A Computer Animated Hand,” created in 1972, is considered one of the pioneers of 3D animation. In 1995, Pixar’s “Toy Story” made history as the first full-length film created entirely with 3D animation. Today, 3D animation is widely used in many fields such as cinema, gaming, advertising, and education.