1 The origins of keyframe animation

Before keyframe animation, animators had to draw every frame of a movement, which was time-consuming and tedious. They also had to rely on trial and error to achieve smooth and consistent results. By the 1910s, animators had begun to experiment with a new method that involved drawing only the main poses of a movement, called keyframes, and then filling in the gaps with intermediate frames, called inbetweens. This way, they could focus on the timing, spacing, and dynamics of the movement, and delegate the inbetweening to less experienced artists or machines. Such "keyframe animation" was introduced in 1914 with Winsor McCay's Gertie the Dinosaur. And in the late 1920s, Disney animators began to further experiment with the technique. (This section has been updated by LinkedIn editors based on member feedback.)

2 The invention of the animation camera

One of the challenges of keyframe animation was to capture the frames on film in a precise and efficient way. Disney solved this problem by inventing the multiplane camera in 1933. The multiplane camera was a complex device that consisted of several layers of glass, each holding a different element of the scene, such as the background, the foreground, and the characters. The camera could move and zoom in and out of the layers, creating a sense of depth and perspective. This camera also allowed the animators to adjust the exposure and color of each layer independently, enhancing the visual quality and realism of the animation.

3 The principles of animation

Another key contribution of Disney to keyframe animation was the development of the principles of animation, a set of guidelines that defined the basic elements of good animation. The principles of animation were formulated by Disney's Nine Old Men, a group of influential animators who worked on Disney's classic films, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Fantasia. The principles of animation included concepts such as squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, follow through and overlapping action, and appeal. The principles of animation helped the animators to create believable and appealing characters and movements, and to convey emotions and personality through animation.

4 The impact of keyframe animation

Keyframe animation enabled Disney to produce groundbreaking animated films that captivated audiences and critics alike. Disney's first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released in 1937, was a huge success and a milestone in animation history. It showcased the power and potential of keyframe animation, as well as the artistic and technical skills of Disney's animators. Keyframe animation also influenced other animation studios and artists, who adopted and adapted the technique to their own styles and visions. Keyframe animation became the standard for traditional animation for decades, until the advent of computer animation in the late 20th century.

6 The legacy of keyframe animation

Keyframe animation is still widely used in computer animation today, especially for character animation. Keyframe animation allows computer animators to control and refine the movements and expressions of their characters, and to infuse them with personality and emotion. Keyframe animation also allows computer animators to create complex and dynamic scenes, by combining keyframes with other techniques, such as motion capture, simulation, and procedural animation. Keyframe animation is a testament to the creativity of Disney and its animators, who shaped the history and future of animation.