History of Animation -Pioneers in Computer Animation
Computer animation has been in development ever since the 1960s, when John Whitney, one of the fathers of computer animation, began experimenting with computer animation. John grew up in Pasadena California, and attended Pomona College. John’s first work was filming a lunar eclipse on 8mm film. To do this, he constructed a telescope by hand to better film the event. In 1939, John was awarded for five abstract films he did with his brother, James Whitney. At this time, what he was most known for was his animated opening for Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. In 1960, he started Motion Graphics Incorporated. Here he animated title sequences for movies, television shows, and commercials. In 1970, he made the switch to digital computers, as they were faster. He became a professor at California Institute of Technology, and was well recognized for possibly his greatest accomplishment, Psychedelic. From here he began to experiment with computer graphics more, becoming a known innovator.
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| Opening Of Vertigo |
Him and his brother became the first to attempt motion control, with a machine they made similar to an old anti-aircraft sensor. This machine helped them achieve the impressive look of the spiral in the title sequence. This technique continued to aid film, as time went on. Memorable moments include the opening of Stanley Kubrik’s 2001 A Space Odyssey, and the explosive finish in Roland Emmerich’s StarGate. Techniques like this would continue to be used until more advanced effects were available.
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| Ending of StarGate |
Later came Ivan Sutherland, a MIT graduate who would write one of the most influential programs in all of computer science. Ivan increased accessibility to computer animation, making an interactive system called Sketchpad. This was the first GUI (Graphical User Interface). Ivan then started a company with David Evans, and began working on more experimental technologies. Together, they made the first Geometry Engine for 3D animation, the first Head-Mounted Display, and the first Frame Buffer. Perhaps most impressive, they created Flight Simulator, which eventually would be used for training in the military. This company’s success would be a highlight in the history of Computer Animation, and this would be an experience leading to the future of computer animation, with Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar being an employee there.
Ivan Sutherland using Sketchpad
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