Nina Denning

Future predictions

Posted on 4 July, 2016  in CIU110

In 1937 the first full length feature animation came out, Snow White, in 1995, the first full length computer animated film was released, Toy Story (“history of animation”, 2016). Both films are referred to as two of the most innovative creations in film history and both needed advancements in technology to even be created. Ever since then the speed at which new technology is evolving is increasing drastically, with 3D feature films such as Avatar, to movies taking full advantage of the power of CGI, like The Hobbit. So, whats next? We’ve all experienced 3D films at some point, there are even 3D tv’s you can buy for home that aren’t that expensive, theyre common now, but what comes after 3D? 4D films are where the audience is taken on an interactive journey, this might mean water is sprayed onto them during an ocean scene, these special theatres exist in theme parks, maybe one day that type of entertainment will reach cinemas? Maybe not. The cinematic experience relies heavily on majority rules and the majority want to keep it classic. What about the home experience of media? Virtual reality is progressing… fast! With its constant improving, and upgrading, virtual reality is proving to be the future, Xbox is already partnered with Oculus Rift (virtual reality brand) and with project Morpheus well underway (Sony Entertainments Virtual Reality Development) even playstation games will be compatible with VR. This is the type of technology that can be used in home one day. One of the most sophisticated technologies developed in this day and age is robotics, its furthest development being Artificial intelligence (AI). But AI can also be incorporated into the media industry through special software (“Animation and Artificial Intelligence | British Council”, 2016). One movie that uses this is Life of Pi, each jumping fish in that scene is programed to have its own brain and jump out of the water where and when it wants to, this gives the scene a random effect that saved a lot of time.

Gif created from the movie “Life of Pi”.

 (Life of Pi, 2012)

Although that seems complex, programming each fish, AI is being further developed in the industry, so where will it take us next? Maybe they could create an entire animated universe based around AI, with technology advancing so rapidly anything is possible. We all see these new Disney movies such as tangled and Frozen, how realistic their hair is and their movements are, but the quality of these movies is progressing, back when Beauty and the Beast came out people said that was lifelike, but now the characters have even more depth and detail. Its highly possible for animation technology to get so good in the future actors will be replaced by character models.

 

References:

• history of animation. (2016). History-of-animation.webflow.io. Retrieved 8 July 2016, from http://history-of-animation.webflow.io
• Animation and Artificial Intelligence | British Council. (2016). Britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 8 July 2016, from https://www.britishcouncil.org/cubed/future-technology/animation-artificial-intelligence
• Life of Pi. (2012). Los Angeles and India.