3Danimaatiossa

3D animation is the process of creating moving images in a three-dimensional digital space. It relies on 3D models that are given form, texture and lighting, and on animation techniques that bring these models to life. The main stages typically include modeling, rigging, animation, texturing, lighting and rendering, followed by compositing and post-production.

Historically, 3D animation emerged from early computer graphics research in the 1960s and 1970s and grew with the development of polygonal modeling and rendering techniques. A milestone was Toy Story (1995), the first feature-length film produced entirely with 3D computer animation, which helped establish the medium in mainstream cinema. Since then, 3D animation has become central to film, television, and game production, as well as architecture, product visualization and simulations.

Workflow typically begins with concept art and storyboarding, followed by 3D modeling of characters and environments. Rigging creates a digital skeleton for motion, after which keyframe animation or motion capture drives movement. Lighting and shading define how surfaces respond to light, and rendering converts the scene into final images. The output is often refined through compositing and color correction.

Common software in the field includes Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max and Cinema 4D, as well as open-source Blender. Real-time 3D engines such as Unreal and Unity are increasingly used for interactive and previsualization work, while cloud rendering and GPU-accelerated pipelines speed up production.

Current trends in 3D animation include real-time rendering, physically based simulation for cloth and fluids, and AI-assisted automation for tasks such as mocap cleanup and asset generation. The discipline continues to evolve with advances in hardware, software tools, and storytelling techniques.