cut out Animation Evaluation

Cut Out Animation is a technique for producing animation by using flat characters, props and backgrounds cut from materials from papers, magazines, newspaper etc.  It is one of the oldest animation known to man, and it is  also the most well known stop motion animation, seen as we have all been exposed to it through films such as Alice in the Wonderland (US).It probably one of the first animation around.  Nowadays most cut out styled animation created by computers with scanned images or others taking the place of cut out materials.

As strongly suggested in the name, it involves moving cut out images into one frame and clicking pictures at every stage to create the overall movement, this is much easier than having to draw the image and then clicking pictures of it.

This animation has many different techniques and forms. The traditional technique for cut out animation  is where the animators moves the images into the frame and click for the right movement.
The method of animation is what makes it looks and feel professional, it can be otherwise even though the animator puts their all into making it work. It has to be produced from beginning to ending, and it has to be shot in sequential order, with each between frames involving adjustments to the pieces of image before it captures another for the video.

Although, cut out animation may seem to be easy and much more quicker to produce than , it has its disadvantages because there a boundaries on where the cut out can be moved. For example, it is not possible to make the image seem as if its coming out of the screen or fading away.  Also once you moved the image there is no guarantee that it will go back to the way the scene was previously.

In comparison to other animation, such as Claymation animation,  Cut out animation has less more complication when it comes down to moving the characters, objects etc. Cut out animation is 2D, where as claymation animation is 3D and is therefore less complex in movement because they can graphically simplify complicated concepts. Using claymation means that the character can do other complex movement that cut out have boundaries to. For example, a character fading in and out of the frame or coming towards the camera suggesting it is coming out of screen.

 Despite the disadvantages of cut out animation it is still very quick and simple technique to use when making stop motion.