Animation
Pacific Science Center
Oct. 3 , 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010

Animation
Explore how art, math, science, and technology come together in the exciting world of animation. In Animation's stimulating and fun environment, you will explore the process of animation from concept tso finished product - from storyboarding, character design, and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming, and sound. Larger-than-life graphics of popular Cartoon Network characters provide a colorful backdrop to the exhibit, which also explores the history of animation and features a screening room and a cartoon museum.

Just some of what you'll see:
  • The Early Days of Animation: while cranking a handle, watch a spool of images flip around, like a Rolodex, creating an animated sequence.
  • Animated Animals: manipulate a two-dimensional horse and see if you can create an animation that realistically portrays a horse's natural gait. Guided by a backlit template, pose the horse at each key stage of movement and snap a quick picture of each new position.
  • Visual Effects: you can jump or pose, while several digital cameras around a circular screen area take your picture simultaneously. The still images are then played back in rapid succession on a large monitor above, creating an animation in which you are viewed from several angles.
  • Talking Pictures: choose from three animated clips, and then follow the words onscreen, adding your own voice to match the characters' action and mouth movements.
Here is a time lapse video showing some of the construction of this exhibit inside Pacific Science Center’s Building 4:

Entry to Animation is included with the price of general admission – FREE for Pacific Science Center members.