As with other creative trades, animation keeps on changing and adapting to its surrounding world. Thus, animators must update themselves on the latest trends so they can use them on their products and services. This year, CIIT Philippines, a premier 3D animation school in the country, has predicted six trends you can’t miss this year. Check them here.

1. Whiteboard Animation

Whiteboard animation is a common explainer video that may leap forward this year. Its paybacks include quick improvement on return on investment (ROI), low cost, and easy connection with viewers (since artists present them as storytelling). In addition, animators can exploit this trend to make other video forms such as product review. 

Hire The Barman from Slurpy Studios Animation on Vimeo.

2. Storytelling through virtual reality

Virtual reality has never been this famous in daily life. Together with animation, many firms are using or will use this technique to give their clients a unique experience. In this method, animated characters are more able than live action to trigger users’ interaction in a virtual environment. This 2017, storytelling through virtual reality will be one trend you wouldn’t want to miss if you should find a means to deliver your message to viewers.

3. Isometric Animation

This style is a key part of a wider technique called Axonometric Projection. In detail, you’ll place a 3D object in a 2D plane to create an exciting foreshortening effect. Game animators love this trend because of its low cost and great-stylized abilities. You can use isometric animation for explainer videos, too, if your clients work in high-tech fields. 

Isometric Animation from Seth Hulewat on Vimeo.

4. Liquid Motion Animation

One feature of animation often overlooked is transition, i.e. how you move from visual A to B with ease. Animators often struggle with adding two and two together but impress viewers once their work shows it. Although it dates back many years, you’ll witness a real emergence of this style in 2017. Our take: harsh straight lines and geometric shapes drain people. When you see something liquid, something fluid, your mind snaps into a dynamic mode at once. The result: a psychedelic masterpiece.

Motion Graphics Trend: Liquid Motion from in60seconds on Vimeo.

5. Handcraft Animation

This trend often blends live-action elements with computer-generated imagery (CGI) components to surprise and intrigue your audience. You’ll always find something magical and alluring whenever you view works made of tangible materials come to life. When you throw in external factors such as a pair of hands or a stick prodding a wheel, they become “human” powered. It makes you smile. When you don’t understand how something came to be visually, you think, “Oh, it’s a CGI thing!” Once you watched how everything mixes and works with each other, you’ll appreciate the outcome even more.

6. Non-photorealistic rendering (NPR)

Often, you’d want to use rendering software and post-production effects to create 3D images that look amazing. Yet NPR follows a reverse principle using 3D animation software and limited camera angles to mimic hand-drawn, 2D-looking images. This trend will without doubt bring a unique experience to your explainer videos and trigger a gentler, more expressive mood among your viewers.

CIIT, as a premier 3D animation school in the country, will express what’s right and what will work to bring the message across users well. Further, we don’t always go with what’s famous. Our listed examples here show our views on the future of the animation industry, where it’s going, and how we can make the most of new trends. Comment below or contact us and let’s create a handful of fascinating animation together!

Toro from Matatoro Team on Vimeo.

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Sources: www.crownmediastudio.com | www.invisibleartists.com | www.toneyes.com | www.stickymonkeystudio.com