Computer animation is the application of putting graphics into motion. In computer graphics, animation works by slightly shifting the object each frame. When the frames are played back rapidly, it creates the illusion that the object is in a fluid motion. Stop motion animations are an excellent example of this frame by frame progression (see video below). Due to the technologies of computers and software, the motions are no longer done frame by frame but through advanced algorithms and mathematics that describe the objects motions.

A major concept behind 3D animation is the persistence of vision. That is, if an animation is running at about 12 frames per second the human eye and brain tricks itself into seeing a fluid motion of the object. Anything less than 12 frames per second, the human eye and brain realizes that they are separate frames and detect the frame by frame progression. It works much like a flip-book. The faster you flip through, the more fluid the animation.

3D animation has seen a significant growth in its abilities and applications, especially since the introduction of animation specific software. Now, 3D animations are being used not just for film and video games, but also in medicine and engineering. Software packages such as 3d Studio Max and Blender allow for artists to create these advance mathematical models fairly easily. Also with the new technology of motion capture, 3D models can take on realistic human motions. The future of 3D animation seems bright and its applications will grow dramatically once motion tracking advances.