Flash Series

Flash animation has been used to created lots of animation series.  The software controls a timeline and individual frames and keyframes, because the work space for vector graphics is purely digital, backgrounds and characters can be replicated and tweened much faster than hand drawn animators could ever dream of.

Because of this great versitility flash animations are common place for internet cartoon series.  Thanks to the style of vector, animators can create distinct styles; clean colours and black lines around characters give a great cartoony flare.  Although flash lends itself to cartoon styles, many online series are adult and often dipict series themes or graphic violence.

 

Vector/Flash Animations

The most common form of online vector based animations are refereed to as Flash Animations, Flash being the program used to create them.
Flash animation can also refer to the visual style of the animation, hand drawn and a certain kind of movement, perhaps even simplistic.
However flash animations are not just prevalent online, but in commercials, TV shows, and shorts, it is a highly recognised animation medium.


At the dawn of the internet, during the hay day of 56kbs modems, obviously large websites were not online impractical but virtually impossible, however Flash animations still enjoyed success, thanks to vector math algorithms, artists could create simple animations or interactive experiences for under 1mb.  (including audio)

Flash can also incorporate raster graphics and video files, however most animations are created purely inside the program, vector only.  Flash animations also have a range of appeals, from the amateurish look of choppy lip sync and jerky movements to professional series production.  The vector style adds a lot of cleanness to the final piece and generally all forms of online animation are looked on favourably.

'Xiao Xiao' a famous series of flash animations, simple characters but highly complex movements.

Raster Graphics the Alternative

Raster graphics are the other main source of computer image.  They use rectangular grids of pixels to make up an image.  


Raster graphics are resolution dependant and can not scale up without very apparent loss of quality.  A direct contrast to the capabilities of vector graphics.  However raster graphics are the mainstream, photo realistic images and very hi resolution etc.  

Vector Graphics

Vector graphics are a form of computer graphics that use a mathematical formula to construct the image, storing the lines, shapes and colours in the math formula.


Each computer display is made up of pixels, images are built up form these individual cells.  Naturally the smaller and closer the pixels are together the higher the image quality, but the larger the file size becomes.  However if the number of pixels is kept constant, when the image is enlarged it becomes grainy (literately 'pixellated'), the human eye can begin to pick out individual square pixels.


Vector graphics programs use the files math formula to construct the best possible screen image, based on the current resolution.  This way the image can be scaled to any size required limited by only the computers resolution display.  Vector graphics are often the favourable practice when it comes to an online environment.