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*'']'' (tactical display in Death Star war room) *'']'' (tactical display in Death Star war room)
*'']'' *'']''
*'']'' (Oompa Loompa musical number) *'']'' (Oompa Loompa musical numbers)
*'']'' (show's opening sequence) *'']'' (show's opening sequence)
*'']'' (Season 4, 1975) *'']'' (Season 4, 1975)
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* ] (3D ID) * ] (3D ID)
* ] (for main IDs from 1976 to 1982) * ] (for main IDs from 1976 to 1982)
* ] (for its "Swirling Star" ID in 1979) * ] (for its "Swirling Star" logo in 1979)
* ] (May 1, 1975-June 30, 1976 Feature Presentation ID, May 1, 1975-September 19, 1982 Special ID) * ] (May 1, 1975-June 30, 1976 Feature Presentation ID, May 1, 1975-September 19, 1982 Special ID)
* IBC-13/] ID * IBC-13/] ID
* ] * ]
* ] (TV Production ID) * ] (TV Production logo)
* ]/] (1982-1986 ID) * ]/] (1982-1986 ID)
* ] (IDs from 1979 to 1986) * ] (IDs from 1979 to 1986)
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* ] (for its 1976-1985 Startup/Shutdown IDs and 1977 ''Le Cinéma du Dimanche Soir'' ID by Robert Abel and Associates) * ] (for its 1976-1985 Startup/Shutdown IDs and 1977 ''Le Cinéma du Dimanche Soir'' ID by Robert Abel and Associates)
* ] (for main IDs made from 1982 until 1988 and complemented with an Ampex AVA-1 machine) * ] (for main IDs made from 1982 until 1988 and complemented with an Ampex AVA-1 machine)
* ] (for 1978 Neon Mickey ID) * ] (for 1978 Neon Mickey logo)
* ] (3D ID) * ] (3D ID)
* ] (for ''The WGN 8:00 Movie'' opening) * ] (for ''The WGN 8:00 Movie'' opening)

Revision as of 12:00, 23 March 2021

This article is about the computer animation system. For the animation effect, see Barrier grid animation and stereography.

Scanimate is an analog computer animation (video synthesizer) system developed from the late 1960s to the 1980s by Computer Image Corporation of Denver, Colorado.

The 8 Scanimate systems were used to produce much of the video-based animation seen on television between most of the 1970s and early 1980s in commercials, promotions, and show openings. One of the major advantages the Scanimate system had over film-based animation and computer animation was the ability to create animations in real time. The speed with which animation could be produced on the system because of this, as well as its range of possible effects, helped it to supersede film-based animation techniques for television graphics. By the mid-1980s, it was superseded by digital computer animation, which produced sharper images and more sophisticated 3D imagery.

Animations created on Scanimate and similar analog computer animation systems have a number of characteristic features that distinguish them from film-based animation: The motion is extremely fluid, using all 60 fields per second (in NTSC format video) or 50 fields (in PAL format video) rather than the 24 frames per second that film uses; the colors are much brighter and more saturated; and the images have a very "electronic" look that results from the direct manipulation of video signals through which the Scanimate produces the images.

How it works

A special high-resolution (around 800 lines) monochrome camera records high-contrast artwork. The image is then displayed on a high-resolution screen. Unlike a normal monitor, its deflection signals are passed through a special analog computer that enables the operator to bend the image in a variety of ways. The image is then shot from the screen by either a film camera or a video camera. In the case of a video camera, this signal is then fed into a colorizer, a device that takes certain shades of grey and turns it into color as well as transparency. The idea behind this is that the output of the Scanimate itself is always monochrome. Another advantage of the colorizer is that it gives the operator the ability to continuously add layers of graphics. This makes possible the creation of very complex graphics. This is done by using two video recorders. The background is played by one recorder and then recorded by another one. This process is repeated for every layer. This requires very high-quality video recorders (such as both the Ampex VR-2000 or IVC's IVC-9000 of Scanimate's era, the IVC-9000 being used quite frequently for Scanimate composition due to its very high generational quality between re-recordings).

Scanimate today

Two of the Scanimates are still in use at ZFx studios in Asheville, NC. The original "Black Swan" R&D machine has been updated with more modern power supplies and can produce material in standard or 1080P high definition video. The "white Pearl" machine is the last one produced and is being kept in its original configuration for historical purposes by David Sieg at ZFx inc. The machines are installed in a working production environment with Grass Valley switchers, Kaleidoscope effects systems and Accom digital disk recorders for layering.

Use in TV and films

TV Programs/Movies

TV Channels/Home Video/TV Productors

See also

References

External links

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