How much can anyone
accomplish with pen and ink
alone? Quite a lot, actually, if the
rich legacy of animated feature
films is any indication. But time
and technology were bound to
move forward, opening up the
creative toolbox in previously
unimagined ways. The first toe-
dip into the waters of computer-
generated animation allowed
artists to take visual risks and
solve a rainbow of creative
challenges. By the 1990s, we
watched Aladdin take a ride on
a digitally enhanced carpet, the
Beast and Belle share a dance in a
now iconic CG ballroom, and The
Prince of Egypt's Moses part a CG
Red Sea.
These initial milestones opened
new windows that resulted in
fresh but still timeless stories.
Here, Animation Guild members
take a look back, exploring what
traditional and CG artists have
made possible with computers on
some of your favorite films.
AS COMPUTER GRAPHICS IN ANIMATION
EVOLVED, ART AND TECHNOLOGY MERGED IN
WAYS THAT ENRICHED BOTH THE LOOK AND
STORYTELLING IN FEATURE FILMS.
this page: Advancements in CG technology led to new simulation programs
like Disney's Tonic, Quicksilver, and Dynamic Wires that allowed for more
realistic hair movement.
Image
courtesy
of
Walt
Disney
Animation
Studios
SUMMER 2025 35
