Does anyone know exactly what animation technique was used for The Snowman?
It seems like colored pencils on white paper, with the snow being created as a double pass during the filming process. Anyone know for sure? Thanks.
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Hi Fred-332!
The technique was traditional animation. Transparent cels are photographed over painted backgrounds, and in many cases during the film, the entire frame of the film is drawn by hand, which is how the effect of the two characters flying was achieved and more.
The reason why the whole piece looks like a 'complete' painting is because the cels and the backgrounds were coloured using the same mediums - crayons and pastels! Because both the cels and backgrounds were painted this way, the two blend together naturally.
Sources: DVD extras.
To confirm what Tom16uk said. You can find out more about the process here at the Pencil Museum:
http://www.pencilmuseum.co.uk/
Now I know what you're thinking: "A pencil museum!? Yawn!"
I thought that too, and was pleasantly surprised how interesting it was. If you're even in Keswick on a rainy afternoon (this is the Lake District!), I recommend a visit. There's a short film to watch about the making of pencils and it also explains how the animation on "The Snowman" was done.
The pencils were supplied by http://www.pencils.co.uk/default.aspx, which is on the same site.
Interesting fact I remembered from my visit and a guaranteed conversation killer:
"Pencils were invented in Cumbria."
Its origin and purpose, still a total mysteryshare