Autodesk Animator: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:57, 7 February 2023

Latest revision as of 11:45, 18 August 2025

(15 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|2D animation software}}

{{More citations needed|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox software

Line 15 ⟶ 16:

}}

[[File:Nature Clock.gif|thumbnail|Animation made with Animator Pro]]

'''Autodesk Animator''' is a [[2D computer graphics|2D]] [[computer animation]] and painting program published in 1989 for [[MS-DOS]]. It was considered groundbreaking when initially released.<ref name="pcmag.com">[https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1167636,00.asp Graphics - Winner: Autodesk Animator]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''"Robert Bennett, Lewis Gartenberg, David Kalish, Jim Kent, Jack Powell, Gary Yost"'' on pcmag.com (1989)</ref>

== Functionality ==

Animator gave the ability to do frame-by-frame animation (creating each frame as an individual picture, much like [[Traditional animation]]) . Animator Studio also had [[tweening]] features (transforming one shape into another by letting the computer draw each in-between shape onto a separate frame). Animator and Animator Pro supported [[FLI/FLC|FLI and FLC]] animation file formats, while Animator Studio also supported the [[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]] format. Animator was particularparticularly strong in [[Palette (computing)|Palette]] based editing, effects (like [[Color cycling]]) and animations a favored technology in the time of [[Indexed color|indexed]] [[List of 8-bit computer hardware palettes|CGA and VGA]] [[graphics mode]]s.

Unlike other DOS software from that time, Animator was not restricted by the [[640k barrier|640 kilobyte]] [[conventional memory]] limitation as it utilized a [[DOS extender]] by [[Phar Lap (company)|Phar Lap]]. Animator's combination of twenty tools multiplied by twenty inks, 3D 'optics,' unparalleled palette handling, custom fonts and many other useful features (such as its own internal [[scripting language]] POCO), put it many years ahead of better known animation tools of the time.

== Development history ==

''Animator'' originates back to its author's [[Jim Kent]] earlier program ''Cyber Paint'' for the [[Atari ST]].<ref name="asterius">[http://www.asterius.com/atari/cyberpaint.html The Antic Cyber Graphics Software and the Pre-History of Autodesk 3D Studio and Discreet 3ds max] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501104131/http://www.asterius.com/atari/cyberpaint.html |date=2013-05-01 }}. Asterius.com. Retrieved on 2013-04-22.</ref> [[Jim Kent]] evolved in 1989 his software into ''Animator'' for [[Gary Yost]]'s "Yost Group" for [[80286]] [[Personal computer|PC]]s with [[MS-DOS]].<ref>[http://www.randelshofer.ch/animations/anims_atari/jim_kent/Tesla.anim.html jim_kent/Tesla] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218070611/http://www.randelshofer.ch/animations/anims_atari/jim_kent/Tesla.anim.html |date=2017-02-18 }} on randelshofer.ch</ref><ref name="mussy">[https://drmussey.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/the-first-pioneer-in-pc-animation-autodesk-animator/ The First Pioneer in PC Animation: Autodesk Animator] by Dr. Mussy ''"October – November, marks an interesting anniversary for animation: 21 years ago, animation became available for the PC platform."'' (November 8, 2010)</ref> ''Animator'' was then licensed to [[Autodesk]], who published the software as ''Autodesk Animator''.

=== Releases ===

''Animator'' was debuted at [[SIGGRAPH]] 1989,<ref>[http://excelsior.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~carlson/history/tree/ani-software.html Animation Software Companies and Individuals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219222707/http://excelsior.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~carlson/history/tree/ani-software.html |date=2016-12-19 }} ''"At the 1989 SIGGRAPH in Boston, Autodesk unveiled a new PC based animation package called Autodesk Animator."'' by Wayne Carlson on [[Ohio State University]]</ref> featuring a VGA [[graphics mode]] of [[Mode 13h|320×200]] pixels with [[256 colors]].

In July 1991, the successor '''Animator Pro''' was released, with the significant improvement of allowing almost any resolution and [[color depth]]. The software was sold for approx.approximately US$800 (US$1,800 in 2025), significantly more expensive than the previous version, addressing the professional audience.<ref name="mussy"/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hqQJaNzN9IcC&pg=PA452&lpg=PA452&dq=%22autodesk+animator+pro%22&sourcepg=bl&ots=w7IhjENfW8&sig=SGamQQjJ1BCFA3u7HaEVNtW9mo4&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiX-7TekpfSAhUERhQKHeNNCsE4ChDoAQgoMAU#v=onepage&q=%22autodesk%20animator%20pro%22&f=falsePA452 PC Mag Aug. 1992]</ref>

The 1995 released '''Animator Studio''' was a complete re-write for [[Windows 95]], but was not anymore developed by the Yost Group.

=== AbandonmentDiscontinuation and legacy ===

Eventually [[End-of-life (product)|development of the product ended]] and [[Abandonware|support was discontinued]] by Autodesk. The [[trademark]] for "Autodesk Animator", filed on December 18, 1989, expired on July 21, 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4809:eanu2z.2.1 |title=Autodesk Animator |publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] |accessdate=2017-02-17 |quote=''"Word Mark AUTODESK ANIMATOR [...] Serial Number 74011626, Filing Date December 18, 1989 [...] Live/Dead Indicator DEAD, Cancellation Date July 21, 1997"''}}</ref>

Jim Kent kept [[copyright]]s to the 300,000 lines [[source code]] base of Animator Pro, and allowed it to be made available publicly under the [[Open-source license|open-source]] [[BSD license]] in 2009.<ref name="license">[https://github.com/AnimatorPro/Animator-Pro animator pro] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030122426/https://github.com/AnimatorPro/Animator-Pro |date=2016-10-30 }} on GitHub ''"All source code (unless otherwise marked, or if better information becomes available) is ©1989-1994 Jim Kent and is available here under the BSD license"''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bustingseams.blogspot.de/2009/05/autodesk-animator.html |title=Autodesk Animator - UPDATE: New website, animatorpro.org , Source code now online. |date=2009-05-08 |quote="he kept his rights to the source code, and now, he is granting me access to the source code, to make it available to you all! Well not so fast. He also asked me to get in touch with Gary Yost to ensure that he didn't object. [...] But I managed, and I got his support too! So now that all the relevant parties are up to speed with my idea let's go" |author=Breton Slivka}}</ref> The original 256 color ''Animator'' version for DOS is also provided as a [[freeware]] download.<ref>[https://github.com/AnimatorPro/Animator-Pro/downloads downloads] on [[github.com]]</ref> After some initial [[code review]]<ref>[https://stackoverflow.com/q/4911160 porting-autodesk-animator-pro-to-be-cross-platform] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217064111/http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4911160/porting-autodesk-animator-pro-to-be-cross-platform/ |date=2017-02-17 }} on [[Stackoverflow]]</ref> [[Source port|porting]] to modern platforms was started on [[GitHub]].<ref>[https://github.com/AnimatorPro/Animator-Pro Animator-Pro] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030122426/https://github.com/AnimatorPro/Animator-Pro |date=2016-10-30 }} on github.com</ref> As of April 2014 most of the [[assembly language]] source code had been ported to [[Cross platform|platform-agnostic]] [[C (programming language)|C]] code and [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]] was used as the target back-end framework.<ref>[https://github.com/AnimatorPro/Animator-Pro/commit/b63d1d862ec6ab45db776e69d58c970e7000e030 PJ: remove add_check_tflx_toram and rem_check_tflx_toram.] by wangds on github.com/AnimatorPro (23 April 2014)</ref>

== Reception ==

Animator was considered to be groundbreaking in the field of [[computer animation]] when it was initially released. In 1989 Animator won ''[[PC Magazine]]''{{'}}s "6th Annual Technical Excellence Award for Graphics".<ref name="pcmag.com"/>

Also, [[video game developer]]s used the software for intros and other animated sequences in their games, for instance [[Formula One Grand Prix (video game)|Formula One Grand Prix]] (1991, [[MicroProse]]), [[Cannon Fodder (video game)|Cannon Fodder]] (1993, [[Virgin Interactive]]) and [[Jazz Jackrabbit 2]]<ref>[https://www.jazz2online.com/35/visual/ About - Creation of Jazz Jackrabbit]</ref> (1998, [[Epic Games]]); animators used the software for animation for shows such as ''[[Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist]]''.

Animator Studio attempted to do more than previous versions of the program, yet it had limited success. It also lost the ergonomic fluidity that the DOS versions had and was overshadowed by [[Toonz]] in terms of features and functionality. Animator Pro, though, was by far the most useful, and was exceptionally fast compared with today's animation programs.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The program worked so well and had enough of an impact, that it convinced [[James Cameron]] that [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] couldcan create a character in his next film, ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''; Autodesk did advertisement with this.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hnvCf6WlcYcC&pg=PP129&lpg=PP129&dq=autodesk+animator+terminator+2&sourcepg=bl&ots=CYTDcAJkXp&sig=zT9uJFsHtwcqJowyiJtTKW0So7U&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2x-SdpJXSAhWoZpoKHW4JB-4Q6AEIaDAN#v=onepage&q=autodesk%20animator%20terminator%202&f=falsePP129 Advertisement Autodesk Animator Pro] on [[PC Magazine]] (May 26, 1992)</ref>

There were also books written about Animator for instance "Inside Autodesk Animator: The Complete Guide to Animation on a PC" by [[New Riders Publishing]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite book|publisher=New Riders Publishing|ISBNisbn=9780934035767 |title=Inside Autodesk Animator: The Complete Guide to Animation on a PC |year=1990 |issue=first}}</ref>

==See also==

Line 59 ⟶ 60:

{{Commons category}}

* {{GitHub|AnimatorPro/Animator-Pro}}

* [https://reviewsmentor.com/technologies/animator-pro/ Animator (1989)] Freeware download via [[GitHub]]

* [http://low.fi/~visy/fli/ Gallery with examples of Animator created animations]

* [https://www.youtube.com/@Jecarci/videos Examples of animations made with Autodesk Animator Pro by Jecarci]

{{Animation editors}}

{{Autodesk products}}

[[Category:2D animation software]]

[[Category:Autodesk discontinued products]]