Interpreting the visual and cinematic style of Japanese anime using three-dimensional computer graphics

Abstract

Due to the international popularity of Japanese anime and its recognition as a cinematic art form, creative professionals in the animation industry are impressed with not only the complexity and artistic fluidity of the animation style but also the variety of narrative themes. As an acceptable alternative to live action films, Japanese directors and animators have more liberty with narrative themes and explicit imagery in anime than their western counterparts, and anime is attracting a variety of audiences ranging from young children to adults. As a stylistic form of animation with a distinct line art style, anime is traditionally produced by hand. With the development of non-photorealistic rendering techniques such as toon shading, three-dimensional computer graphics are used in anime production, though with limited application. This thesis attempts to interpret the visual and cinematic style of anime entirely within a three-dimensional digital environment through character design, modeling, character animation, cinematography, and non-photorealistic rendering.