Disney magic and the future of animation: how is digital art evolving?
Animation is living a golden age thanks to a combination of boundless creativity and technological advances. Disney, the undisputed leader in the industry, has set the pace for this evolution with its latest releases. But what does this progress mean for digital art and for those who aspire to be part of the industry? If you are passionate about the world of animation and want to become one of its protagonists, the Bachelor's Degree in Animation could be the first step towards your professional future.
A key moment for animation and digital art
The art of storytelling through animation has changed profoundly in the last decades. Films such as Enchantment, Elemental, Wish and the recent release of Pod 2 not only demonstrate the power of storytelling, but also reflect how digital tools and technological innovation elevate visual experiences.
The Walt Disney Company continues to be a pioneer inincorporating advanced techniques such as real-time rendering, hyper-realistic physical simulations and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to optimise creative processes. These innovations have transformed the way fictional worlds are created, offering richer, more visually stunning universes.
Enchantment: magical realism
Released in 2021, Encanto became a global phenomenon for its captivating story and impeccable visual design. The film, which explores the life of a magical family in Colombia, is a perfect example of how Disney combines emotional storytelling and cutting-edge technology.
What is the role of AI in Encanto?
The technology was instrumental in simulating the hair and clothing. The Madrigal family includes characters with unique styles, from Mirabel's curly hair to Isabela's loose, straight hair. In fact, it is the only Disney film to feature every single hair texture category from 1A to 4C. To capture the natural movements of these elements and achieve a realistic representation in an animated environment, Disney used AI algorithms that simulate the physical interactions between hair and the environment, such as wind or water.
👇Do you want to know more? Four members of the "Enchantment" team tell you.
On the other hand, it is also important in the design of living environments. The magical house, "La Casita", is just another character in the film. AI was used to generate patterns of movement and behaviour in the elements of the house, allowing it to respond in real time to the actions of the characters. This technology also helped to create light and shadow effects that dynamically interact with the environment.
Finally, the animators used AI to analyse reference images and videos to recreate Colombian flora and fauna. In doing so, they generated realistic 3D models and optimised production time. From the movements of the animals to the texture of the plants, every detail reflects the diversity of the environment.
Wish: a fusion of tradition and modernity
With Wish (2023), Disney celebrated its centenary by exploring its classic roots while implementing state-of-the-art technology. The film stands out for its unique visual style combining 2D and 3D art, an innovative technique that bridges traditional and modern animation.
What is the role of AI in Wish?
To achieve the look and feel of Wish, Disney had to combine the 2D and 3D style. To do this, they used systems and programmes capable of analysing 2D drawing strokes and translating them into 3D textures. This allowed them to maintain the traditional hand-drawn aesthetic while benefiting from the flexibility of 3D modelling. AI also helped automate shading and texturing, maintaining visual consistency between the two techniques.
Want to know more about how they combined 2D and 3D?
The technology was also instrumental in creating and animating the star, a key character in the film that combines fluid movements and minimalist design. They made his interactions with the environment feel natural and magical, fromreflecting light off the characters to generating glowing patterns in the sky.
Finally, by using AI, the creative teams were able to significantly reduce production times, automating repetitive tasks such as rendering complex elements or designing dynamic backgrounds. This allowed them to focus more on narrative and artistic development.
What makes Disney a benchmark in animation?
As we have already mentioned, the Walt Disney Company is one of the world's largest producers and distributors of entertainment. We can point to two traits that make it the benchmark it is today:
Emotional storytelling and unique character design.
Since its founding, Disney has been able to create stories that connect with audiences on an emotional level. Carefully designed characters convey depth and authenticity. This relies not only on scriptwriters or animators, but also on the design and digital art team, who bring every facial expression and movement to life.
Technology and art working in harmony
Disney is also leading the way in the implementation of technology in film production. In recent releases, we have seen how digital art fuses the best of traditional techniques with advances such as:
Physical simulations: to recreate natural movements of hair, clothing and water.
Global illumination: bringing realism and atmosphere to each scene.
AI in facial animation: allowing characters to express complex emotions with great accuracy.
The future of animation: new trends and opportunities
Animation does not only live on in cinema. Its influence has grown exponentially in sectors such as video games, augmented reality (AR) and immersive experience design. Some key trends include:
- Hybrid productions: combining live-action and animation, as we have seen in The Lion King or The Little Mermaid.
- Virtual and augmented reality: the creation of interactive worlds is booming, especially on platforms such as Meta or Apple Vision Pro.
- Sustainability in animation: reducing the carbon footprint of productions through more efficient technologies.
Studying at a university specialising in animation will allow you to explore these emerging areas and develop a comprehensive vision of the industry. UDIT's Bachelor's Degree in Animation will provide you with comprehensive training in 2D and 3D Animation, enabling you to become a professional capable of tackling complex projects. Do you want to know more?
Degree in Animation
UDIT's Bachelor's Degree in Animation is the only degree that will train you in 2D and 3D Animation, as well as cut-out, motion capture, concept art and production, post-production and VFX.
Over four years, you will learn with an up-to-date curriculum to design stories, characters, settings and worlds that capture the viewer's imagination, using techniques such as 3D modelling, advanced texturing and skeletal animation, through project-based training and a focus on employability .
During the first year of the course, you will acquire a mastery of basic technical and artistic drawing techniques. Throughout the course, you will begin to animate in two dimensions, in the classical way. You will acquire a broad training in art, acting and scriptwriting.
During the second year, you will deepen your knowledge of the concepts and techniques initiated in the previous year, and you will also begin to work on 3D animation, as well as photography and lighting.
In the third year, you will expand your knowledge of 3D animation, adding special effects. You will also work on audio, as well as cinematographic direction and editing, key elements to be able to develop advanced projects.
The last course will be the final step for your insertion in the labour market, where in addition to developing complete projects you will learn about music composition, current legislation or art direction.
👇Discover Ventura, the animated short film by the students of the UDIT Bachelor's Degree in Animation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gad4rCINwUA
Why study Animation at UDIT?
UDIT, University of Design, Innovation and Technology, is a reference in Animation. We are a Toon Boom centre of excellence. During the four years of your degree, you will learn alongside renowned professionals who combine teaching with their work in the main companies in the sector. A Goya Award, in 2019, for the animated short film "Cazatalentos", in which a UDIT student participated.
Our classrooms have trained personalities such as Raúl García, animator at Warner Bros in projects such as "Phineas and Ferb, Candance against the universe" or Diego Porral, animation supervisor for a Netflix project and whose work "A day in the park" was nominated in 2018 for the Goya Award for Best Animated Short Film, among others.
At the University of Design, Innovation and Technology you can live unique experiences by participating in fairs, events and festivals such as Animac, Animaweek, International Animation Film Festival and get in touch with professionals and companies in the industry through masterclasses, workshops and workshops such as the Spanish Stop-Motion seminar given by Sam Ortí or the exhibition A Egipto con Disney, curated by María Luz Mangado, PhD in Egyptology and PhD in the Near East.
👇Do you want to know what you need to study Animation?
Our aim is to train the animation professionals and digital artists of the future. Our programme combines the best of art, technology and storytelling so that our graduates are prepared to lead the industry. Are you ready to take the leap? Find out more now and start your journey in the world of animation!
