Tutorial

Multiplane SCENE CONSTRUCTION

Overview

Multiplaning is the animation technique of moving different layers or objects at different rates to create a sense of depth. It it similar to how, when you're driving down the road, the sign close to the road appears to move much faster than the trees farther away. Lateral/horizontal multiplanes, for example, can be found in a lot of side-scrolling games.

HISTORY

This video explains the invention of the original multi-plane camera at Disney Animation Studios.

TUTORIAL

Example by student Tina Uhazie for Big Cat Games

LAYERS

Multiplanes are based on layers. At the very least, you will need three layers: foreground, middle ground, and background. Tina used five layers for this environment.

A solid background

A far middleground

A near middleground

A main foreground.

A near silhouette foreground

PROCESS

Multiplanes can be created in any animation software that supports layers, such as Flash or After Effects. Import your layers, putting the background layer lowest in the stack and the foreground layer highest. The basic process is the same.

DESIGN

Notice that the each layer is wider than the final output to allow for panning. For example, Tina Uhazie's layers are double the width of the output.
Incorporating atmospheric perspective is critical to creating the illusion of depth in a multi-plane environment

TIMING

Move the front layers (foreground) faster than the middle layers.
Move the middle layers (middle ground) at a speed that best supports the narrative
Move the back layers (background) slower than the middle layers.
When creating a looping multiplane, like Tina Uhazie, your foreground layer (because it moves fastest) will repeat itself several times before your background layer has made one complete loop (because it moves slowest).

EXAMPLES

Student: McCoy Khamphouy, Animated Multiplane for "Hansel and Gretel"

Rovio Entertainment, "Angry Birds". Take note of the horizontal background pan, and notice how much length and height is needed.

z1Test.mov

Susan Bonner and Bill Fischer, Test Animation for "Wheels"

The Background was designed in a 3D Program and then re-imaged in Flash to add texture and flatness of the props. The illusion of space can be seen as we go back in space, the environment gets lighter to show atmospheric perspective.