Reports for History of Computing CS378
Joseph Lopez
2004 Oct 7

The History of 3D Animation Project Proposal

For my Project I propose that I research the history of Digital 3D animation. This would consist of looking at the origins of where Digital 3D animation began, who played key roles in the development and what technologies were used. Specifically I would like to see how Digital 3D animation became a successful medium for film making.

This topic is significant to the history of computing because Digital 3D animation brought together not only a unique culmination of computing power, but a unique set of developers. Digital 3D animation brought together art and technology through visual representations of compiled code. Digital 3D animation has also helped make significant software and hardware advances because of their taxing production and playback needs.

My paper will consist of an introduction, 3 main topics, with 2 minor topics per main topic and conclusion. In my introduction I will layout the overlying theme of my paper, then introduce my 3 main topics of the paper. These 3 topics are: flight simulators, early 3D animation and technology developed through 3D animation. The two subtopics for flight simulators are: the origin of 3D flight simulation and the development of 3D simulators. For my second main topic the two minor topics will be: the origins of commercial 3D animation and the development of commercial 3D animation films. The third topic's minor topics will be: technologies used and who developed them. I will then conclude by restating my over lying theme and provide insight into how this topic has contributed to the history of computing.

Annotated Bibliography

“ Flight Simulator History”, simflight.com, http://www.simflight.com/~fshistory/fsh/versions.htm (accessed 2004Oct 3)
This website offers a brief history of flight simulation, that though is not directly linked to commercial 3D animation is a form of 3D digital animation used for interactive enterainment.

“ Michael Morrison’s History of Computer Animation”
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/usr/ph/www/nyit/morrison/ (accessed 2004Oct 3)
This website contains exerpts of Michael Morrison’s book where he gives the “history of computer animation”, his experts provided me with a foundation to which I can judge my other sources with.

“The Art of 3D Computer Animation” http://www.artof3d.com/timelines.htm (accessed 2004Oct 3)
This site offers time tables that layout the progession of visual effects over the past century.

"Tron and the Last Star Fighter" http://www.cs.unc.edu/~zimmons/tron.html (accessed 2004Oct 3, please note the server was down when I attempted to download the site)
This website takes a look at how Tron and the Last Star Fighter's 3D animation was developed.