Then vs Now: The Evolution of Animation

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With several blockbuster hits being released in 2019, one of the most anticipated movies coming out this summer is Toy Story 4. The final installment of Pixar’s Toy Story series has come a long way since the release of the first film back in 1995, and features many of the same voices including Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusak. What has stuck with us throughout the years are the charming and relatable personalities of each toy and their ability to connect with us, the audience. The evolution of animation has given story writers, voiceover talents, and visual artists the opportunity to change the way animated storytelling is brought to life. 



The evolution of animation hasn’t only affected Pixar, but it has made a huge, positive impact for our team here at 321 Fast Draw. For us, the way we create whiteboards has evolved over the years as technology has changed and software has upgraded; however, it's never stopped us from showcasing the message we're trying to get across with visual metaphors and hand drawn illustrations. In our studios, we draw everything from scratch and the way we use pencil and ink has evolved to using digital programs like Photoshop and Procreate to mix our custom illustrations with all the bells and whistles you see in our videos on screen.

The still below on the left showcases one our earliest animated whiteboard projects: Kauffman Sketchbook "Three Things." As part of a larger series, this whiteboard was produced back in 2011 when we were first drawing up a storm and honing in on our process. If you look at the NASCAR illustration to the right, you can see our ability to work with richer, smoother colors. The nuances in texture differentiates itself from our earlier work within whiteboard animation.


At the end of the day, many companies like NASCAR and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation prefer using whiteboard animation to help their businesses prosper, and we're grateful that we get to take part in that experience. Not only have these projects given us the opportunity to grow creatively, they have also allowed us to make our storytelling more captivating.

With that said, we've got our popcorn ready for the much anticipated opening of Toy Story 4! The film is set to release in theaters June 20th, 2019. Which character are you most excited to see on the big screen?




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