Animation has played an integral role in video games since their inception in the 1950s. Today, video games feature detailed animation through techniques like concept design, character design, motion capture, and facial animation. This animation brings video game worlds and characters to life, engrossing players through realistic movements, vivid colors, and engaging facial expressions. Animation studios work closely with developers to realize their visions and craft immersive gaming experiences.

1. The Role of Animation in Video Games
Animation has been an integral part of video games since the late 1950s, when physicist William
Higinbotham created a simple tennis video game. Since then, both the popularity and sophistication of
this form of entertainment have expanded rapidly. Today, video games boast detailed and exciting
interactive animation that enthralls players of all kinds. Following are just a few of the ways in which
animation plays a role in the creation of today's video games.
Concept Design:
One of the basic ways in which 2D animation can support the development of video games is through
concept design. Concept artists take vague ideas and create sharply defined and well-developed
worlds. The main goal of their work is to visually flesh out the ideas that reside in the game
developers' heads and to create a cohesive style that can define the entire video game. By using this
design, the developer can then present an engaging, winsome, and unique world to the video game
player. Through effective concept design, the foundation is laid for a convincing video game that
embodies the goals, dreams, and vision of the developer and that provides hours of entertainment for
its players.
Character Design:
Closely related to concept design is character design. Similar to concept design, character design is
the process by which the ideas in the developer's mind are given concrete forms and personalities. It
is the process by which your favorite animated cartoons and characters have obtained the unique
looks and personalities that make them so memorable.

2. No animation can succeed without the development of characters that bring the world created by
concept design to life. A skilled character design artist will create characters who possess convincing
personalities and who engage in lifelike movements on the screen.
Through this process, the 2D animation studio works with the creator of the video game to develop
characters who will populate the world of the game. Whether they are powerful warriors for adult
action games, brightly colored and gentler creatures to entertain children, or anything in between, they
should mesh with the world created through the concept design process. In addition, these characters
should possess characteristics and personalities that will engage video game players as they interact
with the game.
Motion Graphics:
Motion graphics comprise the heart and soul of video game animation. A skilled video game animation
studio in LA or elsewhere creates motion graphics that effectively combine animation with other
elements like sound, written text, and pictures to create a cohesive and exciting interactive game. As a
result, the animation partner provides a valuable service by creating exciting motion graphics that
accurately convey the game's story. Without this skillful combination of mediums, the video game
cannot effectively bring the storyline to life.
One of the techniques that a motion graphics studio brings to the graphics table today is motion
capture. This technique captures real life movement and then translates that movement to the
animated product. The result is a more realistic and convincing performance by the video game's
characters than would otherwise be possible.

3. For instance, a character that shoots a gun now goes through a realistic set of movements that
reflects what it actually looks like for someone to fire a weapon (such as experiencing recoil). Likewise,
movements such as running and jumping are now so convincingly portrayed as to exactly capture
what these movements look like in real life. In addition, complex movements are possible, thanks at
least in part to the ability to realistically portray these movements on the video game screen. The
overall result is a more appealing game that makes the player feel as if they are interacting in a real-
life world.
Facial Animation:
Just as the movements and activities of video game characters have become more realistic over the
years, so have their facial expressions. Facial animation is now an important aspect of video game
animation, because the movements and activities in the game often require up close shots of
characters' faces.
2D animation in California and elsewhere can now provide detailed images of faces because they
have the expressions and reactions that you would expect from somebody responding to similar
situations in real life. This type of animation requires an extremely high level of detail that results in a
more satisfying and engaging playing experience than ever before. When players can see the
characters respond to events, they can more completely commit to the world and characters on the
screen and draw an even greater level of enjoyment from the game.
Abundant Color:
The video game animation studio in California and elsewhere can now also imbue its productions with
a rich variety of colors. The first video games were capable only of displaying a few dozen colors at
once. Over time, thanks to the advent of new technology, the hardware involved in displaying video
games became capable of showing hundreds of colors, then thousands of colors and, now, millions of
colors. The result of this advance in technology has been new options for animators. They can now
paint the worlds and characters they create with almost any conceivable color. Not only does this
expand the possibilities available during the concept design and character design phases of video
game production, but also allows animators to develop animation that is more engaging than ever
before.

4. Animation provides the key that makes enthralling video games possible. By utilizing concept design,
character design, motion graphics, realistic facial expressions, and abundant color, video game
animation allows video games to continue growing in complexity, beauty, and popularity.
Powerhouse Animation is a traditional 2D animation studio based in Austin, Texas with offices in
Burbank, California. Since 2001, Powerhouse has been making ideas come to life through animation,
illustration, and motion graphics. With a staff of 35 in-house artists, animators, videographers and
designers, Powerhouse works on a wide variety of projects and has created animation for companies
including Disney, Sony, Marvel, DC, Old Spice, Coca Cola, Miramax, the USO and more. To learn
more about some of these projects visit PowerhouseAnimation.com