Backgrounds in animation

Backgrounds in animation have always been important, this is because the illusion of the character in the animated world is incomplete without the use of effective backgrounds. Backgrounds however only really fully apply to 2d animation as 3d animation is the actual three-dimensional world and so it is treated as such, the background not being backgrounds but actual modeled landscapes. However some 3d movies use 2d planes that are painted as backgrounds simulation the process of using backgrounds in 2d animation. Studio Ghibi are known for their stunning, beautiful backgrounds that really complete the world Hayao Miyazaki has created. For most animated productions in the early Disney era of animation the backgrounds were hand painted with watercolours and the hand crafted aura of the films really resonated through the backgrounds.

 

Background from 'Spirited Away'