Cambridge Animation Systems was a British software company that developed a traditional animation software package called Animo and is now part of Canadian company Toon Boom Technologies. It was based in Cambridge, England, hence the name. Established in 1990, it created the Animo software in 1992 after acquiring Compose in Color, which was developed by Oliver Unter-ecker.[1] Animo was used for several animated feature films, shorts, and television series, and it powered the UK animation industry until the 2000s as it was used by studios like King Rollo Films, Telemagination, and Cosgrove Hall Films,[2] but it was also used by studios in other countries, most notably Warner Bros. Feature Animation, DreamWorks, and Nelvana. In total, Animo was used by over 300 studios worldwide.[3][4][5]
 | |
| Developer(s) | Cambridge Animation Systems Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1992 |
| Final release | 6.0 / 8 December 2004
|
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, SGI O2 |
| Type | 2D animation software |
| License | Proprietary |
In 2000, CAS developed Animo Inkworks, a plug-in which allowed Maya and 3ds Max users to export 3D data into Animo and integrate it into 2D animation via the Scene III plug-in.[6][7][8] In 2001, they developed another plug-in called Animo Sniffworks, which exports Flash output to Maya.[9]
In 2009, CAS was acquired by Toon Boom Technologies and has since folded.[10]
See also
- Toon Boom Technologies, which acquired CAS and its Animo package
- Toonz, another prolific animation software used by the 2D industry in the 1990s and 2000s
- USAnimation
- Computer Animation Production System (CAPS), used by Disney from the 1990s to the mid-2000s
- Adobe Flash
- List of 2D animation software
References
- ^ "NeXT Computers :: View topic – WANTED: Cambridge Animation Systems "animo"". Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Cosgrove Hall studio history". Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Respect for Tradition Combined With Technological Excellence Drives Cambridge Animation's Leadership". Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "SIGGRAPH 96 Exhibitor / Cambridge Animation Systems". Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Cambridge Animation Systems". Archived from the original on 6 March 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Cambridge Animation Systems announces Animo Inkworks". Animation World Network. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Cambridge Animation Systems Releases Animo Inkworks". Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Spotlight: Cambridge Animation Stretches 2D". Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Swiffworks Brings Flash Output To Maya". Animation World Network. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ (8 January 2009)."Toon Boom Acquires Cambridge Animation" [AWN]. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
External links
- "Official website". Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2016.