JPH06195438A - Animation preparing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify an animation preparing work by preparing a reference picture which can be looked through by superposing series of original pictures by synthesizing the prepared original pictures and preparing an original picture on the reference picture. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a memory means 6 storing the series of the original pictures, which are prepared in the past, a reference picture preparing means 2 preparing the reference picture S which can be looked through by superposing a series of the original pictures B by synthesizing a series of the original pictures B, reference picture display means 2 and 5 displaying the reference picture S and original picture input means 2 to 4 capable of inputting the original picture G which is newly prepared on the reference picture S displayed by the reference picture display means 2 and 5. Namely, the reference picture S which can be looked through by superposing a series of the original pictures B by synthesizing a series of the original pictures B is prepared and the newly-prepared original picture G can be inputted on the reference picture S. Consequently, the original pictures B prepared thus for can be superposed by any number of sheets at need so as to look through them so that the movement of the original picture can easily be recognized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Field of Industrial Application Conventional Technology (FIG. 9) Problem to be Solved by the Invention (FIG. 9) Means for Solving the Problem (FIGS. 1, 4 and 6) Action (FIGS. 1, 4 and 6) Example (1) Overall configuration (FIG. 1) (2) Overall processing (FIGS. 1 and 2) (3) Display of drawing screen (FIGS. 3 to 6) (4) Simulation process (FIG. 7) (5) ) Creation of background image, etc. (6) Effect of the embodiment (7) Other embodiment (FIG. 8) Effect of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an animation creating apparatus, for example, when creating an animation by using a hand-drawn image, further, an animation is created by combining a live-action image with a moving image created by hand-drawing. It can be applied when

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the process of creating animations, a cel image is hand-drawn one by one, and then this cel image is sequentially superimposed on a background image to photograph an animation. Has been done.

That is, in the conventional animation creating process, each scene is separated into a foreground and a background, and a stationary distant view or the like is assigned to this background and hand-painted on the paper. Further, in the animation creation process, the foreground of each scene is assigned to the background side and front side cels according to the front-rear positional relationship such as characters appearing in each scene. This cell image is created by superimposing a transparent film on an original image created in advance and then coloring the transparent film based on the original image.

For this reason, in this type of animation creating process, the original image is created by pencil drawing in units of one frame or several frames in accordance with the movement of the character previously assigned to each cell image by the creator. . As a result, in the animation creation process, the cel image of the foreground is sequentially overlaid on the predetermined background from the background side to create the image of each frame,
By shooting this image one frame at a time, a moving image in which the characters and the like shown in the cel image sequentially move is created.

At this time, when the cel image is actually completed as a moving image, it is created in units of one frame or several frames so that the movement of the character assigned to the cel image can be smoothly expressed. Is designed to check the movement by superimposing original images of cel images to which the same characters are assigned.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, in the animation creating process, when the original image is created in this manner, the original images BA to BN created up to that point are overlapped with the original image G currently being created from the background side. It is illuminated by a predetermined illumination means L, and the original images BA to BN and G are observed through. In this way, it is possible to imagine the movement of the charrakura assigned to the original pictures BA to BN, G, and by estimating the movement of this charactor, draw a line LIN with a predetermined writing tool P, for example, and draw the original picture G. It is designed to create and create smooth movements.

[0008]

By the way, in the conventional animation creating process for creating each cel image one by one as described above, a huge amount of time and manpower are required as a whole by relying on manpower from the creation of the original image. There is a drawback, and for this reason, it has been attempted in recent years to use a computer to simplify the animation creation work.

That is, in this type of animation creating process, an image is roughly created in units of several frames, and the image between the frames of this image (that is, an image divided in half) is subjected to a so-called interpolation calculation method. The method of making it with a computer is proposed. Also, in the animation creation process using this type of computer, a method to add color to the separately input original image on the computer,
Furthermore, a method of using a computer to manage the output of the completed animation, sound matching, and shooting of cel images has been proposed.

Of these, when the original image is taken into the computer and is given a color, the cell image is unnecessary, and the entire work can be simplified accordingly. Also, by applying a computer to output animation, match sounds, and shoot cel images, you can skip the film shooting process and record directly on video tape, which simplifies the entire work. it can.

However, in the case where the computer is applied as described above, in each case, an original image handwritten by a painter with a pencil is photographed by a video camera and is taken into the computer. For this reason, noise may occur around the lines of the original image when the image is processed and imported into the computer.Therefore, it is necessary to separately correct the lines of the original image imported to the computer, and it is also necessary to remove noise. become.

Further, in any of the methods, since the original image itself has to be hand-painted, the original image itself can be judged only by seeing the watermark and the motion can be judged. In this case, the original image is written on paper. There is a limit to the number of watermarks that can be viewed, and there is also the drawback that the overall movement cannot be determined when the number of frames increases. For this reason, many original images were overlaid and the movements had to be estimated, and the creation of the original images had the drawback of relying on experience and intuition.
Furthermore, there is a drawback that it is difficult to judge the relationship between each original image and the background during the process by drawing the background separately on the paper.

For this reason, even when the computer is eventually used, the conventional animation creating method has a problem that the work is complicated and time-consuming.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose an animation creating apparatus capable of further simplifying the animation creating work as compared with the conventional art.

[0015]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a memory means 6 for storing a series of original images B created in the past and a series of original images B are combined to overlap a series of original images B. Reference image creating means 2 for creating a reference image S that looks like a watermark, reference image displaying means 2, 5 for displaying the reference image S, and reference image S displayed by the reference image displaying means 2, 5.
The original image input means 2, 3, 4 adapted to input the original image G newly created is provided.

Further, in the present invention, in the simulation mode, a series of original images B stored in the memory means 6 are sequentially displayed.

Further, in the present invention, the background image H stored in the predetermined background image storage means 6 is assigned to the background of the reference image S or the series of original images B and displayed, and the gradation of the background image H is compressed. Display in pale colors.

[0018]

If a series of original images B are combined to create a reference image S that looks like a watermark by superimposing a series of original images B, a newly created original image G can be input on the reference image S. If necessary, the original images B created up to that point can be overlaid and watermark-viewed, and the movement of the original image can be easily confirmed.

At this time, the operation mode can be switched and the series of original images B can be sequentially displayed to confirm the actual movement.

Further, when displaying the reference image S and the original image being created, or when sequentially displaying a series of original images B, the background image H is displayed by being assigned to the background of the reference image S or the series of original images B. By compressing the gradation of the background image H and displaying it in a light color, the relationship with the background can also be confirmed.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Structure In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an animation creating apparatus as a whole, which is a central processing unit (CPU) as an arithmetic unit,
By performing a predetermined process by an engineering work station (EWS) 2 formed of a ROM which is a storage area for a system program and a RAM which is a data storage area, animations can be sequentially created.

That is, in the EWS 2, the operation can be switched according to the command input through the keyboard 3 and the mouse 4 which are input devices, and the line drawing data can be input. It is designed to monitor the animation creation work.

Further, in the EWS 2, an image of a background or the like stored in a video storage device (for example, a digital disc recorder) 6 can be displayed on the CRT 5 together with a cursor, whereby the background and / or the original image created so far can be displayed. An original image or the like can be created by operating the mouse 4 while referring to it. The created original image is directly stored in the video storage device 6, and if necessary, this original image is colored with a color corresponding to a cell image. The image is stored in the video storage device 6.

Therefore, in the video storage device 6, an image of a background or the like created separately can be stored in advance via the image pickup means, and a background image created separately by the EWS 2 can be stored in advance. ing. As a result, in the animation creating apparatus 1, by operating the keyboard 3 or the mouse 4 while referring to the background and / or the original image created so far via the CRT 5, the original image can be superimposed to check the movement to see the movement. Like this,
In this state, the original image can be created by operating the mouse 4 instead of the pencil, and the created original image can be colored again.

(2) Overall Processing In the animation creating apparatus 1, the EWS 2 executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. 2 to execute the animation creating processing. That is, when the EWS 2 starts the animation creating processing procedure, the steps from SP 1 to SP 1
The process moves to 2 and waits for an input by operating the keyboard 3 or the mouse 4.

Here, when the operator operates the keyboard 3 to input a predetermined command or when the operator operates the mouse 4 to click the menu displayed on the CRT 5, the EWS 2 moves to step SP3 and inputs to the drawing screen. Judge whether it is a command or not. Here, in the drawing screen, the operator operates the mouse 4 to move the cursor on the CRT 5, and the operator selects a menu such as a circle or line segment and specifies the position on the CRT 5, On the screen for creating an image represented by a moving path, a line segment such as a circle segment, the animation creation device 1
In the above, the drawing screen is sequentially updated so that the original drawing can be created.

If a positive result is obtained in step SP3, the EWS 2 moves to step SP4, where the operator displays the moving locus of the cursor and the drawn line such as a circle segment on the creation screen according to the input, and then in step SP2. Return. As a result, in the animation creating apparatus 1, the processing loop LOO of steps SP2-SP3-SP4-SP2 is executed.
P1 can be repeated as needed to create one original image, and the created original image is stored in the video storage device 6 as necessary, and after being colored, stored in the video storage device 6 and the like. It is designed so that an original picture can be created.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the original image can be created by directly inputting the drawn line, it is possible to effectively avoid the disturbance of the edge when the original image is photographed and captured, and thus, It is designed so that you can easily create an animation.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP3, step SP5 in EWS2.
Then, it is determined whether or not the command is a reference image read command. Here, the reference image is an image obtained by superimposing the original images created in the past on the watermark, and in the case of this embodiment, the original images created in the past are synthesized in response to the user's operation subsequently input to form the reference image. It is designed to be created.

When the command for reading the reference image is input by this, a positive result is obtained in step SP5, and the EWS 2 moves to step SP6. Here, the EWS 2 displays this reference image on the CRT 5 as the background of the creation screen, thereby displaying the reference image specified by the operator on the creation screen, and then returns to step SP2. As a result, in the animation creation device 1,
If necessary, display this reference image on the creation screen and loop L
The process of OOP1 is repeated so that an original image can be created, whereby an original image can be easily created.

Further, in this embodiment, in the EWS 2, when the reference image is displayed on the drawing screen, the background image assigned to the original image being created is read from the video storage device 6 and displayed on the CRT 5 as the background. Has been done. As a result, the operator can easily grasp the relation with the background when creating the original image, and the animation creating work can be simplified in the animation creating apparatus 1 accordingly.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP5, the EWS 2 moves to step SP7,
It is judged whether or not one original picture has been drawn. If the operator inputs a predetermined command to the effect that one original image has been drawn, a positive result is obtained in EWS2, and the process moves to step SP8 and the image data of the original image created in this way is given a predetermined value. It is output to the video storage device 6 with an address attached, whereby the original image created at the frame position designated by the operator is stored, and then the process returns to step SP2.

As a result, in the animation creating apparatus 1, the EWS 2 repeats a series of processes from step SP2 to step SP8 to display the original images created up to that point on the display screen in a necessary number, and the cursor is displayed on the display screen. It is designed so that the original images can be sequentially created by moving. As a result, the operator can see as many watermarks as desired by superimposing the original images, and the movement of the original images can be grasped much more easily than in the past.

On the other hand, when a negative result is obtained in step SP7, step SP9 in EWS2.
Then, it is judged whether or not a simulation execution command is input. If the operator interrupts a series of original image creation processing and inputs a simulation execution command, a positive result is obtained in step SP9 in EWS2, and the process moves to step SP10, and according to the operator's designation input subsequently. Perform simulation processing.

In this simulation processing, the EW
In S2, after temporarily saving the image data of the original image being created, the background image and the original image are sequentially read from the video storage device 6 for the number of frames designated by the operator, and C
The image is displayed on the RT5, the animation created up to that point is displayed in the form of a moving image, and then the process returns to the step SP2. As a result, in the animation creation device 1,
If necessary, the movement of the original image created up to that point can be confirmed in an actual moving image format, so that the movement of the character can be easily confirmed without depending on experience and intuition.

Therefore, in the animation creating device 1, even an unskilled person can easily operate to create an animation, and the creation time can be shortened. The animation creation work can be greatly simplified. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP9, the EWS 2 moves to step SP11 to judge whether or not it is a moving image recording command. If a positive result is obtained here, step S11
Move to P12.

Here, in the EWS 2, the original image stored in the video storage device 6 is combined with the background image in accordance with the instruction of the operator that is subsequently input to create a combined image,
This composite image is stored in the video storage device 6. As a result, in EWS2, the same animation as in the case where the conventional cel image is superposed on the background and photographed is created for each frame, and the process returns to step SP2. In this example,
In the animation creation device 1, when the original picture is created on the creation screen, the original picture can be colored together so that the cel picture creation process can be omitted and the original picture can be directly processed to create the animation. Therefore, the animation creation work can be simplified accordingly.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP11, step SP11 is executed in EWS2.
13, it is judged whether or not the end command is input. If a negative result is obtained here, the process returns to step SP2 to wait for the subsequent input, whereas step SP13
When a negative result is obtained in step S14, the process proceeds to step SP14 and ends the processing procedure. As a result, in the animation creating device 1, the EWS 2 can execute the processing procedure shown in FIG. 2 to create an animation much more easily than in the past.

(3) Display of drawing screen In the animation creating apparatus 1, the original image can be created by moving the cursor on the drawing screen and designating a position such as a circle or a straight line in this way. The drawing screen is displayed by executing the processing procedure shown in FIG. 3 by the EWS 2.

That is, in EWS2, step S
After shifting from P20 to step SP21, the background image corresponding to the original image that is being created here is read from the video storage device 6 to the RAM, and then proceeds to step SP22, and the corresponding reference image file exists in the video storage device 6. Judge whether or not. Here, for example, in the case of scene change,
Since the movement of the original image created in the past and the original image being created is not continuous, the reference image file corresponding to the image being created does not exist.

As a result, in EWS2, when a negative result is obtained in step SP22, step SP22
23, only the read background image is displayed on the CRT 5, and then the process proceeds to step SP24 to end the processing procedure. As a result, in the animation creation device 1,
Even if there is no reference image, the background image can be overlaid to create the original image, and the animation creation work can be simplified accordingly. On the other hand, if you are creating continuous original images for the same scene,
A positive result is obtained at step SP22, and EWS2
In step SP25, the process proceeds to step SP25.

In the EWS 2, the file of the reference image is read from the video storage device 6 into the RAM, and is displayed on the CRT 5 by being superposed on the background image in the following step SP26.
In the subsequent step SP24, this processing procedure is ended. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the EWS 2, the original image B that has been created up to that point is stored as a reference image file in the image storage device 6 for each scene, and this series of original images B is combined. To create the reference image S.

When this reference image S is displayed, in the EWS 2, the background image H is arranged at the lowermost side, and subsequently, the reference image S and the original image G which is a new image and is being formed are sequentially overlapped and arranged. To create the drawing screen M. Therefore, in the EWS 2, a part of the memory space allocated to the RAM is used as the frame memory 10 as shown in FIG. 5, and in this frame memory, a plurality of planes 11 are formed. ing.

As a result, in the EWS 2, a predetermined number of the plurality of planes 11 are allocated to the display screen, and the pixels of each plane 11 corresponding to the pixels of this display screen are either logical "1" or logical "0". A display image is expressed by expressing it on a logical level. Furthermore, in the EWS, the color map 16 is searched for by using the logical level of the pixel corresponding to each pixel as an address for the plurality of planes allocated to this display image, and the set of this logical level is set to the pixel value 15 by this The display image is formed by referring to the corresponding color map 16.

Therefore, in the EWS 2, the corresponding pixel of each plane 11 is set to a predetermined logic level according to the color selected by the operator, and the color map 16 is set.
In this case, the color tone of each color signal R, G, B (in this case, in the case of the color map 16 at address 9, the corresponding pixel is displayed in green) is set. ing. Thereby, in the animation creating apparatus 1, when only the background image, the original image, and the reference image are displayed, the plurality of frames 11 are assigned to each image to form a display image.

On the other hand, when the background image and the reference image are displayed in an overlapping manner with the original image being created, the plurality of planes 11 are divided into the background image, the reference image and the original image being created, as shown in FIG. In this way, compared with the case where the background image, the reference image, and the original image are individually displayed, the planes assigned to each image are reduced to form the display image. As a result, in the animation creation device 1,
When the background image and the reference image are displayed in an overlapping manner with the original image being created, the gradations of the background image and the reference image are compressed and displayed.

Further, in the EWS 2, when the background image and the reference image are displayed in an overlapping manner with the original image which is being created, the display image is formed by referring to a predetermined color map instead of the color map 16 in the case of displaying the image independently. However, this color map is selected so that the color tone of the background image and the reference image becomes lighter with a whitish color as a whole as compared with the case where the color tones are displayed alone. In this way, you can observe the originals as if you were seeing the watermarks by overlaying the originals drawn on the actual paper, and grasp the movement of the originals in the same way as in the past. With this, even an illustrator who has been involved in the production of conventional animation movies can input the original image easily and comfortably.

Thus, in the animation creating apparatus 1, when creating continuous original images for the same scene, the original images created in the past can be overlaid on the background in the same manner as in the past to create the original images. , This allows you to easily create an animation.

(4) Simulation processing On the other hand, in simulation, EWS2 is
The processing procedure shown in FIG. 7 is executed so that the movement of the original image can be confirmed. That is, in the EWS 2, when the keyboard 3 or the mouse 4 is operated and a simulation execution command is issued, the process moves from step SP30 to step SP31, where the display position of the simulated image on the CRT 5 is input. Subsequently, in the EWS2, the process proceeds to step SP32, and based on the range of the simulation specified by the operator, it is determined which number of original images the motion is to be traced back to check.
As a result, the final value stopn, which is obtained by counting the original image at the beginning of the simulation, is set.

Then, in EWS2, step SP
In step 33, the currently displayed image is erased from the display position designated in step SP31 to secure the display position of the simulation image, and the process proceeds to step SP34. Here, in the EWS 2, the display count value number indicating the number of the original image to be displayed is set to 0 on the basis of the original image for starting simulation. Then EWS
In step 2, the original image represented by the display count value number is displayed in the video storage device 6 in the subsequent step SP35.
Then, the original image read out is displayed at the display position of the simulation image.

Further, in the EWS 2, in the subsequent step SP36, the background image corresponding to the original image represented by the display count value number is read from the video storage device 6, and then the background image and the original image are displayed at a predetermined display position. Are overlaid. Further, in the EWS 2, in the subsequent step SP36, the elapsed time is measured by a predetermined timer to wait for the time set by the operator, and in the subsequent step SP88, the two images being displayed are erased.

Subsequently, in EWS2, step SP
At 39, after the display count value number is up-counted, the process proceeds to step SP40, and the up-counted display count value number is the final value stopn.
It is determined whether or not it is larger, and if a negative result is obtained here, the process returns to step SP35. As a result, in EWS2, steps SP35-SP36-SP37-SP38.
-SP39-SP40-SP35 processing loop LOOP
By repeating step 2, within the range set by the operator, the original image and the image with the background superimposed on this original image are sequentially displayed,
When the display count value number becomes larger than the final value stopn, a positive result is obtained in step SP40, and the process moves to step SP41.

Here, in the EWS 2, after displaying the original image represented by the final value stopn at the display position of the simulation image, the process proceeds to step SP42, and the original image is displayed at the display position where the background image and the original image are overlapped and displayed. (In case of background) is displayed, the process proceeds to step SP43 to end this processing procedure. As a result, in the animation creation device 1, the movement of the original picture can be confirmed as if the original picture was flipped over, and thus the animation can be created more easily than in the past.

Further, at this time, the animation creating device 1
In addition to displaying not only the original picture, but also the original picture on the background picture, the movement of the original picture can be grasped while checking the relationship between the background picture and the original picture, and the animation can be created easily and surely. can do.

(5) Creation of background image and the like Further, in this embodiment, the EWS 2 switches to the operation mode or the like of background image creation by switching the operation mode and uses the background image or the like stored in the video storage device 6. Then, a background image or the like can be easily created.

That is, in the EWS 2, in the background image and original image creation mode, the file stored in the video storage device 6 is searched in response to the operation of the operator, and the background image or reference image desired by the operator is displayed on the CRT 5. . At this time, in the EWS 2, after displaying the background image or the reference image at the display position designated by the operator, in response to the operation of the operator, a part or all of the background image or the reference image is being created. It is designed to be assigned to. With this, the animation creation device 1
In, the background image as well as the original image can be easily created.

Further, in the EWS 2, in this display state, conversely, a part or all of the background image or original image being created can be copied or transferred to the reference image. , Background image being created, part or all of the original image can be erased.

As a result, in the animation creating apparatus 1, the background image or the like already created can be easily modified while considering the image currently being created.

Further, in the EWS 2, a desired original image and background image can be selected as a reference image instead of a series of original images created in the past. Therefore, after the creation of the original image is temporarily suspended, the moving image 1 is displayed. An image captured as a frame in the video storage device 6 can be captured as a reference image. As a result, in the animation creating apparatus 1, each scene or the like can be easily examined during creation, and the usability can be improved accordingly. Thus, in the animation creating apparatus 1, the background image, the reference image, etc. created in this way can be stored in the video storage device 6.

Further, in the EWS 2, when the background image, the original image, and the reference image are created in this way, movement and copying can be executed within each image, and parameters can be input so that the images can flow in the wind, for example. It is designed to be able to create videos of falling flowers while being played.

Further, in the EWS 2, when the created image is stored in the video storage device 6, the created original image can be inserted at a predetermined position of a series of animations already created and stored in the video storage device 6. In addition, the images at predetermined positions in this series of animations can be deleted. Further, in the EWS 2, the files stored in the video storage device 6 can be selectively read out in a desired order, and the images thus read out can be stored in the video storage device 6 as a moving image. There is.

As a result, the animation creating apparatus 1 can easily create a series of animations by using the animations created up to that point.

(6) Effects of the Embodiments According to the above configuration, the original images created up to that point are combined to create a reference image for superimposing a series of original images so that the watermark can be seen, and the original image is formed on this reference image. By making it possible to create the animation, it is possible to overlay the original images as many times as necessary to check the movement, and thus the animation creation work can be further simplified as compared with the conventional art.

Further, by executing the simulation as required to sequentially display a series of original images, the movement can be easily grasped and the original image can be directly input.
Therefore, the correction work when inputting the original image can be simplified, and the animation creation work can be further simplified as compared with the conventional art.

(7) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiments, the case where one plane of the frame memory is divided into the background image, the reference image and the like to form the created screen has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 8, frame memories 17A to 17C may be assigned to each of the new drawing G, the reference picture S, and the background picture H, which are original pictures, to form a creation screen.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the digital creation recorder is formed by connecting the digital work recorder to the engineering work station has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various image processing devices can be used. It can be widely applied in the case of connecting an image storage device to form an animation creating device.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, a reference image for watermark seeing is created by superposing the created original images,
By creating an original image on this reference image, you can check the movement by superimposing as many original images as necessary, and this makes it possible to further simplify the animation creation work compared to the conventional animation. You can get Yeon making device.

Further, by executing simulation as required, a series of original images are sequentially switched and displayed,
By being able to easily grasp the movement and directly inputting the original image, the correction work when inputting the original image can be simplified, and the animation creation work can be further simplified compared to the past. You can get an animation making device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an animation creating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the overall processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the creation of the drawing screen.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram used for explaining creation of a drawing screen.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the display of the drawing screen.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining allocation of a frame memory.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart used for explaining a simulation process.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram used for explaining a conventional animation making operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Animation creation device, 2 ... Engineering workstation, 3 ... Keyboard, 4 ... Mouse, 5 ... CRT, 6 ... Image storage device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A memory unit for storing a series of original images created in the past, and a reference image creating unit for synthesizing the series of original images to create a reference image as a watermark by superimposing the series of original images. A reference image display means for displaying the reference image, and an original image input means for inputting an original image newly created on the reference image displayed by the reference image display means. Animation creation device. 2. The animation creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the series of original images stored in the memory means are sequentially displayed in a simulation mode. 3. A background image stored in a predetermined background image storage means is assigned to the background of the reference image or the series of original images and displayed, and the gradation of the background image is compressed and displayed in a pale color. The animation making device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.