Research: Potential and Limitations - Environmental Sustainability of 3D CGI Animation

Unlike its traditional counterparts, 3D CGI animation sounds more eco-friendly because the animating process does not involve the use of physical materials. Although 3D CGI Animation process does not gives off a direct detrimental effect to the environment, the prolonged usage of computer is detrimental to the users, also not to mention the E-waste when the computer has burnt out or has gotten obsolete in the long run.

As compared to the mostly organic materials used to make traditional animation, E-waste poses greater threat for human beings as the waste management for E-waste involves burning in order to extract scrap metallic materials. Burning the substance will releases hazardous smoke into the air and pollutes the water which can cause serious health risks to people.

Although working for long hours in front of a computer is inevitable for someone who wants to pursue 3D CGI Animation, recycling assets such as rigs and props can help to cut down the amount of work that animators have to do and at the same time make the use of electricity more efficient. Disney and Pixar have been recycling lots of assets that they have accumulated throughout years of making feature length animated films. For instance, the rig of Squirt from Finding Nemo is reused in Disney's most recent feature film Moana. Pixar has even made this as a gimmick to the audience by calling these reused assets 'easter eggs' and cheekily placed them on the set of their recent films.

Sources:

• The Negative Effects of Computer Use on the Environment
• Green Computing by Carnegie Cyber Academy
• In-Depth Look at the Easter Eggs Hidden in Toy Story That Time Forgot