MUMBAI: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) has partnered with Cartoon Network for OMSI's new Animation international touring exhibit slated to debut on the science museum's floor in Portland, Oregon, in October 2005.
Animation, a 6,000-square-foot, highly interactive travelling exhibition currently in development at OMSI, brings together art, math, science and technology by exploring the exciting world of animation. Animation will showcase popular cartoon characters and original series from Cartoon Network throughout the exhibition.
"We are pleased to partner with Cartoon Network, one of the world's most popular animated entertainment networks, on this exciting science exhibit," said OMSI vice-president exhibits Ray Vandiver.
"By including Cartoon Network's cast of world-renowned animated characters in the exhibit, we believe visitors will connect with it and learn about the math and science behind animation in a fun and entertaining way," Vandiver added.
"A common misconception about making cartoons is it primarily requires people who can draw freehand. What this exhibit will reveal in full interactive detail is the number of different skills involved in creating animation - from voice-acting and recording to computer programming and scoring, from screenwriting and storyboarding to sound-effects and editing. There is a science to this colourful, engaging art form.
"OMSI's exhibit will offer entire families a more complete understanding of it, and hopefully inspire young people to consider animation as a future career," said Cartoon Network senior vice-president marketing Dennis Adamovich.
Through a series of hands-on exhibits, graphics, and videos in Animation, visitors will explore the process of animation and create their own animated sequences. As they bring their creations to life, they will use math and science concepts and skills, just as real animators do. A variety of animation tools, techniques and styles will be explored, including drawings, stop-motion animation and computer animation.
"At OMSI, we know first-hand the effectiveness of using animation in teaching. For the past nine years, OMSI has partnered with award-winning animators in presenting classes that bring out the math and science behind animation. These classes are among the museum's most popular offerings. There is a great need for innovative and effective methods of engaging children and adults in math and science and we believe the multi-faceted Animation exhibit does just that," explained Vandiver.
Animation's six thematic areas feature concepts important to the field of animation. In 'History', visitors learn about early animation and persistence of vision. In 'Animation Studio', they learn about the process of animation and techniques and tools animators use. In 'Art in Motion', they find out why art and math are important in the creation of characters, motion and change.
In 'Science Lab', they explore the science and technology that make animation possible. 'Sound and Stage' teaches the principles of sound and phonetics. In 'Cartoon Museum', visitors view famous animation clips and important artifacts such as cells, models and storyboard drawings from their favorite animated TV series.
Following its world premiere at OMSI, Animation will travel for approximately eight years - first to member institutions of the Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative (SMEC), a consortium of seven US science centres and then to additional science centres and museums nationwide.
