Animation and CGI in Documentary filmsThings have come a long way since “Walking with Dinosaurs”. 3d animation, motion graphics, CGI and visual effects are now a regular part of many documentary films. As well as historical reconstructions and informational motion graphics, computer animation and CGI is now routinely used in almost any situation where shot footage isn?t available.What?s more, costs have come down and quality of visual effects has gone up in recent years, so even a documentary film with a modest budget can now afford to use compelling and stylish computer graphic animations.But as a documentary filmmaker, how do you go about adding visual effects and 3d animation to your productions? Motion graphics and animation tipsDon?t be afraid to approach a video animation design or visual effects artist early on in your production. They?ll be able to let you know immediately what?s possible and sell house fast how to get your animation done in the most effective way.Give your animators as much detail as you?ve got -. 3d animation studios are used to doing research, but if you can give them access to your research, experts or helpful interviewees, you?ll get a much more unified view of the subject.Use animation shots that tell a story: animated sequences and visual effects shots tend to be some of the more expensive shots in your production, so choose them well. Nobody likes re-using shots, but with an impressive 3d animation for example, it often works well. If you have several visual effects shots that work together to tell a story, using them separately earlier on in the documentary can increase their impact. Types of visual effects and 3d animations in documentary filmsExplanation graphics: Motion graphics are a great way to explain a complex idea or present information, if shot video footage can?t do it.