High Definition brings the true brilliance of animation to life

The difference is clearly evident in the clarity of the images. See how even each hair is now so much more obvious to the eye.click to enlarge

Says Reto Seolon, MD of Masters & Savant Worldwide CT, "HD has been a long time coming, and certainly there are two aspects which will be important to the animation industry. The first is the fact that the hardware required to work in HD has actually been around for some time, with the animation industry being on the cutting edge of hardware and software, so technically animation is ready for HD. The other aspect now that HD is upon us is the quality factor. Live action will have a boost in quality - but the real improvement will come in animation, a bigger canvas and highly detailed pictures means greater depth and clarity, creating an even more immersive world for the viewer. Animation is really able to leverage this new bigger, detailed space. The canvas is also now in landscape instead of square, so pictures look more considered, more attractive than in the old boxy format."

Blu-Ray™ has already exposed the quality levels that HD can bring, but it has been ultimately the domain of hollywood production companies who use a large amount of post-production for big-budget superhero movies, or long-form animation. But this is not where HD stops, as HD will flow further into the TV industry bringing branding of channels, opening sequences and promos to a new standing.

"Channel imaging and branding will be brighter, sharper and for the first time in 16 by 9, which is a much more attractive orientation to design for. The potential for detail and colour is amazing - as anyone who has watched an animated film in HD can testify to - every hair is sharp, every blade of grass is crisp, the worlds come alive and immerse the viewers. Channel brands will have a new opportunity to promote the quality and excellence of their identity through the use of HD. Never before have channels faced such a dramatic opportunity to advance their perception," says Reolon.

"Overall this has been a promise for many years and is now blossoming into reality - it has breathed fresh life into television, which has stayed remarkably the same in 30 years," concludes Reolon.