The Aesthetic and Technical Aspects of Liquid Motion in Animation

What is liquid animation? The term often refers to fluid or water in animation. This unique animation technology helps create animated visuals that mirror the shape, character, and behavior of water or other liquids. Thanks to this technique, animated graphics execute flowing movements, imitate organic forms, and implement vibrant transformations.

To achieve the required results, animators utilize CGI alongside hand-drawn techniques to bring imagery to life. In this case, computer-generated imagery guarantees a high level of control over motions. At the same time, hand-drawn images bring a more organic and artistic touch to the final work. 

Liquid motion animation and motion design are now widely used in web graphics and game development by allowing brands to 1) differentiate themselves and 2) engage more end-users. Moreover, water animation helps brands communicate their brilliant ideas in a new visual style.

Benefits of Using Liquid/Fluid Animation

Motion graphics designs are everywhere. You can easily find implemented examples on top brands’ websites, in personal Dribbble profiles, and on Google by inputting liquid animation into a search bar. This is proof that many businesses find this approach to digital illustrations beneficial.

Let’s take a closer look at what fluid animation provides.

• Trendsetting: With this type of animation, staying ahead in the visual trend industry is easier. Fluid animation demonstrates a business’ forward-thinking attitude. It also sets a brand as adaptive and contemporary to the ever-growing preferences of a target audience.
• Visual aesthetics: By using this technique, brands and businesses fascinate their buyers and users with visually spectacular movements. Above that, liquid animation introduces an unparalleled and organic quality to images. The content grabs more attention and can be characterized and eye-catching.
• Innovative representation: This is relevant both to old brands and new ones. When you’ve been on the market for some time, you might need to showcase more modernity and creativity. If you are brand-new, you need to stand to win your place among competitors. Digital illustrations with fluid animation effects may be the option you need.
• Visually expressive and engaging language: The message and emotions expressed by employing such graphics are more dynamic. The movements of liquid animation express storytelling better and can communicate complex ideas a lot better and in a more accessible manner than 2D or 3D animation, for example.
• Versatility of appeal: One of the hugest benefits of fluid animation is that it can be tailored to match any needs: ads, explanatory videos, social media content, artistic expressions, etc. Adapting to contexts and styles is now straightforward.
• Enhanced user experience: Water animation can be implemented into websites, mobile apps, game art, or presentations to ensure user interactions are more enjoyable, engaging, and intuitive.
• Excellent marketing instrument: It’s the nature of liquid animation that typically grabs viewers’ attention. This means that whatever content you create employing such animation is more likely to be shared among users and across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or more.

• Better brand communication: Whatever your brand communication strategy is, with water animation, it becomes more distinctive. Thus, your key messages, brand identity, or values are easy to strengthen.

Technical Challenges of Fluid Animation

The following are seven core challenges presented by this type of animation:

• Physics accuracy
• Solid objects interaction
• Computational complexity
• Scale variability
• Artistic control
• Memory constraints
• Multi-phase fluids

Physics accuracy

The challenge: How can the fluids’ complicated performance be imitated, considering their turbulence, tension of a surface, and viscosity? How do you create advertising or any other animation that reflects how fluid interacts in the real world?

The solution: This is where artists collaborate with physicists, enhancing the imitation algorithms and making sure all nuances are presented accurately. This approach encompasses real-world research and data collection.

Solid objects interaction

The challenge: How to achieve realistic splashes and collisions? How do you adhere to intricate algorithms and manage complex dynamics?

The solution: There’s no other way but continuous testing and refinement. These two approaches help to find advanced collision algorithms and handle even the most complex interactions between fluids and surfaces.

Computational complexity

The challenge: How to find a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy? How do you ensure that designers and animators will work with liquid animation for an acceptable number of hours?

The solution: Optimization methods are recommended for this. Among them are algorithmic optimization and parallel commuting. They both cut down computational hours. If you turn to cloud-based resources for computation, you’ll add to scalability. Thus, animators will use computational power upon request.

Scale variability

The challenge: How do you ensure that liquid animation scales and portrays micro- and macro-level dynamics of fluids in the most accurate way?

The solution: Making use of adaptive simulation grids is a must. They help to proactively align resolution depending on the scale of a scene. This also guarantees that the use of computational resources is effective.

Artistic control

The challenge: How do you control the animation’s artistic aspects? How do you strike a balance between creativity and realism without sacrificing authenticity?

The solution: Make sure you use user-friendly interfaces offering intuitive controls. They will allow you to adjust animations. Features like real-time feedback, parameter tuning, and options for customization will allow an artist to create the required artists-realism balance.

Memory constraints

The challenge: How can large-scale fluid scenes be easily mimicked? How do you mimic fluids interacting simultaneously?

The solution: Make use of adaptive resolution techniques. Optimize memory management. Build effective data structures to reduce memory. Remember that caching techniques and streaming load only the required data. They cut down the general memory trace. 

Multiphase fluids

The challenge: How do you model interactions between various/multiple phases of the same fluid (foam, bubbles, ice)? How do you preserve realism in this scenario?

The solution: Multiphase simulation models are needed for this. They will consider the diverse physical properties of a substance. Computer-animated graphics and lots of research are also required to build complex algorithms to manage intricate compositions.

Where Is Fluid Animation Used?

There are several industries apart from web design where liquid animation after-effects are widely used for the brand’s success:

• Film industry and entertainment – for animations and special effects
• Video games – for character animation and more realistic environments
• AR and VR – for simulation training and immersive experiences
• Product design and engineering – for prototyping and fluid dynamic simulations
• Weather forecasting – for educational tools and meteorological simulations
• Scientific research – for oceanography and dynamics of biological fluids
• Marketing and advertising – for brand promotion campaigns and product visualization
• Education – for simulation-based lessons and interactive education

Summing Up

Water/fluid/liquid animation is one of the top trending techniques in the design world. The motion and engagement it creates keep viewers interested and proactive, regardless of the industry in which the animation is applied.

Do you see the potential of fluid animation for your brand? Then, it’s time to discuss your options with a pro agency. Please let us know your needs, and we’ll make them come true.