History Main / MotionParallax

Compare SkyBox, rendering of a 3D game's sky as a cube that wraps around the world, and {{Kinestasis}}, the {{pan}}ning and {{zoom}}ing of the camera over a still image to add some motion. Don't confuse with ParallaxMontage, which are highly time-compressed advertisements.

Compare SkyBox, rendering of a 3D game's sky as a cube that wraps around the world, and {{Kinestasis}}, the {{pan}}ning and {{zoom}}ing of the camera over a still image to add some motion. Don't confuse with ParallaxMontage.

[[AC:Consoles]]

To get around this problem in {{animation}}, some use multiple background cel layers, moving at different speeds. In the past this required a special piece of equipment called a "multiplane camera" but the effect has become much easier to manage in the digital age. Excessively cheap animation (see Creator/{{Filmation}}, Creator/HannaBarbera) uses the single WraparoundBackground, and this intensifies the fakeness.

Compare SkyBox. Don't confuse with ParallaxMontage.

** ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'': On top of the usual ingenious use of this camera trick, the addition of even more layers of motion parallax allows for generating very dynamic water stages (particularly when near the surface, when the above and below backgrounds run at mismatched speeds) and smooths the two-player mode.

* ''VideoGame/ForbiddenForest'': One of the earliest 2D games that used parallaxes in its backgrounds.

* ''VideoGame/MadStalkerFullMetalForce'': The Sharp X68000 version features motion parallax in the graphics of the layered backgrounds.

* In real life, and as stated in the description, motion parallax is a measurable physics phenomenon. It helps us calculate stuff like astronomical distances. For one, parsecs; i.e., the distance where the parallax angle is measured from opposite sides of UsefulNotes/{{Earth}}. For another, determining the distance of UsefulNotes/{{stars}} is done by trigonometric parallax, which computes the relative movements of objects against a "fixed" background of far-off stars and galaxies. In other words, the closer a star is, the more it will seem to move.

* ''VideoGame/{{Demotronic}}'': Its first part features vertical parallax combined with rapidly changing color palettes to produce a unique 3D effect for the TabletopGame/{{chess}board that composes background. For it to be displayed, it requires cycle-perfect emulation.

* ''VideoGame/Obitus'': The aptly named ''Parallax Sections'' make use of several foreground and background layers of motion parallax that give the linear platform levels 3D depth.

To get around this problem in {{animation}}, some use multiple background cel layers, moving at different speeds. (In the past this has required a special piece of equipment called a "multiplane camera" --see the extras on Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'' [=DVD=] for details-- but the effect has become much easier to manage in the digital age.) Excessively cheap animation (see Creator/{{Filmation}}, Creator/HannaBarbera) uses the single WraparoundBackground, and this intensifies the fakeness.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOldMill'': As far as animation comes, this is the first short film recorded with a Multiplane Camera, then edge-cutting equipment that allowed shooting different pieces of {{art}}work (of the backgrounds and characters) mounted on glass levels at different speeds. Thus resulting in an illusion of depth particularly exploited in the opening scenes.

* ''VideoGame/DevilEngine'': A camera {{pan}}ning effect is achieved by means of parallax scrolling. It's a breathtaking sight that occurs after defeating the fifth stage's mid-bosses.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManTheSequelWars'': Parallax effects are used to give the impression of the camera rotating around the platform for dramatic effect. They are also used in the compilation to improve the visual quality of the recolored backgrounds.