Animation is as old as film itself - and it has developed in sophistication at least as much.

Computer-generated films such as those by Pixar approach reality in their complexity, yet old fashioned animation is still used for producing animated gifs for otherwise flat web pages. Plasticine modelling by Aardman animations is essentially a traditional stop frame technique - simple for 16mm film and simple again with digital cameras.

Animation is an artistic avenue for students' creativity and can simply be achieved with inexpensive software plus paper, pen, plasticine or a paint program. More elaborate animation is also within the grasp of the student by "morphing" between images or a time lapse effect with successive still images.

Animation is more controllable than moving film because the syntax and language are simpler. Even very short lengths are acceptable for viewing, which means that, with a computer enabling redrawing, an outcome is achievable within lesson spans.

Aardman have produced an excellent learning resource which describes and teaches the process of animation using extracts from Chicken Run. The CD was distributed free to schools.

Presentation of animation is made easier by Power Point which with its page turning metaphor and simple embedded animation is itself a vehicle for student's animations. More complex software such as Flash and Shockwave plugins probably are too complex at the moment for general class use, but have real potential.