2D and 3D Shapes
Content Standards
Students will be able to identify and compare 2D and 3D geometric shapes and objects and conduct observations of everyday items and structures to identify how shapes exist in the world.
Most items that we use in everyday life are made generally in the forms of the 2D and 3D shapes about which we have learned. Even though there are many things that are made of circles, triangles, cubes, cylinders, and rectangular prisms, some things that we see and use in our everyday lives only take the general form of these 2D and 3D shapes. Some examples of these items include flat screen televisions, cellphones, tablets, laptops, soda cans, lampshades, boxes, game balls, and dice.
Similarly, capital letters B and H are made in the general form of the common 2D shape of a rectangle. This is noticeable when a rectangle is traced around each letter.
The capital letters C, D, O, Q, and U are made in the form of circles and ovals. This is noticeable when a circle or an oval is traced around each letter, as is shown below.
Look at the batteries in the photos below. Most batteries that we use in our homes are made in the shape of cylinders. The photo below shows batteries in sizes AAA, AA, C, and D, and they are all made in the shape of cylinders. However, each battery has a small electrode on one end and makes it so that they are not exactly cylinders. But we can understand that their general shape is of a cylinder.
There are some electronic items that require 9-volt batteries. These batteries are made in the shape of rectangular prisms. The following photo shows an example of 9V batteries made by Energizer. The photo shows a package of eight (8) 9V batteries. These batteries have two electrodes on the top of them. However, we understand that the general shape of these batteries is that of a rectangular prism.
An automotive battery is another example of an item that we may encounter in our everyday life that is generally made in the form of a common 3D shape. The photo below shows a car battery made by Die Hard. It is made in the form of a rectangular prism although it has electrodes and terminals on top that slightly alter its exact shape.
The car battery is made in the 3D shape of a rectangular prism. Looking at the photo, we can also see that when we view it from the front, the side, and from the top, each view is in the shape of a rectangle.
Drawing to Animate
When you become familiar with how objects look from different views, it makes it possible for you to draw those objects so that you can animate them. Computer-generated imagery (CGI) makes animation less time consuming and somewhat easier, but it is important for an animator to be able to visualize and know the process that takes place when an object, animal or individual is drawn with the intention of animation. This open treasure chest is made in the shape of a rectangular prism. This means that if we know the 3D shape, we can also assume that the top view of the chest (when it is closed) will be a rectangle, and the side view is either a square or also a rectangle.
The ability to visualize how the treasure chest looks from these different views is helpful to us when and if we go about drawing it to animate it. A basic understanding of how it should look in 3D space will help us as animators to create a realistic animation of it as a prop. Below is another kind of unique example before looking at more basic views of objects. The images of this taxi cab provide us with information about how it looks so that we can draw it to animate it. The first image shows a 3 /4 side view. The next image shows a front view of the vehicle. The third image shows a side (profile) view. The fourth image shows a top view of the vehicle. The last image is a view that has not really been discussed before now. It is a back view of this vehicle.
With the exception of the top view, these are usually the views of a vehicle that are shown on auto dealership websites and in newspapers. For an animator, these views provide information about the object so that it can be animated. When an artist knows how the object should look from these views, it can make it easier to then draw an animated vehicle and make it appear to move and to turn and move around in the way a real vehicle would.
Here is another example using a larger vehicle. The first image is a 3 /4 side view of a city bus.
The images below show the front, side, top and back views of this bus.
This additional view is a side view of the bus. It is the side in which the passengers board and exit through the rear exit of the bus.
The following animation is possible because an animator was able to visualize the DNA strand three-dimensionally and then draw a two-dimensional representation of it.
You might wonder when an artist would ever find the need to animate cars and city buses. Well, the answer to that question can be summed up by an explanation about how the feature film Cars (2006) was made. Cars is a 2006 American animated sports comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is set in a world populated entirely by anthropomorphic vehicles. This means that in the story, the vehicles are alive. They still operate and function as vehicles, but they talk and live as if they are living cars. Development for the film began in 1998, but with changes to the story and everything else necessary to create an animated feature film, it was finally completed and released on June 9, 2006. The film was commercially successful, grossing $462 million worldwide against a budget of $120 million. It received two nominations at the 79th Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature, but lost to Happy Feet (2006). However, it won both the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature and the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
The success of Cars also launched a multimedia franchise, which includes two sequels: Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017), as well as two spin-off films produced by Disneytoon Studios: Planes (2013) and Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014).
Extension Activities
1. This battery is made in the 3D shape of a rectangular prism. Draw three pictures to show how the front, side and top views of this 9V battery should look.
2. This water pail is made in the general 3D shape of a cylinder. Draw a picture of how this sand pail looks from its top view. Then, draw a picture of how a sandcastle made from wet sand formed inside this pail would look.
3. Make pencil sketches of the front, side and back views of this convertible vehicle. Hint – the side and top views are in the general 2D shape of a rectangle.
4. Draw a sketch of the top view of this gazebo. Hint – The general 3D shape of the gazebo is a cylinder. Its covering/ceiling is in the shape of a cone. Its foundation/floor is in the shape of a hexagon.
5. What is the shape of the top view of this oil barrel? Hint – The oil barrel is made in the 3D shape of cylinder.
6. What is the 2D shape of the top of this wooden desk – square, oval, rectangle?
7. What is the 2D shape of the top view of this laundry basket – circle, cylinder, hemisphere?
8. What is the side view of this compass – circle, rectangle, oval?
9. The top view of this slice of birthday cake is in the form of what 2D shape?
10. What is the 2D shape of the top of this graduation cap on this lady’s head – square, triangle, or pyramid?