“Dream Machine” DVD-2
The demo reels show the work. The second DVD gathers the stories of the pioneers who built and used Scanimate.
Once upon a time (but not so long ago), making animation with computers was pretty farfetched futuristic wizardry. A few brave souls believed it was the future, and helped start what is today a major industry.
This site celebrates the people, places, machines, and projects that came out of that colorful past. I welcome your inquiries; I try to answer them all. Email Dave Sieg with your questions or comments.
Long Overdue Scanimate News
UPDATED JUNE 3, 2022
Hi! I’m Dave Sieg. Back in the 1980s I was chief engineer at Image West in Hollywood, California. Image West had been set up by Computer Image of Denver, the people who designed and built the Scanimate analog animation computers.
They became popular with advertisers and networks because they could make animation in real time. Image West eventually became a busy Hollywood shop—particularly after work connected with the first Star Wars film.
Lynda.com’s Scanimate documentary
Dave Sieg and Roy Weinstock on the machine, the business, and why a room full of knobs was worth it.
Watch “Scanimate: The Origins of Computer Motion Graphics” on Vimeo
Introduction to the Scanimate
Not a sales pitch—just the actual machine explained by someone who had to keep it running.
Part 1: basics of how Scanimate works
DVD-1 First Edition
Two hours of classic ’70s and ’80s electronic animation from the Dream Machine and the studios that made it sing.
More things to look at
 | The History of Analog Computer Animation — Dave Sieg’s piece for the SIGGRAPH 98 History Project. |
 | Ed Tajchman’s material — early Scanimate, Animac, CAESAR, and other engineering treasures. |
 | Historic photo gallery — Lee Harrison, Scanimates around the world, and Animac. |
 | How analog animation was produced — artwork, waveforms, controls, and a tour through the machine. |
 | Scanimate alumni — the people who made this strange thing work. |
 | Dave Holman remembers — his excellent memoirs from Computer Image. |
 | The guestbook — yes, it really was that hard; yes, it really was that much fun. |
 | Project pictures — thumbnail images from past projects. |
 | Movies — Scanimate video from various sources. |
 | Odd little tidbits — the archive’s less technical side. |