RETAS (Revolutionary Engineering Total Animation System) is a comprehensive and pioneering animation production software suite that has significantly impacted the world of 2D animation. Developed by CELSYS, a Japanese software company renowned for its innovative digital art solutions, RETAS has become a household name in the animation industry. This comprehensive exploration delves deep into RETAS, its diverse set of tools, its evolution over time, and the profound influence it has had on animation creation.
RETAS, RETAS, RETAS – these three words resonate with animators, artists, and studios worldwide as a symbol of excellence in 2D animation production. RETAS emerged as a groundbreaking animation software suite in the late 1990s, setting new standards for digital animation creation. Over the years, it has evolved and expanded into a versatile toolbox, encompassing various specialized software applications designed to streamline the animation workflow.
At the heart of RETAS lies its commitment to providing animators with a comprehensive solution that covers every aspect of the animation production process. Whether you are a traditional hand-drawn animator or a digital artist, RETAS offers a suite of specialized tools to meet your creative needs. This comprehensive approach has made RETAS an invaluable asset for both novice animators and seasoned professionals.
One of the core components of the RETAS suite is RETAS STUDIO, a robust animation software that serves as the central hub for animation production. RETAS STUDIO provides animators with a user-friendly interface, a powerful timeline, and an extensive set of drawing and painting tools. It allows users to create detailed and intricate animations while maintaining a smooth and intuitive workflow.
RETAS STUDIO’s timeline is a key feature that simplifies animation sequencing. Animators can organize frames, control the timing of movements, and manage the animation’s overall structure with precision. The ability to work with multiple layers and onion skinning, a feature that displays previous and subsequent frames as translucent overlays, ensures that animators can create smooth and seamless animations.
Furthermore, RETAS STUDIO offers both raster and vector-based drawing tools, catering to a variety of animation styles. Artists can choose between bitmap and vector layers, depending on their preference and project requirements. This flexibility is essential for creating detailed and scalable artwork, which is crucial for professional animation production.
RETAS STUDIO also supports various import and export options, allowing animators to work with external assets such as images, audio, and video clips. This versatility makes it easy to integrate multimedia elements into animations, whether it’s adding background music, incorporating sound effects, or referencing external imagery.
One of the standout features of RETAS STUDIO is its integration with the other software modules within the RETAS suite. This seamless integration allows animators to transfer projects between different RETAS applications effortlessly. For instance, animators can start a project in RETAS STUDIO, move to RETAS PAINTMAN to color their animations, and then return to RETAS STUDIO for final assembly and export. This integration streamlines the animation workflow, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
RETAS PAINTMAN, another essential component of the RETAS suite, focuses on the painting and coloring aspects of animation production. This specialized software provides a wide range of brushes, textures, and color palettes to bring animations to life with vibrant and detailed visuals. RETAS PAINTMAN’s interface is tailored for artists, making it easy to apply textures, gradients, and shading to animated characters and backgrounds.
In addition to its painting tools, RETAS PAINTMAN offers features like bucket fills and color selection tools, ensuring that animators can achieve the precise color schemes required for their projects. This attention to detail is particularly crucial for maintaining consistency in character designs and background art throughout an animation.
RETAS PAINTMAN also incorporates advanced color management features, allowing animators to work with color models such as RGB and CMYK. This flexibility ensures that animators can create content suitable for a wide range of media, from web animations to print publications.
As animation projects grow in complexity, the need for efficient organization becomes paramount. RETAS CLIP STUDIO, another component of the suite, addresses this need by offering a specialized tool for managing animation cels and sequences. RETAS CLIP STUDIO allows animators to organize and catalog their animation assets, making it easy to locate specific frames, characters, and backgrounds within a project.
Furthermore, RETAS CLIP STUDIO provides features for creating exposure sheets, which are essential for coordinating the timing of animation elements. This level of organization is particularly valuable in larger production pipelines where multiple animators and artists collaborate on a single project.
RETAS CLIP STUDIO also plays a pivotal role in the production of anime and other 2D animations, where synchronization with audio is critical. Animators can use the software to align animation frames with corresponding audio tracks, ensuring that characters’ lip movements match the dialogue seamlessly.
RETAS STYLOS, yet another module in the RETAS suite, addresses the needs of animators who prefer to work on paper before digitizing their creations. RETAS STYLOS provides a digital pen and tablet solution that bridges the gap between traditional and digital animation workflows. Animators can draw directly on paper while their strokes are simultaneously captured digitally, allowing for a seamless transition to the digital realm.
The software’s ability to synchronize hand-drawn artwork with digital animation software makes it a valuable tool for animators who value the tactile experience of traditional drawing. RETAS STYLOS helps preserve the organic and expressive qualities of hand-drawn animations while benefiting from the convenience of digital editing and post-production.
RETAS PROHD is another notable addition to the RETAS family, catering to the needs of animators working on high-definition projects. This specialized software module ensures that animators can create and edit animations with the level of detail and resolution required for modern broadcasting standards and theatrical releases. RETAS PROHD’s advanced capabilities enable animators to produce stunning visuals that meet the demands of today’s high-definition media.
One of the strengths of the RETAS suite lies in its adaptability to different animation styles and techniques. Whether animators are working on traditional frame-by-frame animations, cut-out animations, or a combination of both, RETAS provides the tools and features needed to bring creative visions to life. This versatility has made RETAS a preferred choice for a wide range of animation projects, from episodic television series to feature films and advertisements.
RETAS has left an indelible mark on the animation industry, with its influence extending beyond its software components. Many successful anime productions have relied on the RETAS suite to streamline their animation workflows and achieve the level of quality and detail that viewers have come to expect. The software’s ability to foster collaboration and maintain consistency across animation teams has made it a go-to solution for large-scale anime production studios.
Furthermore, RETAS has played a pivotal role in the development of digital animation education. Many educational institutions and animation schools have incorporated RETAS into their curricula, ensuring that aspiring animators receive training on industry-standard software. This approach has helped bridge the gap between animation education and professional practice, allowing students to enter the workforce with valuable skills and experience.
RETAS has also contributed to the globalization of Japanese animation, or anime, by providing animation studios worldwide with the tools needed to create high-quality anime content. Its user-friendly interface and versatile feature set have made it accessible to animators from different cultural backgrounds, fostering a global community of anime creators.
