Method of processing animation by interpolation between key frames with small data quantity

An animation display method for displaying an animation of a graphic on a display unit through a computer program, said animation display method including the steps of:

• preparing a plurality of pieces of key frame information each including information for specifying a display time and graphic information for specifying the features of a graphic to be displayed in a display frame at said display time;
• obtaining a current time for display;
• selecting at least two pieces of key frame information having display times before and after obtained said current time for display from said plurality of pieces of key frame information;
• creating graphic information to be displayed at said obtained current time for display by performing prescribed interpolative calculation between corresponding pieces of graphic information included in said at least two pieces of key frame information respectively;
• displaying a frame at said obtained current time for display on said display unit on the basis of created said graphic information;
• and
• repeating said step of obtaining said current time for display, said selecting step, said creating step and said displaying step up to a lapse of a prescribed time.

A compression method for animation information for compressing key frame information for an animation whose intermediate frames are generated and displayed by interpolation between a plurality of key frames through a computer, wherein

• each key frame information includes object information related to an object to be displayed in a corresponding key frame,
• said object information including state information of said object and link information with respect to corresponding object information in key frame information having a predetermined relation with said key frame information,
• said method including:
• a first output step of loading reference key frame information and outputting the same to a medium;
• a second output step of loading next key frame information in response to completion of outputting of just preceding key frame information, comparing each object information in loaded said key frame information with corresponding object information in key frame information having said predetermined relation with said loaded key frame information and outputting compressed key frame information including object information including link information and information specifying state information having discrepancy to said medium;
• and
• a step of repeating said second output step up to compression of all pieces of key frame information to be compressed.