MapInfo 6, grid (raster) thematic mapping of 1990 zipcode population in Los Angeles county.  Grid created by Inverse-Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.  Grid then transformed into 3D image.  Image manually rotated through 8 iterations from "plan-view" (90°) to oblique (~15°) to create 8 .JPG images.  (Imagine you are hovering directly over LA basin in helicopter, then descending south on Pacific Ocean while looking at basin).  8 images then transformed to "animated GIF" by Alchemy GIF Animator.   To stop animation (driving you crazy?), press <ESC>.
 

For a more   complex   animation   example,    click here.