Post by Jacks on Mar 28, 2011 11:01:20 GMT -5
Thought I'd start with a thread for everybody, just with something to flex those animator's muscles.
Also, just to make things fun, we'll have a theme, where the subject to be animated (animal, whatever) changes every so often- say, every Monday. Or depending on when I update it, sometimes I might do it the night before. (If you're lagging a little and still doing the previous subject, it doesn't matter, just make a note of it. The whole point of the 'subjects' is just making your own interpretation of the same thing.)
--------
As the title suggests, these are very short, and you don't need to plan them too much, especially if your confidence is low.
Simply do it straight ahead, and then do a little write-up on it afterwards as to what you did. In fact, everyone should do it straight ahead to begin with, because this is for loosening up and embracing any flaws. (12fps is fine, but no lower than that alright? )
It does not have to be much- start with two seconds if you're not up to a lot, and then next time, simply increase the time, and give it a little more productive thought. The 'hindsight account' from the previous one should help you, especially if you're aiming for a similar motion in the next one.
--------
That was a bit of a ramble, I've tried to break it up somewhat, but here's a summary to keep it simple:
# These should last two seconds at the very least, and five seconds at the very most.
# 12 FPS at the least, shot on twos if you want, but have a few 'ones' shots in there as well.
# They do not have to be refined, just somewhat clean.
# They have to be based around the subject, but the subject will change.
# Do a little written account of your animation when done, and please do involve yourself in critiquing others' work. Be gentle to begin with, though. Your 'written account' does not have to be very in depth, just say what you did and why! It's just a line or two (or a short paragraph), so anyone critiquing has a better idea of what to suggest for improvement. It's easier when you know the animators' intent, after all.
If you really don't want to do the writing thing though, don't. This isn't school- if you feel like it takes the fun out of it, don't worry about it. It's mainly for people who need help to 'direct themselves' a bit better, to help anyone offering crits and something to look back on for future reference, if you will.
----
There's one more thing I will say, though. If you read The Animator's Survival Kit, there's an important piece of advice in there- Don't think too technical, but treat animation like acting. Try and focus on the performance- the acting, as it were- as much as you can. Try and 'separate' the technical mind and the performing mind while you're actually animating, and it should help give your work more life to it.
That's why you generally mix 'straight ahead' animation with 'pose to pose'- 'pose to pose' is like the 'setting up' shots on a storyboard, essentially, but it can be awfully wooden if that's all you focus on.
---
Your subject: Flying squirrel.
Now go animate!
Also, just to make things fun, we'll have a theme, where the subject to be animated (animal, whatever) changes every so often- say, every Monday. Or depending on when I update it, sometimes I might do it the night before. (If you're lagging a little and still doing the previous subject, it doesn't matter, just make a note of it. The whole point of the 'subjects' is just making your own interpretation of the same thing.)
--------
As the title suggests, these are very short, and you don't need to plan them too much, especially if your confidence is low.
Simply do it straight ahead, and then do a little write-up on it afterwards as to what you did. In fact, everyone should do it straight ahead to begin with, because this is for loosening up and embracing any flaws. (12fps is fine, but no lower than that alright? )
It does not have to be much- start with two seconds if you're not up to a lot, and then next time, simply increase the time, and give it a little more productive thought. The 'hindsight account' from the previous one should help you, especially if you're aiming for a similar motion in the next one.
--------
That was a bit of a ramble, I've tried to break it up somewhat, but here's a summary to keep it simple:
# These should last two seconds at the very least, and five seconds at the very most.
# 12 FPS at the least, shot on twos if you want, but have a few 'ones' shots in there as well.
# They do not have to be refined, just somewhat clean.
# They have to be based around the subject, but the subject will change.
# Do a little written account of your animation when done, and please do involve yourself in critiquing others' work. Be gentle to begin with, though. Your 'written account' does not have to be very in depth, just say what you did and why! It's just a line or two (or a short paragraph), so anyone critiquing has a better idea of what to suggest for improvement. It's easier when you know the animators' intent, after all.
If you really don't want to do the writing thing though, don't. This isn't school- if you feel like it takes the fun out of it, don't worry about it. It's mainly for people who need help to 'direct themselves' a bit better, to help anyone offering crits and something to look back on for future reference, if you will.
----
There's one more thing I will say, though. If you read The Animator's Survival Kit, there's an important piece of advice in there- Don't think too technical, but treat animation like acting. Try and focus on the performance- the acting, as it were- as much as you can. Try and 'separate' the technical mind and the performing mind while you're actually animating, and it should help give your work more life to it.
That's why you generally mix 'straight ahead' animation with 'pose to pose'- 'pose to pose' is like the 'setting up' shots on a storyboard, essentially, but it can be awfully wooden if that's all you focus on.
---
Your subject: Flying squirrel.
Now go animate!