tB

Animation Tips and Tricks, ch02

Ok, so in chapter two, Shawn tells about how important OBSERVATION is. Since he talked about PLANNING before, he asks, well how do we plan? Observation. But observation is more then just “looking.” He gives us the example of a little girl at the zoo wanting to give a lollipop to a monkey, but the mother prevents her from doing so. He says that that recollection is too simple, yes, that’s what happened, but it’s not ALL that happened. As an animator, you should be able to not just see what happens, but also how it happened. For instance, you would see how the monkey reacted to the mother preventing the girl from feeding him. The girl startled at how fast her mom pulled her hand back from the monkey’s reach. The moment the lollipop flew out of the girl’s hand and how it spiraled and lands in a tangle of the mother’s hair. The way the two of the froze momentarily the moment they realized what it was that just happened. The way that the mother stormed off to the restroom to see how to salvage her hair.

You’re basically a video recorder. You not only record what happens, but also the mechanics of how it happened. The physics involved perhaps, the reactions of people and things. And if you’re really watchful, you’ll catch things like how people’s hands behaved, the feet, their backs. What their poses were. Etc.

He suggests you go out to the park or mall, or any other public place. Perhaps even bring your sketchbook and practice just watching and/or sketching what you see. This should help hone your observation skills.

• Curently Reading: Animation Tips and Tricks
• Today’s Mood: Jolly and Happy