tB

First round of sketches

Tags: Animation Basics

12 Principles of Animation

Pretty much anyone who’s into animation, whether it be traditional or 3D, regards Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston’s book “The Illusion of Life” as the de facto authority on the basics of animation. You could say it’s regarded as the animation bible. In it are described not ten, but twelve commandments of animation. They are:

1. Squash and Stretch
2. Anticipation
3. Staging
4. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
6. Slow In and Slow Out
7. Arcs
8. Secondary Action
9. Timing
10. Exaggeration
11. Solid Drawing
12. Appeal

I will try, in the following posts, to show or demonstrate what these principles are, not just for your benefit, but for mine. As we carry out our animation careers, it would be wise to live and breath these principles, for it is by following these that successful animation has been achieved time and time again.

Tags: Animation Basics

Animation Basics begins

So, as the first assignment, I need to begin sketching. It was suggested that I go to a park or a mall or the beach, bring along a sketchbook and to sketch what I saw. Not detailed drawings, but rough sketches or thumbnails. The idea is to get the “gestures” of people and to hone my “observation” skills. Did I see how the feet were planted when that lady was pushing the cart or picking up her child? What was the shape of her back? Did her head go up first as she picked up her child? Etc, etc. I will try and post some of the sketches if I can.

Tags: Animation Basics