Week 4

Animation Principles

2D
This week we talked about character acting and interaction, which was good because it feels like we're starting to branch out from physical technicalities.

Our task was to create an interaction between two block characters this time, one dominant and one submissive.




The animation works individually. If you watch the characters separately the animation is believable in my eyes though perhaps a little fast. However when watched together as a piece there is too much going on and it becomes too busy to appreciate the animation. I needed to devote more time to keeping the characters movements separate and give them pause while the other is moving-this is demonstrated at the end when the smaller(dominant) character stops moving completely whilst the larger character moves out of his way, making this bit the most successful part of the animation for me.

Character Reaction Test

I made another short video quickly to practice giving the characters separate times to act. I know that this particular scene is childish and unimaginative, but it shows the timing and actions much more clearly than the last. Also I am annoyed with myself since the drawings always seems to change shape, probably due to the fact that I work quickly and, some might say, lazily, which is something that I need to work on.






3D
This week we animated a 3D block character, much like the one we have been using in 2D. We made him jump off of a ledge.
I found this exercise a lot more fun than the bouncing ball which i found quite painstaking. I am happy with the outcome of my video i feel that the animation looks smooth and natural, i have been a little over ambitious perhaps with the fall backwards, but i think that there is enough forward momentum for the fall to be realistic.



Motion Studies
Lets talk about life drawing quickly. To someone who previously considered themselves to be good at anatomical drawing it has been an eye opener and a lesson in humility. I suppose its because i am used to character design from imagination and using reference only now and again, I am also used to laboring over pieces and doing them slowly, making sure i get everything right. there doesn't seem to be time for that with our poses and its knocking the confidence a little, but its about getting the feeling not producing a masterpiece so, not to worry.