Preparation is the key to successful animation
Have you ever started animation from scratch without a plan? If so, it will most likely end in disaster. Animators are tempted to jump right in with an idea and scribble frame by frame, either by hand or in animation software. Most of the time, projects go on their way without knowing where they are going. Slowing things down isn’t much fun, but you can save your project in the end. Before you start your next animation, take these 5 steps and you’ll see the difference you can prepare for your project.
know your story
Many people, especially beginners, jump into animation with only an idea, but no real story. Every story starts with a concept, but you have to write it all down to understand where the animation is going. You may need to make last-minute changes to your story if you run into limitations or issues, but the underlying framework is still there. Write a narrative or scenario with stage directions, pan, zoom, and angle notes. Plan every detail. You will need a plan later.
know your character
Don’t make a quick sketch of your character. Take multiple faces instead of just one or two. Draw her full body from multiple angles. I draw in my spare time. Draw movement. Draw her her angry and happy. Draw how her hands move while speaking. Draw the details of a piercing or tattoo or a strange design on a t-shirt. Render with color. Creates a full letter arc.
If there are inanimate objects appearing in the scene, draw those as well. Especially if it is a moving object such as a car or a spaceship, we also draw that object. This will help you a lot later in the animation process. Creating a character sheet will help you formulate this process and can be used for future reference. You will be amazed at how much effort goes into adding consistency and regularity to your animations. Not only that, but it helps to render the character with as few lines as possible to avoid overwork.
scene plan
Unless you’re animating a single-scene short film, your animation will contain multiple scenes. Look at your story or screenplay. Mark where one scene ends and the next begins. Then sit down and identify the needs of each scene (how many characters will be in each scene, what background they need, what type of music or voiceover they need).
Create storyboards with detailed scene motion, camera motion, effects, and colors. Turn words in a story or scenario into images with clear instructions. Creating visual guidelines for yourself forms a framework that guides you through the animation process.
plan your timing
Proper timing is essential for animation. Not everything moves at the same speed. Running X distances doesn’t require the same number of frames as walking X distances. Animate a jumping cheetah, but by selecting X frames to fill between keyframes, the cheetah can slowly soar into the air or gallop at lethal speed. Moreover, not all movements continue at the same rate.
Sometimes there’s an in-and-out like pull up for a ballpark. You will also work under time constraints. How long should the animation be? What can be trimmed to fit these time constraints? Knowing these things, you can create a dope sheet that maps the frames you need to draw.
Create workflows and project plans
By now you should have a clear idea of what to do for the animation. Write down this information. Determine the order in which each phase of the project and methodology will be completed. Get some training and stick to your plan. Set up a schedule, especially if you’re working on someone else’s deadline. Calculate the time required for each part within realistic expectations, then subdivide how you plan that time over X days.
Following these guidelines won’t make you a perfect animator, but it will help you keep going and establish a professional working process.
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5 Things to Do Before You Start Animating
Preparation is the key to successful animations
Ever tried to start an animation from scratch without any planning? If you have, it probably ended in disaster. When animators get an idea, they’re tempted to dive right in and start scribbling frame after frame by hand or in animation software. More often than not, the project ends up wandering off the beaten path with no idea where it’s going. Slowing down isn’t much fun, but it’ll save your projects in the end. Try following these five steps before you start your next animation, and you’ll see the difference preparation makes in your projects.
Know Your Story
Many people, especially beginners, dive into an animation with an idea but no real story. While every story starts off with a concept, you need to write out everything to understand where the animation is headed. You may need to make last-minute changes to the story when you run up against constraints or problems, but that basic framework is still there. Write a narrative or a script, complete with stage direction, notes on camera pan, zoom, and angles. Plan every detail. You’ll need your plan later.
Know Your Characters
Don’t just do one quick sketch of your characters. Do several and not just one or two facial shots. Draw them full body from several angles. Draw them at rest. Draw them moving. Draw them angry and draw them happy. Draw the way their hands move as they’re speaking. Draw the finer details of their piercings or tattoos, or the weird designs on their T-shirts. Render them in color. Create full character sheets.
If you have inanimate objects that appear in the scene, draw them too — especially if they’re moving objects such as cars or spaceships. This helps you a lot later during the animation process. Creating character sheets helps you formalize this process, and you can use them as a reference later. You’d be surprised how far they go in lending consistency and regularity to your animations. Not only that, but they also help you render your characters in as few lines as possible to cut out excess work.
Plan Your Scenes
Unless you’re animating a one-scene short, you’ll have several different scenes in your animation. Take a look at your story or script. Mark where one scene ends and the next begins. Then sit down and identify the requirements of each scene — how many characters are in each, what backgrounds you need, and the kind of music or voice-overs you require.
Create a storyboard detailing scene action, camera action, effects, and colors. Make the words of your story or script into images with clear directions. Creating visual instructions for yourself forms the framework guiding you throughout the animation process.
Map out Your Timing
Proper timing is essential to animation. Not everything moves at the same speed; running X distance won’t require the same number of frames as walking X distance. If you animate a cheetah leaping but pick X number of arbitrary frames to fill in between your keyframes, you may leave your cheetah floating slowly through the air or hurtling at deadly speeds. Not only that, but not all motion continues at the same speed.
Sometimes there’s an ease in and ease out, such as the wind-up for a baseball pitch. You’ll also likely be working with time constraints. How long do you want your animation to be? What can be cut to fit into those time constraints? Knowing these things helps you create dope sheets mapping out the frames you need to draw.
Create a Workflow and a Project Plan
By now, you probably have a clear idea of the work you need to do for your animation. Write that information down. Decide the order you’ll complete each stage of the project and your methodology. Practice a little discipline and stick to your plan. Set a timeline, especially if you’re working on a deadline for someone else. Work out how much time you need for each part within realistic expectations, and then break down how you’ll allow that time over X number of days.
Following these guidelines won’t make you a perfect animator, but they’ll keep you on track and help you establish a professional working process.
#Start #Animating
5 Things to Do Before You Start Animating
Preparation is the key to successful animations
Ever tried to start an animation from scratch without any planning? If you have, it probably ended in disaster. When animators get an idea, they’re tempted to dive right in and start scribbling frame after frame by hand or in animation software. More often than not, the project ends up wandering off the beaten path with no idea where it’s going. Slowing down isn’t much fun, but it’ll save your projects in the end. Try following these five steps before you start your next animation, and you’ll see the difference preparation makes in your projects.
Know Your Story
Many people, especially beginners, dive into an animation with an idea but no real story. While every story starts off with a concept, you need to write out everything to understand where the animation is headed. You may need to make last-minute changes to the story when you run up against constraints or problems, but that basic framework is still there. Write a narrative or a script, complete with stage direction, notes on camera pan, zoom, and angles. Plan every detail. You’ll need your plan later.
Know Your Characters
Don’t just do one quick sketch of your characters. Do several and not just one or two facial shots. Draw them full body from several angles. Draw them at rest. Draw them moving. Draw them angry and draw them happy. Draw the way their hands move as they’re speaking. Draw the finer details of their piercings or tattoos, or the weird designs on their T-shirts. Render them in color. Create full character sheets.
If you have inanimate objects that appear in the scene, draw them too — especially if they’re moving objects such as cars or spaceships. This helps you a lot later during the animation process. Creating character sheets helps you formalize this process, and you can use them as a reference later. You’d be surprised how far they go in lending consistency and regularity to your animations. Not only that, but they also help you render your characters in as few lines as possible to cut out excess work.
Plan Your Scenes
Unless you’re animating a one-scene short, you’ll have several different scenes in your animation. Take a look at your story or script. Mark where one scene ends and the next begins. Then sit down and identify the requirements of each scene — how many characters are in each, what backgrounds you need, and the kind of music or voice-overs you require.
Create a storyboard detailing scene action, camera action, effects, and colors. Make the words of your story or script into images with clear directions. Creating visual instructions for yourself forms the framework guiding you throughout the animation process.
Map out Your Timing
Proper timing is essential to animation. Not everything moves at the same speed; running X distance won’t require the same number of frames as walking X distance. If you animate a cheetah leaping but pick X number of arbitrary frames to fill in between your keyframes, you may leave your cheetah floating slowly through the air or hurtling at deadly speeds. Not only that, but not all motion continues at the same speed.
Sometimes there’s an ease in and ease out, such as the wind-up for a baseball pitch. You’ll also likely be working with time constraints. How long do you want your animation to be? What can be cut to fit into those time constraints? Knowing these things helps you create dope sheets mapping out the frames you need to draw.
Create a Workflow and a Project Plan
By now, you probably have a clear idea of the work you need to do for your animation. Write that information down. Decide the order you’ll complete each stage of the project and your methodology. Practice a little discipline and stick to your plan. Set a timeline, especially if you’re working on a deadline for someone else. Work out how much time you need for each part within realistic expectations, and then break down how you’ll allow that time over X number of days.
Following these guidelines won’t make you a perfect animator, but they’ll keep you on track and help you establish a professional working process.
#Start #Animating
Synthetic: Vik News
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