Character Design
A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in
the action of a short story.
KEEP IT SIMPLE!
It is important to keep the structure of your character simple. Place each body part on its own layer. Avoid lines and polka dots.
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Model & Expression Sheets
_In animation, a model sheet, also known as a character board, character sheet, character study or simply a study, is a document used to help standardize the appearance, poses, and gestures of an animated character.
How to draw cartoons
These worksheets will help with drawing your characters. A simple google search 'how to draw cartoons' will provide you with loads of easy to follow steps in drawing cartoons.
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Walk Cycles
_The walk cycle is one of the most important learning concepts in
animation and also one of the most technically difficult, because it
requires so much attention to the movement of opposing limbs.
In animation, a walk cycle is a series of frames or illustrations drawn in sequence that loop to create an animation of a walking character. The walk cycle is looped over and over, thus having to avoid animating each step again.
Walk cycles can be broken up into 4 key frames, namely Forward Contact Point, Passing Pose1, Back Contact Point and Passing Pose 2. A walk cycle of a full stride can be covered in 8 frames. Besides the apparent move of the legs, many more details are necessary for a convincing walk cycle, like animation timing, movement of the arms, head and torsion of the whole body.
Movement cycles are created for all forms of movement i.e., walking, running, jumping, dancing, flying, skipping etc. A well considered cycle will ensure your character moves smoothly and realistically.
In animation, a walk cycle is a series of frames or illustrations drawn in sequence that loop to create an animation of a walking character. The walk cycle is looped over and over, thus having to avoid animating each step again.
Walk cycles can be broken up into 4 key frames, namely Forward Contact Point, Passing Pose1, Back Contact Point and Passing Pose 2. A walk cycle of a full stride can be covered in 8 frames. Besides the apparent move of the legs, many more details are necessary for a convincing walk cycle, like animation timing, movement of the arms, head and torsion of the whole body.
Movement cycles are created for all forms of movement i.e., walking, running, jumping, dancing, flying, skipping etc. A well considered cycle will ensure your character moves smoothly and realistically.
Download and print the following 2 info sheets and paste into your journal. They will help get you started with your movement cycles. For more examples of movement cycles search Google images.
movements_of_the_2_legged_figure.gif | |
File Size: | 118 kb |
File Type: | gif |
movements_of_the_4_legged_figure.gif | |
File Size: | 105 kb |
File Type: | gif |
Every day movements
The following tutorials will help you with simple movements. Search YouTube for more tutorials for help with additional movements.
Chewing Face Expression
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How to animation facial expressions
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Making a character blink
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