- Going over acting with the body and pantomime
- Planning body mechanicsshot
- 3D animation workflow checklist
Pantomime & Acting with the body
Body Mechanics Plan:
George suggest to make the animation shorter as there are too many poses, and it last too long, so I make some changes of my plan. After the character stand up, she will move forward for one step and stop there:
Reference video:
Workflow checklist:
When I am animating, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of steps between your initial idea and a polished final shot. This week, teacher introduce his workflow checklist to us, and it is really helpful.
Planning
- Thumbnails: Quick sketches to explore poses, ideas, and storytelling to show key poses. Focus on silhouette, emotion, and staging. No need for detail — clarity is the goal.
- References
- Journal workflow
- Layout
- Staging
- Composition
- Story
Blocking
- Stepped key poses
- Fundamental approach
- Easy to edit
- Inner monologue timing tool
- Arcs
- Weight check
- Compare thumbnails
- Watch at speed
Splining
- Work in small sections
- Inbetween: adding secondary/key breakdowns for smoother transitions.
- Inbetweens are the frames that bridge the gap between key poses. They smooth out transitions, add weight and timing nuance, and define the rhythm of a movement. It can be manipulated in graph editor, adjusted curves, or added breakdown keys.
- Arcs
Polish
- New mindset: reviewing your animation with fresh eyes.
- Non-performance texture
- Fix tiny things like toe splays on blinks — like breath cycles, toe splay, or tiny eye movements. These often-forgotten details are what truly bring a character to life and separate good animation from great.