Class 20 - Tuesday Nov 14
Reading Discussion & Presentation
We will start with an introduction to our Discussion Forum. Our assignment is from the text "The Language of New Media" by Lev Manovich.
Principles of Animation
Follow Through & Overlapping Action
When the main body of the character/object stops all other parts continue to catch up to the main mass of the character, such as arms, long hair, clothing, coat tails or a dress, floppy ears or a long tail (these follow the path of action). Nothing stops all at once. This is follow through. Overlapping action is when the character changes direction while his clothes or hair continues forward. The character is going in a new direction, to be followed, a number of frames later, by his clothes in the new direction. "DRAG," in animation, for example, would be when Goofy starts to run, but his head, ears, upper body, and clothes do not keep up with his legs. Timing becomes critical to the effectiveness of drag and the overlapping action.
Slow In & Slow Out (Easing)
As action starts, we have more drawings near the starting pose, one or two in the middle, and more drawings near the next pose. Fewer drawings make the action faster and more drawings make the action slower. Slow-ins and slow-outs soften the action, making it more life-like. This principle in digital animation is refered to as easing. It uses a curve for action so that there isn't one constant speed at all times... objects slow down or speed up depending on the action
Work Session: Assignments & Project Introduction
During the remainder of the class session, students are expected to work individually. Choose something from the list of Assignments. The assignments do not need to be completed in any specific order. It is also not required that you complete all of the assignments. Rather, they are designed to help explore and develop skills that are useful in creating vector graphic artwork. Take your time with the assignments and work at your own pace.
During assignment work time, there will be a short introduction for a new project. We will spend more time with the project details during the next class session. After it is introduced today, students may begin sketching or working on the project in addition to their assignments.