Action Analysis for Animators

Action Analysis is one of the fundamental princples of animation that underpins all types of animation: 2d, 3d, computer animation, stop motion, etc. This is a fundamental skill that all animators need to create polished, believable animation. An example of Action Analysis would be Shrek's swagger in the film, Shrek. The animators clearly understood (through action analysis) the type of walk achieved by a large and heavy individual (the real) and then applied their observations to the animated character of an ogre (the fantastic). It is action analysis that enabled the animation team to visually translate a real life situation into an ogre's walk, achieving such fantastic results. Key animation skills are demonstrated with in-depth illustrations, photographs and live action footage filmed with high speed cameras. Detailed Case Studies, practical assignments and industry interviews ground action analysis methodology with real life examples. Action Analysis for Animators is a essential guide for students, amateurs and professionals. * A title that unites classic principles of Action Analysis with contemporary workflows. Apply the practices of action analysis to any animaton process. * Extensive illustrations of people and animals in motion that break down the action of animals and humans in a step-by-step manner. * Tips included throughout the book on how to capture motion and analyse action. * Detailed case studies illustrated with line drawings, diagrams, photographs and live action footage, integrate real world examples with practical knowledge. * DVD included as a resource for amateur and experience animators, featuring Short Animations and Live Action examples juxtaposed with stills of animals and humans in motion.

Chris Webster is an animator who has worked for twenty years in the industry and has extensive experience as an educator, teaching across a broad range of levels from schools, higher education and professional training programs, and within the studio environment. He is currently Head of Animation at the Bristol School of Animation and the University of the West of England.

Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xv
The Study of Motion	p. 1
Asking Ourselves Some Key Questions	p. 1
Pioneers of Action Analysis	p. 8
Books About Animation	p. 13
Dynamics and the Laws of Motion	p. 15
An Approach to Study: What You Need to Know	p. 15
Forces of Nature	p. 16
The Weak Nuclear Force	p. 17
The Strong Nuclear Force	p. 18
The Electromagnetic Force	p. 18
Gravity	p. 18
Newton's Theory of Gravitation	p. 20
Newtononian Laws of Motion	p. 22
Newton's First Law of Motion	p. 23
Newton's Second Law of Motion	p. 25
Newton's Third Law of Motion	p. 28
Animation Principles	p. 31
A Little History	p. 31
Approaches to Animation	p. 32
Simulation	p. 32
Representation	p. 33
Interpretation	p. 34
Four A's of Animation	p. 34
Activity	p. 35
Action	p. 37
Animation	p. 38
Acting	p. 40
Timing for Animation	p. 42
Pacing	p. 42
Phrasing	p. 43
Animation Timing	p. 44
The Hierarchy of Animated Actions	p. 44
Primary Action	p. 45
Secondary Action	p. 46
Tertiary Action	p. 47
The Principles of Animation	p. 50
Timing, Secondary Action, and Slow In and Slow Out	p. 52
Straight-Ahead Action and Pose-to-Pose	p. 52
Squash and Stretch	p. 54
Anticipation	p. 56
Staging	p. 57
Follow-through and Overlapping Action	p. 58
Arcs	p. 60
Exaggeration	p. 61
Solid Drawing	p. 62
Appeal	p. 62
Drag	p. 63
Balance and Weight	p. 64
Solid Modeling	p. 64
Energy Flow	p. 64
Animals in Motion	p. 67
The Richness of Life on Earth	p. 67
Human Understanding of the Animal Kingdom	p. 69
The Principles of Locomotion	p. 73
Speed	p. 73
Maneuverability	p. 74
Endurance and Economy of Energy	p. 75
Stability and Gait	p. 77
Quadrupeds	p. 83
Quadruped Anatomy	p. 83
Muscle	p. 84
Tendons	p. 85
Anatomy	p. 86
Horses	p. 89
Cats	p. 90
Dogs	p. 92
Cows	p. 93
Other Quadrupeds	p. 94
Crocodiles	p. 95
Squirrels	p. 96
Quadruped Animation	p. 98
Birds	p. 119
Bird Anatomy	p. 121
Small Birds	p. 129
Medium-Sized and Large Land-Based Birds	p. 130
Water Birds	p. 131
Hummingbirds	p. 134
Birds of Prey	p. 134
Seabirds	p. 135
Other Birds	p. 135
Bird Animation	p. 136
Principles of Flight	p. 136
Types of Wings	p. 140
Types of Flight	p. 146
Fish	p. 154
Fish Anatomy	p. 156
Fish Movement	p. 160
Fish Animation	p. 167
Figures in Motion	p. 177
Human Anatomy	p. 178
Human Skeletal Structure	p. 180
Human Musculature	p. 185
Human Animation	p. 194
The Sagittal or Median Plane	p. 195
The Frontal or Coronal Plane	p. 195
The Transverse or Horizontal Plane	p. 196
Objectives of Movement	p. 198
Balance	p. 198
Locomotion	p. 198
Projection	p. 198
Manipulation	p. 199
Effort	p. 199
Movement Given to One's Own Body	p. 206
Movement Given to External Objects	p. 206
Movement under Loads	p. 207
Figurative Interaction	p. 210
Children in Motion	p. 215
Movement in the Elderly	p. 215
Movement and the Environment	p. 216
Walking	p. 217
The Stride	p. 219
The Passing Position	p. 220
A Child Walk	p. 228
An Elderly Walk	p. 229
A Heavy Walk	p. 231
Walking with a Limp	p. 232
Walking with an Aid	p. 234
A Happy Walk	p. 235
A Sad Walk	p. 236
Running	p. 237
Timing a Run	p. 243
Sprinting	p. 244
Steady Runs	p. 245
Jogging	p. 245
Child Running	p. 247
Lifting	p. 248
Lifting a Heavy Weight	p. 248
Lifting a Light Weight	p. 251
Lifting a Light Weight with One Hand	p. 252
Cooperation in Lifting Weight	p. 253
Carrying	p. 254
Pushing	p. 260
Pulling	p. 262
Throwing and Catching	p. 264
Kicking	p. 271
Jumping	p. 273
Striking	p. 275
Using Hands and Articulation	p. 279
Facial Movement	p. 283
Action in Performance and Acting	p. 287
Timing Gives Meaning to Motion	p. 290
Body Language	p. 290
Mood and Psychology	p. 293
Facial Motion and Expression	p. 295
The Thinking Process	p. 299
Lip Sync	p. 301
Motivated Movements	p. 304
Characterization	p. 304
Character Types	p. 304
Personality	p. 305
Performance Dynamics	p. 306
Action Analysis and Acting	p. 307
Group Actions and Dynamics	p. 309
Dance and Choreography	p. 310
Capturing and Analyzing Action	p. 313
Capturing Action	p. 314
First-Hand Observation	p. 315
Photographing Action	p. 337
Filming Action	p. 352
Motion Capture	p. 354
Analyzing Action	p. 358
Four A's of Animation	p. 359
Analyzing the Moving Image	p. 360
Reading a Sequence	p. 368
Staging Actions and Choreography	p. 370
Analysis of Performance	p. 371
Analyzing Still Images	p. 373
Analyzing Animation	p. 374
Research	p. 383
Reference and Research	p. 383
Primary Research	p. 386
Secondary Research	p. 387
Quantitative Research	p. 388
Qualitative Research	p. 388
Research Methods	p. 389
Heuristic	p. 389
Phenomenology	p. 390
Action Research	p. 390
Participant Observer	p. 391
Ethnographic Research	p. 391
Sources	p. 392
Creating Your Own Reference Library	p. 392
Further Reading and Viewing	p. 393
Action Analysis	p. 393
Practical Guides	p. 394
Theory	p. 395
Index	p. 397
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Action Analysis for Animators

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials