Animation Mechanics

Animation is a difficult and complex subject. An animator must be knowledgeable about many topics.  A well-rounded artist is usually a confident and capable animator. It is generally known that the better the artist is at drawing the easier it is to animate. For example, If you are animating a dog it is helpful if you have some dog anatomy in your head! In this class, we will look at the basic animation principles These principles can be found in the book The illusion of life and The animator’s survival kit.

How long will take to get good?

Learning the basic animation mechanics can seem daunting. There is so much to learn! You must have solid drawing skills as well as an understanding of motion and physics.  It is advised that you take some life drawing courses as well as still life. This might take a long time. That’s okay! Good things can take time. There are no fast and easy ways to master animation, it takes time and patience. Often times what can make it hard is doing it by yourself. It can be discouraging learning all alone! Youtube is a great place to get tutorials but lacks support and feedback! First, you will learn the basics and then you will practice what you have learned. Third, you will be critiqued on your work. Why? Because you need it and because we care!

What is the best way to learn animation?

You need constant feedback! You need someone that has an eye for movement and understands the principles of animation! This constant course correction way of teaching will maximize your learning time. In our online animation class, we critique your animation work and tell it the way it is! You need that type of tough love. Is your bouncing ball look like a lame frog hopping? We’ll point it out to you! We will also tell you how to correct your work so you can improve. This constant feedback and teacher attention is whats going to encourage you to become the animator you want to be!

How is this different than animation 101?

This course will look at things like puppet animation, vector animation, and other animation techniques that are a bit different than the traditional animation we have been learning.

Here is a list of things we will cover

• Squash and stretch
• Timing and motion
• Anticipation
• Staging
• Follow through and overlapping action
• straight ahead and pose to pose
• slow in and slow out
• arcs
• exaggeration
• Secondary action
• Solid drawing
• Appeal