how to animate

first step make an extreme pose.. 

3 ways to animate part 3

3. the combination of straight ahead and pose to pose

first we plan out what we're going to do in small thimbnail sketches .

3 ways to animate part 2

2. the planned way, called pose to pose 

first we decide what are the most important drawings - the storytelling drawings.

the keys - and put them in. then we decide what are the next most important positions that have to be in the scene. theses are the extremes and we put them in .

and any other important poses . then we work out how to go from one pose to another.

3 ways to animate part 1

1. the natural way called - straight ahead -

we just start drawing and see what happens. like a kid drawing in the page corners of the schoolbook - stick the number on afterwards.

advantages
- we get a natural flow of fluid spontaneous action
- it has the vitality of improvisation
- it's very 'creative'
often the unconscious mind starts to kick in. like authors saying their character tells them what's going to happen.
- it can produce surprises 'magic'
- it's fun


DISADVANTAGES
-Things start to wander
- time stretches and the shot get longer and longer
- characters grow and shrink
- we can tend to mistake point of the shot and not arrive at the right place at the right time.
- the director hates us cause he can;t see what;s happening.
- it's lots of wodk to clean up the mess afterwards and it;s hard to assist

Animation test how to train your dragon dialogue

this is my test.. please comment

advancing backwards to 1940

advancing backwards to 1940

let's advance backwards to approach where animators were during the 'golden age'.
and then go forward from there -  so we can do new things.

the thing you are going to build on must be basic.

everyone wants to decorate their house with interesting pieces before putting in the corner-stones and supports.
everyone wants to jump ahead to the sophisticated bit - glossing over the dull. old support work.

but it's the through understanding of the basics that produces real sophistication.