Animation | The Importance of Observation

in #art4 years ago


As an animator, it is really important how we comprehend the world around us. Not just a mere glance but how we really understand the world and its little things.

Yes, the topic for today would be 'How Animators should see the World' and because we are in a creative industry that requires us to bring characters to life, we should not miss THAT 'little thing' of a personality, an action or an emotion. The understanding of things increases through the years as an animator and this would only add more value to your work. And this come hand in hand with the planning phase that we animators have to go through but I would leave that for another day.

Today, I'm going to talk about the importance of observation.



Observation comes way before any other planning starts. It starts when you've decided to be an animator yourself. Now, you're probably thinking... zord, I've been observing things all my life, what are you talking about?

Well, it may sound simple but it isn't as simple as you think. The way animators observe is different and this will eventually become a part of their everyday life. It becomes natural for us to observe things differently. The way we see how that action moves, the way the feathers of a bird flutters and many more instances.


Observation is much more than just 'seeing' something, it is studying it


Let's put it simply, a normal person looks at a car turning a corner and drives off, an animator sees how the car tilts as it steers around the corner. We see the timing of when the car brakes and when it accelerates. It a diesel car? Is the car dirty or well-polished?

Get what I mean now?

An animator has to always crank up that observation to more than 'just' seeing things as they are. Of course, we don't go around creepily stalking objects or human beings. That's a whole different story. :D



Take this GIF for example. If you were these two walking in the park, that would be just it. As an animator who observes, they will notice the casual stroll and how the guys are walking.

I would also notice how they're wearing a jacket with one of the guy's hands tucked into the pocket. This could be that winter is coming and it is chilly outside. As you can also see from the background environment, the leaves are falling. The time and day of this shot would probably be very early morning or a late evening where the sun isn't casting a strong shadow on things.


An animator should see SO MUCH MORE

Sometimes, I would look at the postures and expressions of people. All these add up to your animation memory and can be used whenever it is needed.

In most studios before starting a project, the client or the animators would go through a phase called 'referencing' and this would also be another topic for another day. But referencing is needed for animators to observe and study before starting to animate. Usually, when there is a dancing animation needed, I would spend a few hours just rummaging through youtube, google images for references of dancers dancing. All this info is needed to create the animation.

How the ballerina twirls, how the dancer leaps up and clenches his fist and brings it towards his chest in anger, so on so forth.


That's Observation!


It's a natural tool everyone can master. Truth be told, I wasn't that much of an observer in the cartoons I watched when I was younger. The time when I would take out my cereal bowl at 8am in the morning to catch my favourite cartoons on a Saturday.

After I started my animation career, I felt a lack of animation sense in terms of cartoon postures and movement. Usually, the cartoon characters would always have a more exaggerated facial or posture so everything is amplified and delivers the story. That being said, I now have to find time to watch more cartoons and observe them.

I realized that my other animation friends who are anime fans since young, are usually good at expressing their characters in the scene.

What I'm trying to say that, observation is very important and if you're in this creative line, and have been missing out all these little things, it's about time to crank up that observation notch by many folds.



Your animation will only get stronger from here on out, so if you're not used to observation the way I've explained it in this post. Then, it's about time you train yourself and sooner or later it will be more natural.

Anyways, the world around you is actually really beautiful if you would just stop and look at these little things.

Thank You

If you like what I do, check out my other posts on meetups, animation, and designs.

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://zord189.steemblogs.club/2019/10/04/animation-the-importance-of-observation/

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The world is lifelier with animators around. Or else it would just be.

They are walking.
The car is turning left.
The child is sleeping.

Haha.

I think the neurons in your brain works differently. Hehe. Amazing!

Keep it up! =)

True skills are through hard work and practices too, beside observations. Thanks for sharing @zord189!

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Observation is more than important as it gives also the spark to the imagination to start running. Great advice:)


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One of the greatest skills we have, yet so many people nowadays spend their days observing other peoples lives instead of looking within

Wow, it seems that you are telling us that there's a part of your mind seemed to be running on an overdrive absorbing through your eyes and processing it into your memory.

Do take time to shut it off when you need to, once a while, just to enjoy the simplicity and wonders in front of you. 😂

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I’ve noticed that a lot in videogames it’s the little things that bring animations to life. A character might be talking and some seem to only focus on moving the lips to mouth the words. There is no movement in the face outside of that. There arms are stiff as a board and don’t move while they speak. There is no expressing on the face, eyebrows, or anything else. The fine details where missed that make it feel and real.

It is quite interesting all the muscles that end up moving to form a simple word. What someone is doing with their hands. What other expressions the body is saying with what that person is speaking.

Definitively I follow and keep note of all these advises since my work as an actor and theater director requires a lot of observation, listening and reflection as I'm sure your work does. I'm also an animation enthusiast with a little knowledge in 3dsmax, which I mostly use for stage design and visualizations. I'll be following your blog for more news from your great work. Glad to find you through @Paulag steempress showcase!! :)
All the best for every project!!

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