What is Character Animation?

Today I have been looking at the fundamentals that make up character animation and what things to consider when animating your character.
I have narrowed it down to 11 factors the I believe to be important when you begin to animate your character and to keep consistent throughout the animating process.


1. Squash and Stretch

The change in shape of a character when a part of its body moves. e.g. The characters head stretching and squashing as they eat some food.

2. Anticipation

The positioning of a character before he performs an act.

3. Staging

Positioning of the camera, so that the viewer can see what the character is doing. This may also include selecting the correct background scenery in order to get the message across.

4. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose

Straight Ahead Action simply involves running one animation sequence after another without any pre-planning of animation sequences. 

Pose to Pose is exactly the opposite. All the animation sequences are planned ahead of time. This allows the camera positions to be planned so that everything is in proportion.

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

This involves parts of a character to continue moving from a previous animation sequence while the character starts a new sequence.

6. Slow In and Slow Out

Accelerating and decelerating the motion of a character between animation sequences.

7. Arcs

Modelling the motion of every part of a character's body as he moves. e.g. Making the head bob up and down as the character walks along

8. Secondary Action

Adding other smaller movements to emphasise any animation sequence e.g. A character shaking his head after being hit by a falling object.

9. Exaggeration

Making the motion of a character more dramatic.

10. Timing

The number of frames required to complete a single animation sequence.

11. Appeal

Making a character attract the viewers attention. This includes getting the colours right, avoiding clumsy shapes, awkward motion, and distorting the shape of the character.

Other attributes can include the behaviour of the character and the manner in which he/she speaks.

I have recently purchased a book, The Animators Survival Kit, by Richard Williams. I will be delving into this book in the near future so expect future blog posts to be of this book as well as other animation articles. 

-J.W