Critique body mechanics planning & body mechanics in blocking exercise
My first reference was created in the Motion Capture room, where I set up two cameras to capture my movement. However, I had to redo the process with an amateur home setup because I made the mistake of walking away after standing, instead of staying still in one place. This change altered the dynamics, turning it into a guessing game to figure out how the body would react. To avoid this, I redid the action, ensuring I had a tangible reference that accurately captured how the body came to a stop after standing up.
The sketch below reflects the changes made to the initial planning after the revision, forming a new reference. Attempting to capture the shapes of the spine, as per analogy to pendulum movement.
Video Reference Tips for Animation
When creating a video reference for your animation, it’s important to consider several key factors that will make your reference more effective and your animation process smoother.
Don’t:
- Wear black clothes: Avoid wearing dark-coloured clothes, as they can blend into the background or make it difficult to see your body movements clearly.
- Look at the camera: If you constantly look at the camera, your head will always be facing it. This can limit the variety of movement and be distracting. However, if you’re aiming for a particular effect (e.g., a dancer constantly eyeing the camera to track their body movement), then it could be intentional.
Do:
- Keep your room uncluttered: A cluttered space can distract from your movements. Make sure there’s nothing in the background that could divert attention away from the reference video.
- Wear clothes with visual guides: Opt for clothing that shows the body’s key parts (e.g., tight-fitting clothes, or clothes with visible markers) to clearly define the silhouette and the key areas of movement.
- Ensure you’re entirely in the frame: Make sure you’re fully visible within the camera frame throughout the entire shot. This ensures that all your body movements are captured for reference.
Key Principles to Keep in Mind:
Your video reference should serve as a guideline for building body movement, especially when you’re dealing with complex body mechanics. Your animation skills will then take that reference to the next level, exaggerating and enhancing the movement for a more dynamic result.
1. Confirm Your Extremes:
Identifying and confirming the extremes in your movement is essential because they define the key poses of your animation. These extreme positions will guide you when you start creating your in-between poses.
2. Decide on the In-Betweens:
When filling in the in-betweens, avoid favouring one key pose over the other. A common rule of thumb is that animators avoid even poses—they prefer asymmetry to make movements feel more natural and dynamic.
3. Focus on the Head:
The head often leads the movement in animation. For example, if the character is about to dive into water, the head will move forward first, guiding the rest of the body. This movement can be exaggerated for effect, like a “Mexican wave” effect. When animating, focus on making the head’s movement stronger to emphasize the action and add more character. This approach helps convey personality and adds weight to the movement