Animation Timing
Moderators: Víctor Paredes, Belgarath, slowtiger
Animation Timing
Anyone shoot video of themselves acting out a scene and use that as reference when animating? Does this actually save time?
-EDIT-
I changed the title to better reflect the direction of the thread.
-EDIT-
I changed the title to better reflect the direction of the thread.
Last edited by Blue on Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
joelstoryboards.com - (WinXP SP3, ASP 6.1)
I think the last thing in the world I'd ever want to do is video myself acting out anything unless it was to go straight to America's Least Wanted. However, that technique was the core of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe back in the good old '80s and it worked with tremendous results. And I have stood in front of the mirror to watch how my hands move or arms or something to get an idea of the right way to animate something, but that was before AS and the marvels of bone rigging.
I'm not sure that taping oneself to then use as a guide for animation would save time unless it was for some really bizarre movement. Even still, I'm sure the movement could be found on YouTube (what CAN'T be found there?), saving you the step of acting it out in the first place.
I don't think that answer was any help at all.
I'm not sure that taping oneself to then use as a guide for animation would save time unless it was for some really bizarre movement. Even still, I'm sure the movement could be found on YouTube (what CAN'T be found there?), saving you the step of acting it out in the first place.
I don't think that answer was any help at all.
~Danimal
I have a hard time getting timing right. How many frames does/should a movement take? Old school exposure sheets look like something Steven Hawking created to make me feel even more stupid.
I'm cool with this thread evolving to a discussion of timing practices, so let 'er rip!
I'm cool with this thread evolving to a discussion of timing practices, so let 'er rip!
joelstoryboards.com - (WinXP SP3, ASP 6.1)
Timing's a rough one, yes. As I've said, I've been known to try something then frantically scramble to a mirror to see if it looks right. I wish I would have thought of my own idea to search for the movement on YouTube. Then again, back then YouTube had about 7 videos and I was doing frame-by-frame on Flash (boooooooooo).
I too would like to know any tips on timing, unless it's just the obvious "try it until you get it right," something I did for days on one of my early cartoons "Jingle All the Way to Hell"
I too would like to know any tips on timing, unless it's just the obvious "try it until you get it right," something I did for days on one of my early cartoons "Jingle All the Way to Hell"
~Danimal
Hmmm... I was considering closing my eyes, visualising the action and putting a stopwatch on it (or counting 1-hippopotamus-2-hippopotamus).
I think I might have read this in an Animation Book... perhaps.
I think I might have read this in an Animation Book... perhaps.
Last edited by tonyg on Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Víctor Paredes
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I time most scenes just im my head. For longer shots I use a stopwatch, especially to read dialogue and get the pauses right. For movements I mostly work in increments of a third or a quarter second. It helps to have some basic musical training, so I can make dynamic movements like half a note, quarter note, eigth note etc. I write down all of this on paper, in the first draft just in seconds.
I was talking to a former employer of Disney Australia at the ToonBoom roadshow, and he confirmed that shooting video reference is just standard operating procedure at Disney.
Don Bluth recommends using video reference in his book.
Several other books on animation recommend the practice.
For heavens sake, just do it.
Don Bluth recommends using video reference in his book.
Several other books on animation recommend the practice.
For heavens sake, just do it.
What about "do whatever you feel comfortable with"?
I should add that I sometimes analyze video footage, counting frames from step to step, just to accumulate knowledge about timing. I don't see anything wrong in acting out a scene or recording it. Counting frames of live action gives you a reference timing from which you can more easily work out your accents. Accelerate here, slow down there, cut out some stuff, and voila, you have a dynamic timing. Now go and animate it ...
I should add that I sometimes analyze video footage, counting frames from step to step, just to accumulate knowledge about timing. I don't see anything wrong in acting out a scene or recording it. Counting frames of live action gives you a reference timing from which you can more easily work out your accents. Accelerate here, slow down there, cut out some stuff, and voila, you have a dynamic timing. Now go and animate it ...