This lesson helped me understand that 3D animation is a gradual process, rather than simply moving a character between keyframes. I also learned a lot about video references. In previous projects, I often found it difficult to find suitable references, which made the animation process more challenging. This workshop showed me that animators don’t just imagine movements from scratch; they can act them out themselves and use the recordings as references. In future projects, I will use this method to support my animation process and make my work more effective.
1. Shot Planning
Good planning is essential for a successful animation. Before starting, it is important to prepare video references, organise assets and set up the scene properly.
Video Reference
I learned that video references help us understand four key aspects of animation: timing, layout, weight and acting. When recording references, it is useful to try different versions of an action, use a camera angle similar to the final shot and keep the face visible to study facial expressions.
Before importing reference videos into Maya, they need to be converted into image sequences. The frame rate (FPS) and file naming format should also be checked to ensure everything works correctly.
Setting Up the Scene
Before animating, all necessary assets should be prepared, including character rigs, environment models, audio files, cameras and video references. In Maya, the project directory, resolution, plugins, preferences and rig settings also need to be configured.
2. Animation Stage
The animation process gradually develops from simple poses into smooth, detailed movement. Each stage focuses on a different part of the process.
- Layout: Establish the camera angle, staging and overall timing of the shot.
- Rough Blocking: Create the main key poses and breakdowns to define the basic action and timing.
- Blocking: Add more poses and in-betweens while keeping the animation in stepped mode, making it easier to check the poses before refining the movement.
- Blocking Plus: Start adjusting animation curves in the Graph Editor to improve the motion.
- Polish / Animation: Switch to spline curves for smoother movement, refine the timing and spacing, and add frame-by-frame details to create a more polished result.
Assignment
1. Pendulum
Light pendulum
Timing: Faster movement and quicker reactions.
Spacing: Wider spacing during fast movement and closer spacing when slowing down.
Inertia: Less visual sense of weight; changes direction more easily.
Overlapping: Can start moving or change direction earlier than the heavy pendulum.
Arc: The ball at the bottom swings through a wider arc, and the string swings and wobbles along with the ball, creating a looser and more flexible movement.
Heavy pendulum
Heavy Pendulum
Timing: More deliberate movement, with a stronger sense of weight.
Spacing: Gradually accelerates during the swing and slows down near the turning points.
Inertia: Stronger sense of momentum; movement feels harder to stop or redirect suddenly.
Overlapping: Can start moving or change direction later to create a delay in the motion.
Arc: The ball at the bottom swings through a smaller arc, and the string stays taut and relatively straight as the heavy ball pulls on it.
2.Golden pose
Dancing pose
Sad emotion
Regret emotion