Character Animation

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Graphic Design

Conceptualization and design of animations, animatics and storyboards with Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere and TrapCode Suite. Find Character Animation WFH freelancers on January 21, 2025 who work remotely. Read less

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Top Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

How do students at California Institute of the Arts learn the craft of character animation?

Similar to NID Ahmedabad and IDC IIT Bombay, the principles of character animation design are taught with a focus on creating believable, engaging, and expressive characters.

These principles are often based on the foundational work done by Disney animators, particularly the "12 Principles of Animation" by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, but they extend beyond these to include aspects specific to character design and performance. Here are detailed principles taught in Indian and U.S. animation schools alike:

1. Squash and Stretch
Explanation: This principle gives characters a sense of weight and flexibility by changing their shape during movement or impact.
Technical Detail: When an object or character moves, it should appear to compress or elongate to illustrate speed, force, or flexibility. The volume must remain consistent to avoid looking unnatural.
Example: A character jumping would squash on landing to show impact, then stretch during the jump to indicate speed and energy.

2. Anticipation
Explanation: Preparation for an action to make it more realistic and readable.
Technical Detail: A small, opposite movement before the main action can signal to the viewer what's about to happen, enhancing the believability of the animation.
Example: A character winding up before throwing a punch or bending knees before jumping.

3. Staging
Explanation: Presenting an idea clearly and effectively to the audience.
Technical Detail: Use camera angles, lighting, character placement, and composition to ensure the focus is on the most important action or emotion.
Example: Positioning a character in the center of the frame with others in the background to emphasize their role in the scene.

4. Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
Explanation: Two approaches to animation; one spontaneous, the other planned.
Technical Detail:
Straight Ahead: Drawing frame by frame from start to finish, useful for fluid, dynamic actions.
Pose to Pose: Setting key poses first, then filling in the in-between frames, ideal for controlled, accurate animations.
Example: Using Pose to Pose for character dialogue where key expressions are defined, then smoothed out.

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action
Explanation: Reflects the way parts of a character continue moving after the main action has stopped or move at different rates.
Technical Detail: After a character stops moving, elements like hair, clothing, or loose parts should continue, showing inertia. Overlapping action means parts of the body move at different speeds, adding realism.
Example: A character stopping abruptly, but their cape or hair continues to move.

6. Slow In and Slow Out
Explanation: Objects don’t start or stop moving instantly in real life.
Technical Detail: Use more frames at the beginning and end of an action for acceleration and deceleration, making movements appear more natural.
Example: A character raising an arm; it starts slow, speeds up in the middle, then slows down as it reaches its peak.

7. Arcs
Explanation: Most natural actions follow an arc rather than a straight line.
Technical Detail: Character movements should be curved for a more organic feel unless the design or action calls for a mechanical or robotic movement.
Example: The arc of a character’s arm swing or the path of a thrown object.

8. Secondary Action
Explanation: Adds to the main action, providing additional detail or reaction.
Technical Detail: This could be a character blinking, hair moving, or small gestures that support or contrast the primary action.
Example: While a character walks (primary action), they might be swinging their arms or whistling (secondary action).

9. Timing
Explanation: Controls the speed of an action and thus the perception of weight, mood, and energy.
Technical Detail: Adjusting the number of frames between key poses can alter how fast or slow an action feels.
Example: More frames for a slow, deliberate movement like a character sneaking, fewer for quick, sharp actions like a slap.

10. Exaggeration
Explanation: Enhancing movements, expressions, or actions for effect and clarity.
Technical Detail: Exaggeration should be tasteful; it's about emphasizing the essence of the action or emotion, not just making things bigger or more extreme for no reason.
Example: Over-emphasizing a character's surprise by making their eyes and mouth open wide.

11. Solid Drawing
Explanation: Understanding of form, weight, and volume to create convincing three-dimensional characters in a 2D space.
Technical Detail: Even in 2D, animators must think in 3D, ensuring characters have volume and weight through proper perspective and anatomy.
Example: Drawing a character from different angles with consistent proportions and structure.

12. Appeal
Explanation: Characters should be engaging, likable, or at least interesting to watch.
Technical Detail: This involves design choices like distinctive silhouettes, expressive features, and personality conveyed through movement.
Example: A character with a unique look, memorable expressions, or a compelling backstory.

Additional Principles Specific to Character Animation:

Character Design:
Explanation: The overall visual design of the character, including proportions, color, silhouette, and personality conveyed through visual elements.

Technical Detail: Characters are often designed with specific shapes (like circles for friendliness) or with exaggerated features for comedic or dramatic effect.
Personality and Acting:
Explanation: Giving characters distinct behaviors, emotions, and motivations.
Technical Detail: Animators study acting, use reference videos, and employ body language to ensure characters' actions reflect their personality consistently.

Line of Action:
Explanation: A guiding line through the character's body that defines the pose's direction and energy.
Technical Detail: This helps convey the character's emotional state or action, like a diagonal line for movement or a curved one for relaxation.

Silhouette:
Explanation: The character should be recognizable by their outline alone.
Technical Detail: Designing characters with distinct shapes ensures they are identifiable even in low detail or from a distance.

Animation Cycles:
Explanation: Repeating actions like walking or running loops.
Technical Detail: These must be both efficient (for reuse) and varied enough to not look mechanical.

Lip Sync and Facial Expression:
Explanation: Matching mouth movements to dialogue and conveying emotions through facial features.
Technical Detail: Requires understanding of phonemes, how they look, and how different expressions modify the face.

These principles are taught through lectures, practical exercises, critique sessions, and by analyzing both classic and contemporary animations. Students learn not only how to apply these principles technically but also how to adapt them creatively to different styles and stories.

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