Character Animation in 3D (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation Series)

cover......Page 1
character animation in 3D: use traditional drawing techniques to produce stunning CGI animation......Page 4
contents......Page 6
preface......Page 12
acknowledgements......Page 14
chapter 1 introduction to 2D-animation working practice......Page 16
frames per second......Page 17
peg bar......Page 18
1. sound column......Page 19
2. action column......Page 20
3. the frame numbers column......Page 21
5. the camera column......Page 23
line tester......Page 24
key to key animation......Page 26
flipping......Page 28
flicking......Page 29
rolling......Page 32
how to use a line tester to help your animation......Page 33
ball bouncing......Page 34
how to relate your 2D animation to your 3D animation......Page 37
overview of the \'ball drop\' exercise in 3D......Page 38
drawing!......Page 40
chapter 2 matter and the animation of inanimate objects......Page 43
environment......Page 44
how to animate inanimate objects......Page 45
animating this sequence......Page 46
a balloon......Page 47
a water-filled balloon......Page 48
a drip......Page 49
object falling into water......Page 50
the bouncy ball in 2D......Page 51
animating a 2D bowling ball......Page 52
animating a 2D soccer ball......Page 55
animating a 2D beach ball......Page 57
animating a 2D water-filled balloon......Page 58
the bouncy ball in 3D......Page 59
chapter 3 the construction of a simple character, its articulation and balance......Page 62
basic human anatomy......Page 63
the pelvic girdle......Page 64
the shoulders......Page 65
pivot joints......Page 66
condyloid joints......Page 67
designing a basic human character......Page 68
the graphic nature of characters......Page 70
gravity......Page 71
balance......Page 72
planning a scene......Page 73
animating your characters......Page 74
the lift in 2D......Page 75
the lift in 3D......Page 80
the push in 2D......Page 83
the push in 3D......Page 87
the pull in 2D......Page 89
the pull in 3D......Page 91
chapter 4 timing, anticipation, overshoot, follow-through and overlapping action with an animated character......Page 93
timing......Page 94
anticipation......Page 96
how much anticipation......Page 97
force......Page 98
double takes!......Page 99
anticipation during a move......Page 100
varying the amount of anticipation......Page 101
follow-through......Page 102
follow-through of inanimate objects......Page 103
follow-through of animate (living) objects......Page 104
overlapping action or overshoot......Page 107
the string and stick in 2D......Page 109
the dive in 2D......Page 111
the dive in 3D......Page 115
chapter 5 human walks and runs......Page 119
pace......Page 120
the stride positions......Page 121
shoulder movement......Page 123
arm movement......Page 124
up and down movement of the body......Page 125
walk cycles displaying different moods......Page 126
external influences......Page 129
running......Page 130
walk or run cycle in 3D......Page 132
changing the pace and mood in a walk in 2D......Page 133
changing the pace and mood in a walk in 3D......Page 134
chapter 6 animal walks and runs......Page 136
pantomime horse......Page 137
cartoon four-legged walks......Page 138
correct four-legged animal construction......Page 139
animals with paws......Page 140
a dog walk......Page 141
a cat walk......Page 143
animals with hooves......Page 144
animal runs......Page 145
cantering......Page 146
transverse or rotary gallops and canters......Page 147
dog walk cycle in 2D......Page 148
dog walk cycle in 3D......Page 149
dog walk or run cycle in 3D......Page 150
fish......Page 154
drag......Page 155
burst swimmers......Page 156
caudal fin......Page 157
basic movement......Page 158
crotaline (sidewinder) movement......Page 159
animation of a fish in 2D......Page 160
animation of a fish in 3D......Page 161
animation of a snake in 2D......Page 164
animation of a snake in 3D......Page 165
flying......Page 166
wings – insects and humming bird......Page 168
animation of a bird in 2D......Page 169
animation of a bird in 3D......Page 170
chapter 9 animation of acting – body language......Page 174
method acting......Page 175
consequence......Page 176
general body language......Page 177
basic body postures......Page 178
forward body postures......Page 179
responsive......Page 180
fugitive......Page 182
combative......Page 183
palm gestures......Page 184
hand gestures......Page 185
arm crossing......Page 186
leg crossing......Page 187
acting out a scene in animation......Page 188
animated radio......Page 190
full animation acting......Page 191
mime......Page 192
animation of acting in 2D......Page 193
animation of acting in 3D......Page 197
chapter 10 animation of acting – facial expressions......Page 199
emotions......Page 200
the eyes......Page 202
a smile......Page 204
sadness......Page 205
surprise......Page 206
anger......Page 207
interest......Page 208
pain and distress......Page 209
combination of facial expressions......Page 210
hand-to-face gestures......Page 211
deceit......Page 212
how to animate a piece of facial acting......Page 213
the facial expression in 2D......Page 217
the facial expression in 3D......Page 218
animating the mouth with Morpher in 3D Studio Max......Page 221
animating the mouth with Animation Mixer in SoftImage XSI......Page 222
animating with Morph Targets in Lightwave......Page 223
two characters on screen together......Page 224
personal space......Page 225
mirroring......Page 226
how characters look at each other......Page 227
two characters acting with each other while talking......Page 228
two characters alternating from one shot to another......Page 229
a large group of characters on screen at the same time......Page 230
double acting in 2D......Page 231
double acting in 3D......Page 234
how to load two identical characters into the same scene......Page 235
chapter 12 lip-sync......Page 237
recording and breaking down a dialogue track......Page 238
how we speak......Page 239
acting with dialogue......Page 241
erratically from pose to pose......Page 242
mouth shut consonants......Page 243
the vowels......Page 245
teeth......Page 246
lip-sync in 2D......Page 247
lip-sync in 3D......Page 249
the vowels......Page 250
animating the mouths......Page 251
B......Page 254
E......Page 255
I......Page 256
O......Page 257
S......Page 258
W......Page 259
Y......Page 260