Heavy Fall

Artistic Concept

A concept is an abstract idea. Artists use different concepts to take those ideas for an artwork from abstraction to reality. The second concept being explored through the lens of the Studio Habit - is Originality.

Originality lies in an artist's ability to create something that is "new" to them. Originality does not mean that the artwork, animation, or the process is entirely new or never been seen before. Most "original" pieces are inspired by other things in the artist's life including other artworks. Originality, it it's purest sense is simply how each individual creates an artwork using their own inspiration, set of references, individual skillsets, experiences, personal meanings, and values.

Originality

Animation Inspired by Other Sources

Pixar references other movies and sources that key players in the animation/story team love and are inspired by.

Enchanted references all of the classic "princess fairytale" tropes from other earlier Disney animations.

Mickey Mouse

The Emperor's New Groove

Enchanted

12 Principles of Animation

Being Explored in this Project:

Slow in and Slow Out

Slow in and Slow out in animation refers to the motion that happens before and after a major action. To make it look more realistic and believable in terms of the movement, animators have the action begin slowly, then accelerate to it's top or peak speed, and then decelerate or slow down before the action ends. This can be done with characters as well as inanimate objects to the same effect.

How can you envision using this principle in your animation of a heavy object?

Professional Examples

The concept of visual weight is used constantly in both 2D and 3D animation. Every time a character or object is picked up, drops, or moves in any way their weight - or mass - has to be conveyed. Since animation isn't "real" in the sense that the objects and characters are only drawings or computer renderings, the animators must give realistic weight to them through various techniques.

What techniques do you see the animators of Bluey using in this sequence to portray that everyday objects that would not normally have excessive weight are in fact "heavy?"

What techniques do you see the animators of Wile E. Coyote using in this Roadrunner cartoon? How have they changed "normal physics" to suit the idea that things are in fact "heavy?"

Weight and Balance Unit

Project Specifics

Create an animation that shows a brick (or another heavy object) falling from a distinct height. The motion of the heavy object should be planned out and executed using a "key frame" or pose to pose method with special attention being paid to the staging or setting on which the animation takes place. Your animation should also consider the principle of slow in and slow out when it comes to the "realistic" movement of your heavy object as it falls.

add layout example here...

The Process

Begin by creating your layout - or the environment where your animation will take place. Consider the following as your beginning to draw your scene:

What's my story? It doesn't have to be complicated, but having a story in mind will make the staging process much easier.
What heavy object will be falling from a height? Think outside the box and remember that it doesn't have to be realisitic to our physical world.
Where does this story take place? Be creative and have fun with it! A brick doesn't have to always fall off of a stack at a construction site...
What angle is the viewer seeing this scene from? Are we like ants and looking up at something? Are we at the top of a building looking down?
Work from reference! Find an image that you can be inspired from to create your layout! It's not cheating!

motion guide process; student examples

real example videos of heavy things falling from a height

making the movie

objectives and national standards

want to know more? - exploratory animation

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