Refined Animation
Overview
We will be creating the animation in 4 phases:
Blocking and Key-posing
Animated Loops
Character Animation
Animation Refinement (this phase)
(1) Refine Your Animation
(a) Watch Disney's 12 Principles of Animation
Reference only those that relate to your animation (if any)
(b) Watch the Rio 2 Animation Refinement Process
An example of how film animators refine their work
(c) Complete the Refinement Passes in Your Animation
Acting
Every character movement should be driven by acting
Animate them acting pose to acting pose. Then create in between either with tweening or addition columns of poses.
No character movement should be random or arbitrarily looped
Anticipation, Action, and settle:
Adding keyframes and or pauses just before and just after the planned animation segments.
Also, motion can be briefly forecasted and reflected upon before and after an action.
For action sequences, it makes sense to cut on motion (cutting while assets are in motion)
Physics:
Adding easing (accelerate/decelerate).
Adding realistic rotation points
Incorporating secondary actions,
implementing Multi-planing, and
Use pinning (for flowing hair and clothing and subtle body movements).
Rhythm: adjust everything to optimize the storytelling and rhythm.
Eye path (Smooth transitions from shot to shot and motion to motion as often as possible)
Emotional speed
Drama: slow
Typical-just moving the story along: medium
Action & emphasis: fast
(d) Upload Your File
Upload it to your Animation Google Drive folder and name the file: FirstnameLastname-Refinement-a,b,c,etc.fla (the letters denote versions)
Additional Technique Demos
Just watch these, don't do them. Use them as reference for methods that you may choose to use in your animations
Animation Smears (external link)
See how to make motion "cheats"
Flash Animation Effects (external link)
A good reference for fire and other dynamics