About Body Mechanics:
When a person wants to convey information, speaking is not the only method. Body language, eye contact, and facial expressions can all serve as effective means of communication. As an animator, using body language to “describe” a character is an essential skill. Characters with different personalities will have distinct ways of walking. For example, an arrogant person might exaggerate their arm movements while walking, while a timid person might try to make themselves smaller. The same principles apply to animal characters. Therefore, animators need to study the complexity of human or animal movements and observe body language in various scenarios.
Adding exaggerated elements like “squash and stretch” based on reality can enrich characters and animations. Additionally, clear action silhouettes and action lines (such as S-curves or C-curves) can enhance the readability of the animation, making it easier for the audience to understand the characters’ actions and emotions. In my project, the tail is a crucial character element. In animation, S-curves and C-curves are essential for the tail’s flexibility, making the character more dynamic. When transitioning from one action to another, extending the duration of the previous action and adding slight oscillations can increase the character’s realism. Due to rigging limitations, my character currently lacks “squash and stretch” effects, so I plan to learn how to better rig characters in the future to make my animations more engaging.
About Acting:
I believe that as an animator, acting is an essential skill. While we don’t need to perform like professional actors, we do need to deeply understand and empathize with the characters. This understanding allows us to create animations that align with the characters’ personalities, making them “come to life” with greater realism and vitality.
A good expression and eye contact can convey a lot of information. When people converse, they often look into each other’s eyes and observe facial expressions. Therefore, animated characters need to have rich facial expressions and eye interactions to better express emotions and intentions. This nuanced performance can enhance the audience’s immersion, making it easier for them to understand and resonate with the characters’ emotions and stories.
Through these summaries and reflections, I hope to continuously improve my animation production skills and make my works more vivid and expressive.