Body Mechanics
This week’s lesson focuses on Body Mechanics, which refers to the study of how the body moves. Below are some examples:
Although different characters exhibit unique movements, they must all adhere to certain principles to ensure the animation appears smooth and logical. These principles are collectively referred to as mechanics. Effective mechanics ensure that a character’s weight shifts, poses, positions, pacing, and timing are executed appropriately and cohesively.
Referencing
In today’s lesson, we also discussed the concept of Referencing. Although I had previously filmed references of myself for the Weight Shift homework, I am still not entirely familiar with how it works in practice. During the lesson, we received valuable tips from a video, which emphasized the importance of maintaining the same camera angle for both the reference footage and the animation. This consistency allows for more effective utilization of the reference when creating the animation.
For example, in the 2D blocking animation I created (shown on the right), the animation uses the exact same angle as the reference on the left—specifically, a perspective view positioned between a front and side view. This alignment ensures that I can accurately reference each pose step by step, without needing to imagine poses that might otherwise be obscured.
In other words, if I were to use a side-view reference for my animation, I would need to visualize certain poses that are not clearly visible. For instance, I would have to imagine the exact placement of the character’s hands when she stretches them.
In addition to the reference mentioned above, I conducted further testing with references, assisted by Technician Roos.
Front and Side views of Standing Up from a Chair
Perspective View of Standing Sp from a Chair
Front and Side Views of Jumping Over Obstacles
2D Blocking animation and Testing
I began by sketching the key poses from the reference to create the blocking for the 2D animation. Then, I used a polygon to roughly animate the character’s body in Maya. I plan to further refine this by incorporating the character into the polygonal body and using it as a reference for the timing and pacing when I begin my actual 3D animation.