Animation Survival Kit (Wednesdays Reading)

Today I spent most of the day reading two useful animating resources from the recommended reading list shown at the start of the project. These were:

Wiedemann, J. (2007) Animation Now!. Tashen.

Williams, R. (2001) The Animators Survival Kit. Faber & Faber.

The first of these made for fluent reading and was incredibly informative. The book contained not only information about techniques of various animations (including human walk cycles, cats, facial animation and other miscellaneous animation) but also general wisdom from Williams. Much like stated earlier in the blog, Williams emphasises the importance of traditional drawing abilities in addition to stressing to know the movements which you want your character to partake in (mentioning how some of the great animators at Disney would even act out some of these in front of mirrors for greater understanding).

The drawn techniques are both excellently explained through drawn and text prompts, but are also in depth (with the human walk taking up more than several segments of the book (covering head bounce, ‘breakage of joints’, head movements, ‘tweens’, timing, etc.)). As a new animator it has given me an abundance of hints and ideas from a reliable source.

‘I cannot stress the importance of life drawing enough …”

                                                                                                                (Williams, pg33)

Animation Now! wasn’t so much of a help on the technical side of animation but rather gave me an insight into the incredible levels of diversity within the way animation masters work. From the Claymation of Aardman to the use of sand on paper in front of a live audience by Ferenc Cako, it is clear just how expressive animation can be. Many cultures are using different but equally skilful crafts to create a 2d/3d space in which motion can be created and explored. In a way animation can be considered not be an art form but rather a completely separate entity altogether. Animation requires a number of feats that are not just limited to the artistic skills of the animator. Comic Timing, Understanding of movement, posture and anatomy, the ability to tell a story, directing, and life experience – All of the above are necessary to become a great animator – just as a number of feats are required to be an artist.