Character Animation in 3D Use traditional drawing techniques to ~ r o d u c e stunnina

W

CGI animation

Steve Roberts

AMSTERDAM BOSTON HEIDELBERG LONDON NEW YORK OXFORD

PARIS SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SINGAPORE SYDNEY TOKYO

E ~ ~ E R Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier

contents

preface acknowledgements

chapter 1 introduction to 2D-animation working practice how animation works frames per second what you need for your studio let's get animating flipping, flicking and rolling how to use a line tester to help your animation how this book works exercises

ball bouncing how to relate your 2D animation to your 3D animation overview of the 'ball drop' exercise in 3D drawing!

chapter 2 matter and the animation of inanimate objects inanimate objects how to animate inanimate objects the animation of solids the animation of liquids exercises

the bouncy ball in 2D animating a 2D bowling ball animating a 2D soccer ball animating a 2D beach ball animating a 2D ping-pong ball animating a 2D water-filled balloon the bouncy ball in 3D

chapter 3 the construction of a simple character, its articulation and balance basic human anatomy

joints moving in arcs designing a basic human character planning a scene animating your characters exercises

the lift in 2D the lift in 3D the push in 2D the push in 3D the pull in 2D the pull in 3D

chapter 4 timing, anticipation, overshoot, follow-through and overlapping action with an animated character timing anticipation follow-through overlapping action or overshoot vibration exercises

the string and stick in 2D the string and stick in 3D the dive in 2D the dive in 3D

chapter 5 human walks and runs walk cycles! walking walking mechanics walk cycles displaying different moods external influences two people walking together running exercises

walk or run cycle in 2D walk or run cycle in 3D changing the pace and mood in a walk in 2D changing the pace and mood in a walk in 3D

chapter 6 animal walks and runs the four types of animal locomotion

contents vi i

construction of an animal animal leg and foot construction animals with paws a dog walk a cat walk animals with cloven feet animals with hooves flat feet animal runs exercises

dog walk cycle in 2D dog walk cycle in 3D dog walk or run cycle in 3D

chapter 7 animation of fish and snakes fish snakes exercises

animation of a fish in 2D animation of a fish in 3D animation of a snake in 2D animation of a snake in 3D

chapter 8 animation of birds flying wings - insects and humming bird exercises

animation of a bird in 2D animation of a bird in 3D

chapter 9 animation of acting - body language acting consequence emotions general body language basic body postures responsive reflective fugitive com ba tive palm, hand, arm and leg gestures acting out a scene in animation the different sorts of animation acting

analysis of a character exercises

animation of acting in 2D animation of acting in 3D

chapter 10 animation of acting - facial expressions emotions the eyes facial expressions head angle hand-to-face gestures extreme close-ups how to animate a piece of facial acting exercises

the facial expression in 2D the facial expression in 3D animating the mouth with Blend Shapes in Maya animating the mouth with Morpher in 3D Studio Max animating the mouth with Animation Mixer in Softlmage XSI animating with Morph Targets in Lightwave

chapter 1 1 animation of acting - two or more characters two characters on screen together personal space mirroring how characters look at each other two characters acting with each other while talking two characters alternating from one shot to another a large group of characters on screen at the same time exercises

double acting in 2D double acting in 3D how to load two identical characters into the same scene

chapter l 2 lip-sync recording and breaking down a dialogue track how we speak acting with dialogue quick from pose to pose slow from pose to pose erratically from pose to pose mouth shapes

contents ix

exercises lip-sync in 20 lip-sync in 3D mouth shut consonants the vowels the quieter vowels and consonants animating the mouths

animation equipment supplierz

index

'A' mouth shape, 230, 235 Acting see Animation acting Acting out a scene, 173-5 Action column, 5-6 Alternating shots, 2 14-1 5 Anal fins, 143 Analysis of character, 178 Anatomy, 48-53, 189, 224 Anger, 1 12, 169, 170, 192-3 Angle of head, 196 Animals:

appendage follow-through, 89-90 birds, 15 1-8 cats, 128-9 construction, 122-5 dogs, 126-8, 133-8 elephants, 130 fish, 1 39-43, 145-9 horses, 122-3, 129-30, 13 1-2 running, 130-3, 135-7 snakes, 143-5, 149-50 walking, 12 1-30, 133-8

Animated radio, 1 75-6 Animating straight ahead, 13 Animation acting, 159-83

acting out a scene, 173-5 anticipation, 8 1-7, 200, 201 consequence, 1 6 1 emotions, 162 facial expressions, 184-208 full, 176-7 limited, 1 75-6 method acting, 160-1 mime, 177-8 pose-to-pose, 176 theatrical acting, 1 6 1 two or more characters, 209-2 1

Animation curves, 24, 73 Animation Mixer (Sofilmage XSI), 207-8

Animation paper, 3, 14 Anticipation, 8 1-7, 200, 20 1 'AR' mouth shape, 230, 235 Arcs, 53 Arms, 91-2, 109-10, 171-2 Attraction, staring, 2 13

'B' mouth shape, 229 Back body postures, 165 Background characters, 2 1 6 Background level, 36 Balance, 56, 57-8, 60-5 Ball bouncing exercise, 19-24 Ball-and-socket joints, 52 Balloons, 32-4, 43-4 Balls:

beach ball, 42 bouncy ball, 19-24, 36-40,44-6 bowling ball, 3 1-2, 37-40 lift, 60-5 ping-pong ball, 43 soccer ball, 32, 40-2

Basic human character design, 53-8 Beach ball, 42 Birds, 1 5 1-8 Blend Shapes (Mayo), 206 Blinking, 188 Blur, 92, 153-4 Body:

body language, 159-83 facial movement, 200-1 human anatomy, 48-53 movement in walking, 1 10-1 1

Bodycontrol, 137, 158 Bones, 48-53, 204

see also Skeleton Boredom, 194,2 14 Bouncy ball, 19-24, 36-40,44-6 Bowling ball, 3 1-2, 37-40

240 index

Brain, left/right, 59 Breakdown drawings, 15, 16, 98, 99, 154,

1 56-7 Burst swimmers (fish), 141 Butting in (conversation), 2 14

Camera column, 8-9 Cantering, 1 3 1-3 Cartoon four-legged walks, 123-4 Cats, 128-9 Catwalk model walk, 1 13-1 4 Caudal fin, 142 Cel, 8 Centre of gravity, 57 Characters:

analysis, 178 construction, 47-77 design of basic human, 53-8 groups, 2 15-1 6 two characters, 209-1 5

Children, 21 1 'Children' (hierarchies), 45 Chinagraph pencils, 46 Close-ups, 198 Closed body postures, 164, 1 68 Cloven feet, 129 Colour for emphasis, 2 16 Columns, X-sheets, 4-9 Combative postures, 168-9 Competitive stare, 2 1 3 Complexity of characters, 55 Concertina movement (snakes), 144 Condyloid ioints, 52-3 Consequence, 1 6 1 Consonants, 225, 228, 23 1, 236 Construction process, 30, 122-5 Contempt, 193 Cool walk, 112-13 Correct four-legged animal construction, 124-5 Couples' behaviour, 2 12 Crossed arms, 171 -2 Crossed legs, 172-3 Crossover key positions, 108, 1 15, 126 Crotaline movement (snakes), 144 Cruisers (fish), 141 Curves, 24, 73

Daily life observations, 80 Deceit gestures, 197 Defiant postures, 169

Depressed mood, l l l , 163-4, 168 Determined walk, 1 12 Dialogue, 223-4, 226-7 DigiCel Flipbook program, 10, 19, 20, 2 1

bowling ball animation, 37, 40 dialogue, 223, 224

Disgust, 193 Dishonesty, 170 Displeasure, 172 Distress, 194 Dive exercise, 96-1 03 Dogs, 126-8, 133-8 Dorsal fins, 143 Double bounce walk, 1 13 Double takes, 84 Doubles see Two characters Drag (fish), 140 Drawing skills, 25-7 Dreamy walk, 1 1 3 Drops of liquid, 34-5

Eagerness, 1 66, 170 Early animation, 232 Ears, 90 'EE' mouth shape, 231, 236 'EH' mouth shape, 23 1, 236 Eight basic emotions, 1 86 Elbows, l l 0 Elephants, 130 Emotions, 162, 185-7

see also Mood Emphasis points in dialogue, 226 Environment, 29-30 Equipment, 3-1 1 Erratic pose-to-pose movement, 227 Evaluation gestures, 197 Exercises:

animation of acting, 178-82 bird flying on the spot, 154, 156-8 bird flying through the air, 155, 158 bird model, 155-6 bouncy ball, 19-24, 36 dive, 96-1 03 dog walk cycle, 133-8 double acting, 2 1 6-2 1 facial expression, 202-8 fish, 145-9 lift, 60-8 lip-sync, 232-6 pull, 74-7

push, 68-74 snake, 149-50 string and stick, 94-6 walk or run cycle, 1 17

Expressions see Facial expressions External influences on walking, 1 14 Extreme close-ups, 1 98 Eyebrows, 204, 205 Eyelash fluttering, 188-9 Eyes, 1 87-9, 2 1 2-1 3

'F' mouth shape, 229 Facial expressions, 1 84-208

anger, 192-3 animation acting, 198-202 bones method, 204 boredom, 194 combinations, 195 disgust/contempt, 193 exercises, 202-8 extreme close-ups, 1 98 eyes, 187-9 fear, 192 hand-to-face gestures, 1 96-8 happiness, 189 head angle, 195, 196 interest, 193-4 pain, 194 sadness, 190-1 surprise, 1 9 1-2

False expressions, 186-7, 190, 19 1, 192, 1 94

Familiarity, 2 10-1 3 Fear, 1 92 Feet, 125, 129-30 Field-guides, 9 Finger pointing, 93, 169 Fins, 142-3, 146 First dates, 2 12 Fish, 139-43, 145-9 Flat feet, 130 Flatfish, 142 Flicking, 13, 14-1 7 Flipping, 13-1 4 Flying, 151-8 Focus emphasis, 2 1 6 Follow-through:

animate objects, 89-92 ears, 90 hair, 90

inanimate objects, 88-9 limbs, 91-2

Force, 30 Forward body postures, 164, 1 65-6, 168 Four-legged animals:

cats, 128-9 i

construction, 122-4 dogs, 126-8, 133-8 elephants, 130 horses, 122-3, 129-30, 13 1-2

Frame numbers column, 6-8 Frames per second, 2 Frameslider, 23 Fugitive postures, 167-8 Full animation acting, 176-7 Function Curves, 24

Gallops, 132-3 Gestures, 169-73, 196-8 Graphic nature of characters, 55-6 Gravity, 56-7 Groups of characters, 2 15-1 6

Hair, 90, 93 Hand gestures, 170-1 Hand-to-face gestures, 1 96-8 Handholding, 2 1 2 Happiness, 1 12, 1 89-90 Head angle, 196 Head movement, 93 Headphones, 2 16-1 9 'Hello ... how are you', 232, 233 Hierarchies, 44-5 Hinge joints, 52 Hips, 107, 126, 127 Hooves, 1 29-30 Horses, 122-3, 129-30, 13 1-2 How this book works, 19 Human anatomy, 48-53 Hummingbirds, 153-4

In-betweens, 63-5, 71-2, 74, 76, 175 Inanimate objects, 28-46

balloons, 32-4, 43-4 beach ball, 42 bouncy ball, 19-24, 36-40,44-6 bowling ball, 3 1-2, 37-40 definition, 29-30 follow-through, 88-9 liquids, 34-6

242 index

Inanimate objects (contd) ping-pong ball, 43 soccer balls, 32, 40-2 water-filled balloons, 33-4, 43-4

Insects, 153-4 Interest, 193-4

Jaw movement, 225 Joints, 5 1-3 Jumping, 8 1, 83, 93

Key positions: bouncy ball, 45-6 bowling ball animation, 38 dive, 97-9, 100-2 dog walk, 126 facial expressions, 199 fish swimming, 147 flying birds, 152 good timing, 7 9 human running, 1 15 lift, 61-3, 67 pantomime horse, 122 pull, 75-6 push, 68-71, 73 scene animations, 174-5 string and stick, 95-6

Key-to-key animation, 1 1-1 2

Large groups of characters, 2 15-1 6 Left-hand side of brain, 59 Legs, 125, 172-3

see also Running; Walking Levels column, 8 Life drawing, 26 Lift, 60-8 Light boxes, 4 Lighting emphasis, 2 16 Lightwave, 208, 220-1 Limbs, 91-2, 104-20, 125, 171-3 Limited animation, 175-6 Line testers, 9-1 0, 1 8-1 9, 55 Line thickness, 198 Lip laziness, 225 Lip-sync, 222-36

acting with dialogue, 226-7 exercises, 232-6 how we speak, 224-5 mouth shapes, 228-32

Liquids, 33-6, 43-4

Listening, 166, 169, 171, 2 14 Looking at each other, 2 12-1 3 Love, eyes, 2 12-1 3 Lying, 163, 186, 197

see also False expressions

'M' mouth shape, 228-9 Macho walk, 1 13 'Major emphasis poses', 226-7 Materials for 2D studio, 3-1 1 Matter animation, 28-46, 87-9 Maya, 204,206,220 Mechanics of walking, 106-1 1 Method acting, 160-1 Mime, 177-8 Mirroring, 1 15, 2 1 1-1 2 Mirrors, 79-80, 173 Model walk, 1 13-1 4 Mood, 1 1 1-1 4, 1 18-20

see also Emotions angry, 1 12, 169, 170, 192-3 depressed, l l l, 163-4, 168, 190-1 happy, 1 12, 1 89-90 walking style, 1 1 1-14, 1 18-20

Morph Targets (Lightwave), 208 Morpher (3D Studio Max), 206-7 Morphing method, 204 Motion blur, 92, 153-4 Mouth:

animation, 205, 206-7 cover gesture, 197 lip-sync, 222-36 mouth shut consonants, 228 shapes, 225, 234-6

Movement: see also Running; Walking anticipation during, 85-6 in arcs, 53 between poses, 227 blur, 92, 153-4 facial expression, 201

Negative acting, 1 6 1 Not so clever walk, 1 1 1

'0' mouth shape, 230, 235 Object falling into water, 35-6 'One moment .... my good man', 232-4 '000' mouth shape, 230, 235 Open body postures, 164, 165-6

index 243

Overlapping action, 92-3 Overshoot, 92-3, 200, 201

'P' mouth shape, 229 Pace of walking, 105-6, l 18, 1 19-20 Pain, 194 Palm gestures, 169-70 Pantomime horse, 122-3 Paper, 3, 14 'Parents' (hierarchies), 45 Park bench doubles, 2 16-1 9 Paws, 125 Pectoral fins, 143, 146 Peg bars, 3-4, 14-15, 17 Pelvic fins, 143 Pelvic girdle, 49 Pencils, 1 1 Personal space, 21 0-1 1 Ping-pong ball, 43 Pitch and roll, 143 Pivot joints, 5 1 Plane joints, 5 1 Planning a scene, 58-9 Pointing a finger, 93, 169 Pose tests, 1 8 Pose-to-pose animation acting, 176 Poses, acting with dialogue, 226-7 Postures:

basic, 163-5 combative, 168-9 fugitive, 1 67-8 reflective, 167 responsive, 165-6

Pull, 74-7 Pupil size, 1 87, 194 Puppets, 163 Push, 68-74

Quick pose-to-pose movement, 227 Quiet walk, 1 12 Quieter vowels/consonants, 23 1, 236

Rays (fish), 142 Recording dialogue tracks, 223-4 Reflective postures, 167 Rejecting postures, 168 Responsive postures, 1 65-6 Ribcages, 49, 128-9, 143 Right-hand side of brain, 59 Roll and pitch, 143

Rolling, 13, 17-1 8 Rotary gallops, 132-3 Running:

animals, 130-3, 135-7 dog, 135-7 exercises, 1 1 7-1 8 human, 1 15-1 6

i

walking cycle, 1 15

Saddle joints, 52 Sadness, l l l , 163-4, 168, 190-1 Scenes, 58-9, 173-5 Shoaling (fish), 141-2 Shot alternation, 21 4-1 5 Shoulders, 50-1, 107, 108-9, 126, 127 Sidewinder movement (snakes), 144-5 Silhouettes, strong, 56, 173 Simple character construction, 47-77 Sinusoidal waves, 140, 142 Skeletons, 48, 140, 143, 15 1 Sketching skills, 25-7 Skilled drawing, 25-7 Skipping, 1 16 Skulls, 50, 140 Slow pose-to-pose movement, 227 Smearing, 92 Smiles, 189-90 Snakes, 143-5, 149-50 Soccer balls, 32,40-2 Softlmage, 207-8, 220 Solidity, 30 Sound column, 4-5 Sound Recorder, 223 Speaking see Lip-sync Special effects, 87 Speed, 12, 85, 92, 153-4 Spine, 49 Splashes, 35, 99 Splines, 24 Stability, 57-8 Stanislavsky, Konstatin, 160 Staring, 2 1 3 straight-ahead animation, 13, 14, 95, 173,

1 76-7 Straight-on face to camera, 195 Strasberg, Lee, 1 6 1 Stress, 198 Stride positions, 106-8, 127-8 String and stick exercise, 94-6 Strong silhouettes, 56, 173

244 index

Studio equipment, 3-1 1 3D Studio Max, 206-7, 220 Suppliers of animation equipment, 3-4 Surprise, 85, 1 9 1-2 Swimming fish, 139-43, 145-9

Tails, 89-90, 153 Talking, 2 13-1 4, 222-36

see also Lip-sync Teeth, 23 1 Theatrical acting, 161 Thinking gestures, 197 Three-dimensional animation:

animation acting, 182 bird flying on the spot, 156-8 bird flying through the air, 158 bouncy ball, 44-6 dive, 100-3 dog walk cycle, 134-8 facial expression, 203-8 fish, 146-9 lift, 65-8 lipsync, 234-6 pull, 76-7 push, 72-4 snake, 150 string and stick, 96 two characters, 2 1 9-2 1 walk or run cycle, 1 17-20

Thumbsheets, 58-9 Thumbnail sketches, 80, 173-4, 178-82, 199,

200 Thumbs, 171 Timeslider, 23 Timing, 79-80, 177 Timing charts, 38-9, 41-2 Tiptoe walk, 1 12 Touching, 21 0-1 1 Trotting, 1 3 1 'Twinning', 173 Two characters, 209-1 5

2D exercise, 2 1 6-1 9 3D exercise, 2 1 9-2 1 acting and talking, 2 13-1 4 alternating from one shot to another, 2 14-1 5 interaction, 209-1 0 looking at each other, 2 12-1 3 mirroring, 2 1 1-1 2 personal space, 2 10-1 1 walking together, 1 15

Two-dimensional animation: animation acting, 178-82 beach ball, 42 bird flying on the spot, 154 bird flying through the air, 155 bouncy ball, 36 bowling ball, 37-40 dive, 96-1 00 dog walk cycle, 133-4 double acting, 2 16-1 9 equipment, 3-1 1 facial expression, 202-3 fish, 145-6 flicking, 13, 14-1 7 flipping, 13-1 4 frames per second, 2 how it works, 2 keytokey, 11-12 lift, 60-5 line testers, 1 8-1 9 lipsync, 232-4 materials/equipment, 3-1 1 ping-pong ball, 43 pull, 74-6 push, 68-72 relating to 3D animation, 22-4 rolling, 13, 17-1 8 snake, 149-50 soccer ball, 40-2 string and stick, 94-6 walk or run cycle, 1 17, 1 18-1 9 water-filled balloon, 43-4 working practice, 1-27

Undulation (snakes), 143-5 Up and down body movement, 1 10-1 1

'V' mouth shape, 229 Vertebrae, 49 Vibration, 94 Vowels, 230-1, 236

Walking: animals, 12 1-30, 133-8 arm movement, 109-1 0 cat, 128-9 crossover positions, 108 cycles, 105, 1 1 1-14 dog, 126-8, 133-8 exercise, 1 17-1 8

index 245

external influences, 1 14 human, 104-1 5, 1 17-20 mechanics, 1 06-1 1 moods, 1 1 1-1 4 pace, 105-6 shoulder movement, 107, 108-9 stride positions, 106-8 WO people together, 1 15 up and down body movement, 1 10-1 1

Water splash, 35, 99 Water-filled balloons, 33-4, 43-4 Weight, 29, 56, 60-5, 126 Whiz lines. 92. 1 18

Working practice, 1-27 Wrists, l l0 Writing character animations, 199

X-sheets, 4-1 0, 2 1 animation acting, 199 dive exercise, 97 double acting in 2D, 2 19 lip-sync, 232-4 sound tracks, 224 thumbsheets, 58-9

Xsheet window, 20-1

Wings, 15'1 -8' Yaw, 143