vimwiki/tech/animation.wiki

= Animation =

Animation is the process of playing several still images in quick sucession to
create the appearance of motion.

== aproaches ==

* keyframing
* data-driven
* procedural
* simulation

== perception of motion ==

Humans can only process about 12 images per second. If an image moves faster
than this, the illusion of continous motion is created.

== principles of animation ==

1) squash/stretch
   * helps feel object feel fluid by applying a change to its shape as it moves
   * applies to both 3d and 2d animation
2) anticipation
   * characters take a moments to get ready to follow through with an action
   * give time for viewer to understand what is happening
   * IE smile before laughing, reach into pocket before pulling out wallet, etc
3) staging
   * presentation of idea so its clear
   * make effectives use of the enviroment
   * good lighting, music, background, and other atmospheric cues
4) straight ahead action and pose to pose
5) follow through and overlapping action
   * consider character momentum, physics and position
   * if a character was running and suddenly stopped, the rest of their body
     should lurch forward
6) slow in and slow out
   * things take time to speed up and slow down
7) arc
8) secondary action
9) timing
   * relates to speed of animation events (key frames)
10) exaggeration
    * make reality bigger, bolder, and brighter
    * give audience better understanding of whats happening on screen
11) solid drawing
    * respecting 3d space in your animation, particularly volume, weight, and
      balance
    * this does not mean obey physics, it means make things look natural
    * IE avoid twinning; having an object look or move in a way that is
      unnaturally symmetrical
12) appeal
    * make characters interesting and engaging
    * IE use variety of shapes, playing with proportions, and not adding
      uncessary details