Worked on over 20 animated feature films. Including 'How to train your dragons', 'Kung Fu Panda 3', 'The Croods' and is also a teacher at goblins.
People believe that you need to be patient when it comes to animation. But for rough animation, getting your idea down as quickly as possible, while its still fresh, with the aim to grab the essence of the idea, this may be simpler to sketch first as its quicker then posing a character.
Planning out before animation is vital, take time to listen to the audio, the cues and beats.
Take time to listen to the audio and imagine the scene, what the character is doing, saying, and thinking. And scribble quickly.
Acting can be more effective if kept simple.
Additionally overacting may seem unnatural, as with too much going on with unnecessary gestures can take away from what you're trying to tell in your shot.
The first 50% of acting comes from the audio, the other 50% after is developed.
It's also important not just to show what they say. But to show what they are thinking.
As we tend to think before we ack/ speak, we should be able to read the character and see the thought process. This is a process in life we animators like to call anticipation.
Also when the character is acting to the audio, offsetting the actions helps.
E.g. character says "that head of yours" and you want to pose and point at their head. Delay the action and hold the pose.
Listening to filmmakers and directors talk about their work is a great insight and advice to add professional direction into your own work.
Work from reference but don't copy it exactly. "Work from nature and do your own version of what you see".
Outside of your projects, collect and study reference in nature so you're more InTouch with bringing things to life. try to avoid cliché gestures, and watch actors. Animating the chief 'Stoick' on the film: 'how to train your dragons'. the voice actor 'Gerald Butler' is also filmed with a discrete camera while performing his lines and the gestures he uses become a great influence to the animation itself. VITRUOSITY SENSIBILITY IMAGINATION Kristof left us with these words, I believe they might be the main key aspects of every great artist / animator.
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