Technique Research and Analysis: Movement in The Animator's Survival Kit

Excerpt from "The Animator's Survival Kit"

The motion of characters tells a lot about them. Even the slightest adjustments to a character's movement animation change the appeal of their attributes, as well as their demeanor. If all characters were to walk or run in the same manner, the principle of Appeal would not fluctuate among the animation, which introduces a level of stiffness that breaks the whimsicality and vivacity of a cartoon. While conducting research on the technique of movement, as I was consulting The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams, I had learned an abundance of ways in which a character can be drawn to "life", all of which differentiate in what kind of emotions are elicited in the audience according to the manner in which the characters move. For example, if a character were to drag his/her torso to the back, elongating his/her movements ever-so-tediously, he/she would appear peculiar, which is something we want to achieve when we are presenting a character's movement similar to Shaggy's (from Scooby Doo). I also noticed that shading of limbs applies a significant improvement to one's walking cycle, as it gives the character a bigger essence of perspective. Mainly, I focused on the two ways in which a walk can be planned out. The reference points of the different techniques revolve around the placement of the head, one placing the head in on a slightly parabolic pathway (Down Position Method), and the other on an oscillating one (Contact Method). I believe that these techniques are perfect for animating character motion, as they can be used as roughs upon which the actual characters with his/her details can be drawn. Disney's always got this down!

Using both methods in a combination - why not?