Hey obsidianvsyurei I know exactly where you’re coming from – because I’ve heard that same criticism before. They aren’t saying that you should stick to simpler looking characters (because you can spend a lot of time making a simple character look good), but that your focusing too much on how the drawing looks over the performance itself. If you find yourself spending way too long on one drawing during the initial first pass, then that’s something you can change up. The first pass should be as loose as possible – this is so that you can focus on the overall performance. This is where your thirty second life drawing/observational gesture drawings come to play.
Since you only have a short amount of time to capture your subject, your drawings should be really loose and that you’re trying to capture the gesture and energy of your supposed model. Don Hahn’s drawing life books elaborate more on this!
So with that being said, your first pass should first focus on the overall performance other than how detailed the drawings look. This means, create a short hand of your character!
With simpler shapes and more gestural lines, you can focus on things like squash and stretch, its easier to exaggerate your drawings; making your drawings bolder. You’ll notice that you feel more confident in animating something like a stick man over something with a lot of design beauty. So the thing to be loose and simple in your first approach.
Once you feel that your performance is solid, then you can add another pass on top of those roughs where you can finally tie down your drawings with a bit more detailed.
I know these aren’t the best examples since they don’t really showcase an acting/performance choice – but its the only files I do have that still has a first pass laid out hahaha!
Another practice you can do is to thumbnail all of your acting before you even start laying all the initial drawings. That can help you find the statements you want.
Anyways those are my two cents, hope this helps!
This applies to storyboard work as well. Great break down
When I worked at a mental health crisis centre, I couldn’t believe how many people came to us, not because of their own problems, but because they were so lost in a friend’s pain that they couldn’t take it anymore. I saw a lot of people who were so worn down from helping someone else that they couldn’t sleep, eat, socialize or focus at work or school. They were consumed with guilt every time they put down their phones, went to sleep, or dared to enjoy themselves and have a good time. All because they had no idea how to set boundaries.
Helping your friends through a tough situation is a wonderful and noble thing to do, but it only works if you’re mentally in a place to do so. If you’re dealing with issues or mental illness of your own, you’re not always capable of being someone else’s shoulder to cry on 24/7. And that’s okay. Sometimes, you have to put yourself first. You can’t help someone else if you’re a mess yourself. You can’t save a drowning person with a sinking ship.
Telling a friend that you’re overwhelmed and you need a break is one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do. Honesty is the best policy – don’t go radio silent on them, or avoid answering their messages. Be honest about how you’re feeling, and what you need from them. If you’re stuck on what to say and how to start the conversation, here are a few suggestions. Feel free to copy them exactly:
It’s really hard for me to admit this, but I’ve been feeling like I’m on the verge of a breakdown lately. I love you and I care about you, but I need to take some time to take care of myself for a while.
I’m really concerned about you, but I honestly don’t know how to deal with this and I’m worried I’ll say the wrong thing. I really think that you should talk to a professional about this.
This is hard for me to admit, but I have a lot going on in my life right now, and it’s getting to be too much for me. Would it be okay if we talked about lighter stuff for the next little while?
You deserve more support than I can give you. I think you need to tell a close family member or professional about what’s going on.
It seems like every time we talk about this, things are worse for you. I’m worried that my advice isn’t helping you at all, and I think you should talk to someone more qualified than me.
I’m really worried for your safety, and it breaks my heart, but I can’t keep you safe all by myself. Would it be okay if we told someone else what was going on?
I’m sorry, but I can’t answer my text messages 24 hours per day. I really want to make sure that you always have someone to turn to if I’m not available. Are there some other people you would trust with this? I can help you tell them, if you’re not comfortable doing it by yourself.
I hope these suggestions are helpful – best of luck to all of you, and make sure to put your own mental health first when you have to.
needs about 41 frames more to be “flowy”… ( . _ . )… it’d take me around 3 weeks though, so… nah.
there is one thing that i could potentially do: colour it. should i (even bother)?
test 