Weeks 10 and 11 Smoothing out the animation

Topic: Smoothing out the Animation

Notes: work from the root outwards

Changes are still ok at this stage, it's all about getting the best performance!

Lecture/Demo: Working in the graph editor to smooth out your animation. Adding breaths and eye darts.

Activity: watch making of Charlie Chaplin film 'City Lights' documentary

Homework: continue to smooth out the animation. Add eye darts and breathing to help bring the characters to life.

Tip: Did I mention using reference for your characters?!! Study the great actors. Get some of their mannerisms into your characters.

By now you should be into the final steps, getting into the finessing and polishing of the animation. You will be constantly refining, while still being open to last minute acting ideas that can make the overall piece stronger. On these refining passes work in the graph editor to smooth out the body movements. Get rid of what you don't need and try to build smooth graceful curves. Go back to the root first, as this moves everything else, and work your way up the spine checking all your curves. Do frequent passes on the eyes and eyebrows , since in the process of smoothing, the head and body poses will change.