Introduction to Animation

Pencil POSING

POSING is another of the important principles of animation. It is through POSING that our charcters express their emotions to the audience. As with many of the principles of animation, POSING is derived from the theater. In the theater, actors learn to express themselves through body language. Walt Disney often talked about how he studied the movements and body language of the great Charlie Chaplan and others then and utilized this as reference for his early animated stars.

POSING usually pertains to the KEY drawings in a animated scene. The KEY drawings are drawn first and then tested before the INBETWEENS are drawn.

Let's "POSE-OUT" a character called...Henri

Having a plan helps so our first step is to THINK of the character. His attitiudes, emotions, his purpose in the scene and how he will express them. Once we have given the character and scene some thought...

...then it is time to think with our pencils... and draw a few THUMBNAILS

Step 1

Draw several drawings to EXPLORE different poses. Depend on the BODY ATTITUDES to sell the pose... not the facial expressions.

Step 2

Now take your THUMBNAILS and blow them up to the normal size.

Remember to start with your LINE OF ACTION and really try to exaggerate it. Always keep in mind the emotion you want to express. Make a series of drawings which tell the story of the scene.



You can have "meek" LINES OF ACTION (#1); "aggressive" LINES OF ACTION (#2), and so on.

Step 3

Build your character pose around the LINE OF ACTIONS.



Keep your drawings loose and spontaneous and keeping trying to exaggerate or PUSH the drawings

Step 4



One of the most important elements to good POSING is a readable SILHOUETTE. The emotion must read as a graphic - easily discernable from the back of the room or in our case, the screen.

Step 5



Once you have the LINE OF ACTIONS, and SILHOUETTES pushed, look for other elements in the drawing to assist in the emotion. Elements such as the hair, hands feet (the weight), and clothing can enhance your POSES.

Note: the agressive HAIR, HANDS and CLOTHING in pose # 2

Note: the flow of the ARMS AND FEET in drawings # 3 and #4

Use everything available to create clear POSES and emotions.

REMEMBER: Keep it loose and flowing

Review

KEY POINTS 
  • THINK- know the meaning, purpose, and emotions of the scene (and the ones before and after, too).
  • Look for BODY ATTITUDES to sell the pose - express the emotions.
  • Explore your poses with THUMBNAILS
  • Draw POSES which are readable!
  • Develop a FLOW in the arms and legs of the character.
  • Keep it loose!
TIPS 
  • Posing involves mainly the KEY poses.
  • Exaggerate the LINE OF ACTION.
  • Look for strong SILHOUETTES which express emotion.
  • Really PUSH your drawings.
  • Look for secondary body elements to assist your POSING (hair, hands, clothing, feet -weight, etc.).

 

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