The Challenge

The goal of this project was to create an animated character that doesn’t just ‘move,’ but acts and emotes. 

This project began with defining and developing an interesting character that is appropriate for animation, then working on a rough version of the animation called ‘blocking,’ before delivering a portfolio-worthy final export.

When creating said character, careful thought to the context of the animation was given. 

The first objective was to plan out the short narrative of the animation in two sentences.

Project Summary

AN ABSENT-MINDED GARDENER SKIPS THROUGH A FIELD.

Watery chaos ensues. 

Throughout the animated loop depicting a naïve young girl skipping through a field with a watering can, many principles of animation are utilized in order to create as engaging of a character animation as possible. 

The Squash & Stretch principle is used in several secondary animations, such as the girl’s braid and sneakers, to imply a sense of gravity and flexibility as she skips through the air and makes contact with the ground. The moments leading up to the watering can pouring water everywhere act as a period of Anticipation for the viewer. Staging is utilized by making the main character the central area of focus, while maintaining an engaging field and forest background. 

Throughout the process of developing the animation, Straight-Ahead Action was first created in order to understand the fluidity of the entire skip cycle. Nearing the end of the project, keyframes were removed to add elements of the more dramatic Pose-To-Pose Action. 

Follow-Through and Overlapping Action principles are applied to secondary animations, like the girl’s braid and bangs, as well as her watering can. Slow-In and Slow-Out are achieved by including more keyframes near the beginning and end of the animation loop. This creates momentum for both the main character as well as the trees she passes by. The girl’s limbs and water follow a natural Arc as she moves.

Project Information

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