Animation Foundations: Gesture

1h 20mBeginner2016-09-20

Authors

Andrew Gordon

Joined Pixar in 1997, 20+ years of animation experience

Course details

What makes a great animated character? One key component is gesture. Gestures are how we express ideas or feelings through the body; creating natural gestures makes our characters feel believable. Directing animator Andrew Gordon, currently at Pixar, walks us through the principles of gesture in animation, from hand and facial gestures to whole body poses. He shows how to incorporate reference material, add physicality, and avoid clichés. In chapter 2, he'll help you add polish to your animated scenes, making the poses cleaner and maximizing the character's interaction with their environment. Plus, take two challenges to practice your acting and observation skills. This course is software-neutral and features reference footage of actors and examples from well-known films, as well as clips created just for the class.

Learning objectives
What are gestures?
Cliché and illustrative gestures
Using reference for gestures
Gesturing with other body parts
Polish of gestures
Facial gestures

Skills covered

Character AnimationFoundationsAnimation and Illustration

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know

1. Understanding Gestures

03 - What are gestures
04 - How animators use gestures
05 - Clich gestures
06 - Illustrative gestures
07 - Hand gestures
08 - Facial gestures
09 - Acting patterns
10 - Reference for gestures
11 - Intent of gestures
12 - Over-gesticulation
13 - Subtle gestures
14 - Gestures with other body parts
15 - When not to gesture
16 - Challenge - Gestures vs. no gestures

2. The Polish of Gestures

17 - Polishing a gesture
18 - Spline work on gestures
19 - Weight and physicality of a limb
20 - Challenge - Telephone with gestures

Conclusion

21 - Next steps