Post 51 –disc 2

So, similar to past confessions, I am an art book, learning, class junkie. Some people collect old tractors in a field. I collect art books and learning classes. Hey, we all have our thing.😉 One book that I have owned for a while and what many refer to as thee biblio of animation, The Animator’s Survival Kit. However, I wanted to watch the videos of William’s going through his principles. So for a steal, I purchased a used beautiful DVD set on eBay. Not sure if I have even played a DVD since the kids were littles watching, Cars. lol

Well it did not disappoint. Williams literally acts out many of the illustration that you see in the book. And I absolutely adore the fact that he was willing to give everything to get his students’ attention. The type of radical humility that allows you to drop ego and prioritize learning above your dignity, rare. Williams knows the why. You know who else knows the why? Aaron Blaise, Aaron Blaise knows the why. Such a fan.

Things to Know:

✔ Pose to Pose in Moho

Pose to Pose

So I am still working through how this timing and spacing idea works in Moho, using William’s book, classes, and principles.

Step 1: The Keys (The “Boink” is the Timing)

First, you set your extreme positions using step keys . With a bouncing ball, this is the contact frame, what William’s calls the “boink,” aka timing. Then place the apex (the next position). The next boink, apex, boink, and so on. I loved hearing him say boink, boink, because for some reason hearing the sound made it click for me that the ball has a rhythm. Heavy balls have one rhythm, lightweight balls another.

Step 2: The In-Betweens (The Spacing)

Next, place your in-betweens. When the ball overlaps it is in the slow part of the arc, but when there is space. That is when it moves quickly. The spacing also communicates the weight and gravity of the ball.

Moho has the nifty onion skin option, which shows you exactly where your object has been and where it is going.

“Everybody here has a natural sense of timing. Especially, if you are athletic or musical, because timing is built right into us. But the spacing for animation. We have to learn. “

— Richard Williams

boink, boink, boink

Don’t you just love Pixabay’s free sounds ? I mean they’re FREE !

I cracked up at that William’s quote. What if you can’t keep rhythm ?
Can you still be an animator ?

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Post 51 — Afterthoughts

On a positive note, I know I am doing bad animation right now. But I am so proud of that, because it means that I am in the second stage in the four stages of competence. I passed level one. I am aware !!

note to self.

• The awkward phase: Making mistakes is a normal and an important part of this stage.
• Emotional impact: This stage often brings feelings of frustration, discomfort, or being overwhelmed because the challenge is clear.

Here’s to awareness. 🥂 nik