Ask yourself:
- What fable will I use?
- Will I create the animation in a literal sense, or an abstract one?
- How many characters will I need to make?
- Will I create a simple or complex environment?
- Will I use props and will the characters interact with them?
- Will I use close up shots concentrating on specific detail, or distance shots encompassing full body movement?
- Will I try to keep my character model simple and concentrate on a longer animation, or try a more complex, shorter one?
- Where will my cameras be positioned, do I want to look straight on, up at the character or down on it?
- Will there be shots of the back of the character, if not do I need to worry so much about the parts of the model that the camera wont show?
- Will I use sound from narration, effects, a backing track or none at all?
- If I am modelling an animal how will I make it walk and move?
A 3 minute long animation. The animator uses simple character and environment modelling. The character is brought to life by animation technique, expression and clever use of sound.
A short 20 Second Ad. Using a more complex environment, and significantly more sound. The three sources of sound are provided by a backing track, narration and sound effects.
A slightly longer 30 Second Ad. Using the same technique as the first. The extra 10 seconds mean a lot more frames to animate!
A close up animation of a hand. Will you be shooting from this distance? Extra attention and time will need to be spent on modelling and skinning if you do!
A fictional wolf standing on two legs. Notice the very plain background.
Realistic movements of a wolf walking on all fours
A Turtle in a cartoon setting. Notice the use of subtitles, a clever alternative to lip syncing!
Another 3D turtle, but this time using a simpler environment. Effective use of sound though!
Very simple modelling here. The excellent animation gives the character personality and brings it to life!
A very simple walk sequence.
Another simple walk sequence.
A more complicated walk sequence.
A very simple animation of a lion
Not so simple, but much more effective!
A very detailed model with lip syncing. If you create something as detailed as this you might decide not to do a walk sequence.
A nice site with 25 short animations - click here
