[ p l a c i d c h a o s / A M ]

This week we learned more about arcs and paths of action. Arcs are extremely important if you ever want to breath life into an object, due to the fact that organic creatures don't move linearly. In fact, the only things that usually move linearly are mechanical. That being said, the use of arcs really points out the difference between a true animator and someone who just moves things from point A to point B. It all comes back to constantly observing the world around you...

The assignment this week was to download another new character, "1-leg," and animate him from a side view doing a single jump, including the landing and settle. Sounds pretty easy, but you can see that we're starting to put it all together now; arcs, paths of action, squash and stretch, anticipation, and successive breaking of joints.

Here is my first attempt

I was trying to show the character jump, and then come down with his weight shifted too far back, thus having his momentum shoot him backwards where he finally catches himself and settles. It became obvious after receiving initial feedback that what I was trying to accomplish wasn't reading well.

Here is a revised final. Much better I think.