Expressing Emotion

[strider2000]

I'm trying to learn how to expression more serious emotions in animation. Here's my first little attempt. Any suggestions for improvement are appreciated. Also, I notice some stray pixels in the rendering. If anyone knows what causes that I'd appreciate notes on that too. Thanks Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving whether you're in the US or not

[funksmaname]

it's not bad, although I think the general turn movements are quite robotic... equally spaced, and very rigidly along a single axis at a time...

[dueyftw]

I think it is flat. Give it more shape by changing your smart bones or adding one more. The best way to think of your character is that it's face is round, not flat. So when it moves the eyes and nose and the mouth, even the hair will change perspective. Picture the face on a ball. Then set up the smart bones so the face changes so you see the perspective. This is a small change, but your rig needs to be adjusted for it.

Dale

[Víctor Paredes]

Add anticipation and reaction to the poses. Move the torso, the neck and the head to make the entire body be part of the emotion.

[strider2000]

Thanks everyone. I definitely need to learn and practice the artistic side of animation. Everyone's input is appreciated.

Dueyftw,
Which specific things did you notice that had the worst perspective issues. I tried to add that, but clearly my eye for it needs to improve. I'm thinking that side to side is not too bad, but up and down needs improvement. The hair is the hardest for me. I don't have a good sense on how it should change. Time to practice.

[slowtiger]

This is not emotion, this is just standard face expressions.

In animation emotion gets shown with the whole body. There's a hierarchy of means to express emotion:
1. body
2. gesture
3. head position
4. face.
If you don't use 1 - 3, 4 will look lifeless and mechanical. At least you should care to move the shoulders to indicate body movement. And use bold movements - you can always tone down to subtle movements later.

Also think of your pacing. Slow movements are rare. A live human being moves fast, then reaches an equilibrium, then moves fast again - most of the time.

[strider2000]

Hi slowtiger,
I understand your main point, so I'll work on the whole body. Clearly I have shoulders in the shot so I can show body movement. But, are you saying that if I have a very close up shot showing only the face, it's difficult to really express emotion? Sorry if that's a silly question. Thanks for helping me understand.

[slowtiger]

That would be a problem you should solve in the storyboard. No shot stands alone, it all has to be seen in context. Study Hitchcock films to learn how he communicates everything through cuts and views. His characters move their face only in moments of extreme drama - but before that he lets them act with a nearly blank face.

[strider2000]

OK, off to study Hitchcock I know these are such simple questions Thanks for everyone's patience and advice.