Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
animation—that is, the demonstration of good craft skills in animation
and animation timing—it is still necessary that the animation be delivered
through a good performance. What creates a good performance is open
to interpretation, however. Rather than try to categorize performance
in a way that formulaically lays down those traits that make a good
performance, it would be better to look at appropriate performances.
Drama is not the same as comedy, though comedy may be dramatic
and drama often has comedic elements. For that matter, not all dramas
or comedies are alike, so to consider only one type of performance as
suitable for
any
genre would be a big mistake. Let's take, for example, the
animation performances that are used in the TV show
South Park
and the
film
The Incredibles
. It would be foolish to judge one against the other in
terms of good or bad animation timing, just as it would be to make such a
judgment on the performances. It is far better for us to consider both the
animation and the performances as being
appropriate
to each of the works.
The complexity of performance in
The Incredibles
would be totally out of
place on
South Park
, and vice versa.
Whichever way one undertakes to make a performance, it is clearly yet
another skill that the animator needs to acquire. Other than mastering
animation timing, performance is perhaps
the
key skill for animators who
create character-based animation.
I firmly believe that the basic skills in animation can be learned in a relatively
short time, at least to the point where animators are capable of producing
very competent and believable animation. The numbers of undergraduate
students we have seen through our doors and the level of animation they
manage to achieve seem to be testament to that belief. However, conquering
the art of acting and performance may take a little longer. Indeed, I think
it is this aspect of animation that takes a lifetime. It is not that relatively
inexperienced animators are incapable of producing good performances.
On the contrary, some animators are naturally gifted actors and find it
relatively easy to turn animation into a performance. My point here is that
good animators just get better and better with time, practice, and experience
as they develop and hone their craft skills, in exactly the same way that all
actors have the capacity to improve their craft. Along with this experience and
mastery of animation timing comes an ability to create ever more subtle and
crisp performances. Performance makes a script come to life, and good acting
sits at the very heart of all performances.
Acting is undoubtedly a major part of a performance, but it is not the only
part. Creating a good performance also depends on the standard of the
directing, enhanced by design, sound design, music, staging, and the overall
production values.
We have looked at the necessity for animators to study and analyze action
and motion to gain a deeper understanding of timing and dynamics. In the
same way, I believe it is very useful for animators to undertake the analysis
