Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
In addition to this appreciation of timing, animators need the ability to
analyze action by breaking it down into constituent parts, to identify the
subtleties of dynamics, recognize the complexities of acceleration and
deceleration, and appreciate the details of an object moving through space.
When you're starting to analyze an action, however simple, or a group of
actions, don't try to take in all the separate aspects of the action(s) all at once.
Instead, take a systematic approach to the analysis. It is likely that on first
viewing the action you will not be aware of all its complexities; these will
become apparent only once you begin to deconstruct the action. Instead you
should concentrate on one aspect of the movement at a time. If necessary,
take notes in a notebook; if you're looking at live action, identify the point on
the time code where a particular action occurs.
• It might sound obvious, but you should start by establishing exactly
what it is that you need to analyze in the action; it might not be the action
in its entirety.
• Go on to identify the start and end of the action you want to analyze. This
might not be the start and end of the footage; it might occur at some
point in the sequence.
•
Then try to get a sense of the overall speed of the subject and its movement
through space.
•
Take a note of the phrasing of the action, identifying when the movement
speeds up and when it slows down.
Only after you have gained a feel for the overall action should you go on to
the next stage of analysis, in which you should look for and identify the three
categories of the hierarchy of action:
• Primary action
•
Secondary action
•
Tertiary action
FIG 7.30
In this example primary
action is indicated by the red arrows.
Secondary action is indicated by
the blue ones, and tertiary action is
identified by the green arrows.
