Squash and Stretch and Arcs

Note: Before reading this blog post I recommend reading the post about timing and spacing.

Now that you have learned about timing and spacing you can add more principles into your arsenal.

Squash and Stretch – gives an object mass and weight and which makes it believable.

Arcs – the path that something moves on. Everything in animation follows an arc.

Here is an example of squash and stretch:

John Q ©

Which one is the better one?

The second one of course, also notice that the ball travels in an arc. “If it isn’t in an arc or path of action – the animation will not flow got to go with the flow…”[1]

Notice how the second animation has more weight and feeling than the first one. The animation without the stretch and squash, the ball seems like it is just floating in the space it travels.  A simple stretch at contact then a squash can create that illusion of weight. As for the arc, it “…gives us the [a] continuous flow” of the action. [2]

Adding these little details to an animation really adds to the believability of weight an object has. 


This technique can be seen most evidently in the older cartoons like 'Tom and Jerry'.


Here is a clip showing squash and stretch in action:



M.G.M © [7]


As you can see the ball stretches into an elongated shape as it falls down. The ball then squishes as it hits the ground and bounces once then squishes again and finally retains it's original shape.

PRO TIP:

One thing to be really careful of when using squash and stretch is to not let your object get “…bloated or bulbous” when squashed and “…stringy or withered” when stretched. [3]

Keep the shape or volume of the figure to its longest shape; yet it will never change are drawing “like a half-filled flour sack.” [4]

“If dropped on the floor, it will squash out to its fullest shape, and if picked up by the top two corners, it will stretch out to its longest shape; yet it will never change volume.” [5]

Lastly “an object need not deform to squash and stretch.” [6]


Resources:


Williams, R. (2001). The animator's survival kit. Faber and Faber Inc.
[1](Williams, 2001)P 92
[2](Williams, 2001)P 91



Thomas, F, & Johnston, O. (1981). Disney animation the illusion of life. New York: Abbeville Press.


[3] (Thomas, & Johnston, 1981) P 49
[4] (Thomas, & Johnston, 1981) P 51
[5] (Thomas, & Johnston, 1981) P 51


Lesseter, J. (1987). Principles of animation applied to 3d computer animation. Proceedings of the Siggraph 87 (pp. 35 - 44). Anahiem:


[6] (Lesseter, 1987) P 36


Quimby, F (Producer). (1945). Tom and Jerry - Tee for Two[Web]. Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrYQKXGwQBc&feature=player_embedded


[7] (Quimby, 1945 )

Recommended Resources for Animation

Here are some book about animation that I highly recommend to read and add to your book collection. I own all three and come to the books for help.

The Illusion of Life 
Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

This book is known in the animation world as the "Animation Bible".  Written by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney's original animators. The book describes a bit of Disney animation and the process behind it.

Every animator should own a copy of this book.

Reasons to pick up this book:

• Contains many illustrations and pictures
• A very big book full of information, over five hundred pages worth
• Lists the twelve Principles of Animation and described in great detail
• A lot of behind the scenes information
• Has many good examples

I was able to get a used copy at Half Price Books for $34.99 in good condition.

The Animator's Survival Kit
Richard Williams

Richard Williams the director of animation for 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' wrote this book. He talks about many things that an animator should do to improve oneself. The book also has information about the history of animation.

Reasons to pick up this book:

• Hundreds of pictures of frame by frame animations
• Talks about many other animators and their influences to the industry
• Has a video version, which I also recommend
• Shows the basics of animation
• The readings are formated like the author is talking to you

I was lucky enough to buy a new copy of this book for $ 6.99. Out of the three books on this list, I use this one the most. This book really talked to me. I was able to feel his passion of teaching by reading the book.

The Animator's Workbook
Tony White

This book is really a good book to start off with. The way the book was written is easily read and concise.

Reasons to pick up this book:

• Easy read even for children
• Lots of Illustrations
• Small book that can be easily carried anywhere
• Covers special effects, animal movements and backgrounds

I bought a used copy for $9.99. This book was recommended to me by my first animation Teacher. This book gets the second most use from this list. I like bringing this book with me because of it is well rounded in the topic list.

Note:

The information learned from these books can be applied to 3d animation as well. 

Interview with Long N (Classmate)

Today I interviewed a good friend, Long N, who has been an inspiration to me. Long has been animating for about 4 years now and currently in the ATEC program at UTD concentrating on character animation.

Long's portfolio

Interview:

What got you into animation ?

"I watched the film, Finding Nemo in theaters and went home. That night I just happened to be thinking about my career, I was in 8th grade at that time. I like the animation of Finding Nemo and decided that I wanted to do what those people did to bring characters to life."

What is your favorite animation and do you have a favorite director?

"I like Disney traditional animation. My favorite director would be Brad Bird for his directing on The Incredibles."


Do you have any future plans and aspirations?

"I will spend a couple of years in earning my M.F.A. in ATEC. I will be finding gigs and studying part time. I would be working on feature films until my energy runs out from old age, when I feel that way, I go into teaching animation in a university."


Are you working on any projects right now ?

"Flower of the Heart, The Diary" (2d Short Animations)


What do you do on your free time ?

"I hang out with my little sister."


Do you have any advice for aspiring animators?

"Bring your ideas to life, it's no good if your idea never leaves your brain.
Everybody has great ideas, but not everyone can bring it to life for people to see.
Be able to execute your ideas."


Long and I are currently working on a short called 'Flower of the Heart' which will be finished by the end of the semester. The trailer will be released first at the 2011 ATEC.EMAC Showcase on April 20, 2011 at 6:30 P.M. at the UTD Conference Center. I will be posting the trailer here also when we finish.

Supplies and Gear

Before you can start animating you will need to gather some animating tools. (If you are serious about animating go ahead and skip to the next list.)

People who just want to try animation

If you want to try animation out, you will need:

• Pencils and an eraser
• Post it notes

The post it notes are convenient because they are already in a form of a flip book and you will not have to bind them.

For pencils, I recommend #2s because they can easily be erased and are the most common pencils around. As for the erasers anything will do as long as it can erase cleanly.

People who are more serious about animation

If you are serious about animation here is the list of things that you will need:

• Peg bar
• Animation paper
• Light box
• Pencils and erasers

John Q  ©

A peg bar is what holds the animation paper in place and is usually taped down or glued onto a light box.

Animation paper is a special type of paper with punched holes to keep the paper in place and is bought in reams.

A light box is where an animator draws on to be able to see multiple drawings on top of each other while animating.

Pencils and an eraser are needed also. For pencils I recommend HB or #2s and for the erasers the rubber kind.

These supplies can be bought in specialty are stores and online dealers.

Digital Animators

Lastly for digital artists that want to start in animating:

•  Animation software
• Drawing tablet

I have used Adobe Flash and Toon Boom for 2d animation. I prefer Flash because I am familiar with the software and helps make my work flow faster.

For 3d animation I have only used Maya and still learning. Sorry I will not be able to help you in this department yet, but the same principles can still be applied into 3d animation.

As for drawing tablets, I prefer working with Wacom tablets because of their reliability and not needing batteries to operate. I own the first generation Wacom Bamboo tablet and have been using it for almost 4 years now.

These lists should be a good start for you to get the right materials to start animating in my next post.

Disclaimer:

I do not endorse any of the brand names or retailers mentioned in this post. These are just my preferences from my own experience.

Timing and Spacing

“Animating… it’s all… in the timing… and in… the spacing…”
Grim Natwick [1]

Alright as an animator, the first thing you should learn and understand is timing and spacing.

Timing – “… the rhythm   of where things happen, [and] where the ‘accents’, or ‘beats’, or ‘hits’ happen.” [2]

For example in a ball bounce, timing is when the ball hits the ground as it bounces

Spacing on the other hand is how the ball’s speed will visually look.

The more the ball’s drawings are overlapped, the slower the ball will appear to move while the further the drawings’ spacings are, the faster the ball will appear to move.

John Q  ©

Here is a demonstration:

(click here for larger view) John Q  ©

Even though the timing is the same (24 frames a second, meaning 24 drawings), the ball speed is different because of the spacing.

The first one has an equal amount of spacing throughout while the second one has an ease in and ease out. Think of ease in and ease out in terms of driving a car, slowly speeding up and slowly braking.

Ease in – an object with very close spacing between each drawing and gradually increases.


Ease out – an object with space between each drawing and the space gradually decreases.

To help you get started with an animation you will have to outline your keys and inbetweens. You will want to key the main actions first and then draw your inbetweens after in a 24 frame animation. In this example I key the first, last, then the middle drawing. Then I add the inbetweens.

John Q  ©

Keys – the keys are the main actions of a movement. “The drawing or drawings that show what’s happening in the shot.” [3]


Inbetweens – are drawings that come in between the keys that complete the animation.

Now is fun part, try to animate a ball moving with different spacings. To watch your animation you can flip the pages or take pictures of the pages one by one with a camera to be uploaded to your computer to be put together as a video with windows media maker.

Post your findings and a video of your animations!

PRO TIP:

“More than any other principle, timing defines the weight of an object.” [4] The longer an object takes to move across the screen indicates a big heavy mass while an object that travels fast across the screen indicates a light mass.

Using ease in and ease out too much can give “… a mechanical feel to the action.” [5] 


Resources:
Williams, R. (2001). The animator's survival kit. Faber and Faber Inc.
[1](Williams, 2001)P 35
[2](Williams, 2001)P 36
[3](Williams, 2001)P 57

Lesseter, J. (1987). Principles of animation applied to 3d computer animation. Proceedings of the Siggraph 87 (pp. 35 - 44). Anahiem:
[3] (Lesseter, 1987) P 37


Thomas, F, & Johnston, O. (1981). Disney animation the illusion of life. New York: Abbeville Press.
[4] (Thomas, & Johnston, 1981) P 62

A Brief History in Animation

Zoetrope ( 180 AD - 1834)

• invented by Ting Huan of China ( 180 AD)
• modern day version by William George Horner (1834)
• first form of animation

A device which is in a shape of a barrel where there are slits on the side. When the zoetrope is spun the images inside appear to be moving.

An example of a zoetrope.

Tatianitanyo ©

Flip Books (1868)

• patented by John Barnes Linnet

A flip book is pretty much a set of images in order that is flipped to create an illusion of movement.

An example of a flip book.

ViewTy ©

J. Stuart Blackton (January 05, 1875 - August 13, 1941)

• formed the first movie studio, Vitaograph Motion Picture (1897)
• Father of Animation

J. Stuart Blackton ©
This is not quite an animation yet. (1900)


J. Stuart Blackton ©
First animation. (1906)


Winsor McCay (September 26, 1871 - July 06, 1934)

• created the first character animation (1914)

Winsor McCay ©
McCay was able to bring Gertie to life and personality by interacting with her. (1914)


Max Fleischer ( July 19,1883 - September 11, 1972 )

• produced first synchronized soundtrack with animation (follow the bouncing ball technique) (1925)
• invented rotoscoping (1915)
• animated Popeye, Betty Boop, (1930s) and Superman (1941)

Fleischer Studios ©
First episode of Popeye.

Walt Disney (December 5, 1901 - December 15, 1966)

• father of Mickey Mouse
• first cartoon with sound to achieve commercial success ( Steamboat Willie) (1928)

Walt Disney Animations ©

Mickey Mouse in his third animation. (1928)

Resources:
http://www.animationarchive.org/2006/03/biography-j-stuart-blackton.html
http://movies.amctv.com/person/185011/J-Stuart-Blackton/details
http://www.vegalleries.com/winsorbio.html
http://movies.amctv.com/person/89963/Max-Fleischer/details
http://movies.amctv.com/person/87871/Walt-Disney/details
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_animation

Introduction

Hey everyone, My name is John Q. I am a student at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), who is an Arts and Technology (ATEC) major , concentrating in 3d animation .

I have a background in traditional arts and now making most of my artwork digitally. With this blog I plan on introducing some basic principles that can bring an animation to life.

Here are some examples of animation in action:

John Lasseter © 1986

Disney © 1999

The 3d pencil test is a good example. The animator uses the stretch and squash principle well. As for the 2d pencil test theres good follow through with the animation.

I will elaborate more on stretch and squash and follow through on my future updates.

If you have questions or suggestions you can always leave a message or comment.