References and Planning

References and smart planning are very important important when it comes to animation. References can help you find just the right pose you are looking for. A wide variety of media can be used for reference such as personal recordings, photography, comic books, film, and animation. Reference is NOT A BAD THING. In fact, it is a very practical and very wise practice. It is not "cheating" or "wrong" to use references. If utilized correctly, proper referencing can greatly enhance your work. Books of references created by Eadweard Muybridge (for run/walk cycles) and Dr. Harold Edgerton (slow motion photography) are amazingly useful to any animator and show how the principals of animation apply even to reality. Comic books are also particularly useful for referencing because not only do some of the artist who made the comic books have animation experience, comic books are chock-full of dynamic and super rad poses to reference. Also studying video and animated references is a good idea. Not only do they provide for some great poses, the people who took the shots knew what they were doing. Learn from those who have the knowledge you seek. Good references can be found all over these sources of media. Even if you can't find a reference for a person throwing a spear, you can probably find a good reference of a person throwing a javelin. And home recorded references can be a godsent. You know what you're looking for and after recording it a million and one times, it can yield a result pretty similar if not perfectly matching  reference you were looking for.

Knowing how to use the references is just as important as having the references. Copying the references often leads to a less appealing and less lifelike product. Integrating the ideas into your work and studying them and learning what makes them good references is key. Results may vary however. Animation isn't a "one method fits all" thing, but planning is an absolute must. The basics and the fundamentals and proper planning can not be ignored if you want your animation to be the very best that no animation ever was.

Makes complete sense. Don't have much of an opinion on it. I guess the tips were pretty cool. References are good. Without a doubt. I completely agree with what the article is saying and I appreciate the resource suggestions. How do you properly use a reference? Like, do you just look at it, or is there more to it? Everyone should use resources. Nobody is an exception.

Eadweard Muybridge

Photography, comic-books, live-action movie reference, animated reference - See more at: http://blog.animationmentor.com/how-to-create-character-animation-poses/#sthash.cjknVIPe.dpuf

Photography, comic-books, live-action movie reference, animated reference, and footage of yourself and your friends acting out a scene - See more at: http://blog.animationmentor.com/how-to-create-character-animation-poses/#sthash.cjknVIPe.dpuf

Photography, comic-books, live-action movie reference, animated reference, and footage of yourself and your friends acting out a scene - See more at: http://blog.animationmentor.com/how-to-create-character-animation-poses/#sthash.cjknVIPe.dpuf

Photography, comic-books, live-action movie reference, animated reference, and footage of yourself and your friends acting out a scene - See more at: http://blog.animationmentor.com/how-to-create-character-animation-poses/#sthash.cjknVIPe.dpuf