Character Animation Crash Course by Eric Goldberg: A Comprehensive Guide to Bring Characters to Life

Character animation is a fundamental aspect of storytelling, bringing characters to life and connecting audiences with the narrative. Eric Goldberg, a legendary animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios, has created a comprehensive Character Animation Crash Course that provides invaluable insights into the principles and techniques of animating believable and engaging characters.

Character Animation Crash Course!

by Eric Goldberg

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	74444 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	218 pages

FREE

This crash course is an excellent resource for aspiring animators, students, and professionals looking to enhance their skills in character animation. Goldberg's vast experience and knowledge of the craft shine through in each lesson, offering practical tips and exercises that can significantly improve your animation abilities.

The Principles of Animation

The course begins by exploring the fundamental principles of animation, which serve as the building blocks for creating realistic and dynamic characters. These principles include:

• Squash and Stretch: Exaggerating the deformation of characters during movement to add weight and fluidity.
• Anticipation: Preparing the audience for an upcoming action by hinting at it in advance.
• Follow-Through: Allowing objects and characters to continue moving after the main action has stopped.
• Secondary Action: Adding subtle movements to support and enhance the main action.
• Overlapping Action: Creating a sense of depth and realism by animating different parts of the body at different speeds.
• Arcs: Moving characters along curved paths rather than straight lines to mimic the natural motion of the human body.
• Timing: Controlling the speed and duration of movements to convey the character's emotions and intentions.
• Exaggeration: Amplifying movements and expressions to enhance the character's personality and create a visual impact.

Goldberg emphasizes the importance of understanding and applying these principles to create characters that are not only visually appealing but also believable and relatable.

Traditional vs. Digital Animation

The course delves into the differences between traditional and digital animation, each with its unique advantages and challenges. Goldberg demonstrates the fundamentals of hand-drawn animation, including sketching, inking, and coloring, while also exploring the possibilities offered by digital tools.

Participants learn about the benefits of traditional animation, such as its organic and tactile nature, as well as the advantages of digital animation, including its versatility, efficiency, and ability to create complex effects.

Character Design and Development

Creating memorable and engaging characters is essential for successful animation, and Goldberg provides valuable insights into the process of character design and development.

The course covers topics such as:

• Creating character silhouettes and shapes
• Developing character personalities and motivations
• Designing costumes and accessories
• Exploring different art styles and influences

Goldberg emphasizes the importance of researching and understanding the characters' backgrounds, motivations, and relationships to create characters that resonate with the audience.

Animation Techniques

The crash course offers practical guidance on various animation techniques, including straight ahead animation, pose to pose animation, and tweening. Goldberg demonstrates the benefits and limitations of each technique and provides exercises to develop fluency in different approaches.

Participants learn about:

• Creating smooth and fluid movements
• Planning and executing character actions
• Using reference materials and video footage
• Rigging characters for movement

These techniques enable animators to bring characters to life with precision, fluidity, and expressiveness.

Character Performance and Storytelling

Goldberg emphasizes that character animation is not merely about creating realistic movements but also about conveying emotions, personalities, and storytelling through animation. The course focuses on developing character performances that captivate audiences and contribute to the overall narrative.

Participants learn about:

• Creating believable facial expressions
• Conveying emotions through body language
• Synchronizing animation with dialogue
• Developing character relationships and interactions

By mastering these aspects, animators can create characters that are not only visually impressive but also contribute meaningfully to the storytelling process.

Eric Goldberg's Character Animation Crash Course is an invaluable resource for aspiring animators and professionals alike. Its comprehensive approach covers the fundamental principles of animation, traditional and digital techniques, character design and development, and character performance, providing a solid foundation for creating believable and engaging characters.

Whether you are new to animation or looking to enhance your skills, this crash course will empower you with the knowledge and techniques necessary to breathe life into your characters and captivate audiences with your storytelling.