Animation Training

In my opinion, animation training should be taught to middle school english and art students. This might seem like a bold (or crazy) statement to some, but to me, it just makes good sense. Animation is a common language--we've all grown up on a cartoon diet! But take a look at the computer labs in today's schools. Too many of those computers are devoted to teaching students about the use of mundane business applications, without enough emphasis on the fundamentals (rather than the mechanicals). Classic animation training would maximize the value of our investment in technology as it provides a cross-disciplinary curriculum that involves elements of writing, art, math, and science in a team-building environment.

Solid animation training would provide the kids with a way to express themselves that they could have only imagined. Training in classic animation theory and technique brings many benefits. Training kids in the art of storytelling, story boarding, and animation principles will allow them to become better communicators. We've been living in the animated age since the days of Steamboat Willie. In today's world, it's impossible to escape animation as you go about your daily life. And unfortunately, it's become impossible to escape bad animation, as well--just think about how many horrid Power Point presentations you've had to sit through ...

If your local school district offers animation training, I offer a tip of the hat. But if they don't, let me offer some insight on how you can take the topic of animation training into your own hands.

Earlier this spring, I wrote a bit about my minor role in co-authoring The Art of Cartooning with Flash. I'll readily confess that I am just a student of animation. But I have been truly fortunate to have learned from two marvelous practitioners of the modern craft.

Here's just a hint of what I've learned ...

Animation training comes in many forms. But the best way to start is to simply watch cartoons ... not just any cartoons, mind you, but the classics. You'll want to start with the best of the classic Disney films, as well as the golden age Warner Brothers cartoons. You'll be wise to go for the DVD versions, rather than VHS. With a good DVD player, you can stop the film and deconstruct the animation techniques frame-by-frame.

Once you have assembled a small film library, you'll want to head to the bookstore. There are two key books that you'll need to pick up to further your quest.

The Illusion of Life - Disney Animation, written by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston is a time-honored look at how the greatest Disney classics were created. This gorgeous full-color book has earned a place on the coffee tables and desks of nearly every serious student of animation. This book is full of beautiful artwork that tells the story behind the Disney studio's initial discoveries and stunning implementation of animation technique. The stuff that the masters learned in the 1920s and 1930s still rings true today.

Preston Blair's evergreen Cartoon Animation is nearly as ubiquitous--it's a fast and fun look at the basic techniques of classic animation. Blair's work has been copied often in modern animation tutorials, and unfortunately, often copied quite poorly. His depiction of character movement is among the most important pieces of the puzzle. Learning about the basic theories behind the line of action, the differences between walk cycles, and the successful implementation of anticipation-action-reaction is key.

Once you've begun to digest the information in these to books, you'll never look at animation the same way again. As your animation training progresses, you'll begin to see the common language that lies beneath the surface of each and every professionally animated piece you see on television or in the movie theater.

As you master the basic principles, you'll be eager to experiment. And here's where the computer comes into play. But when I say play, I don't mean that it's going to be a bunch of fun and games. Creating good animation is a good bit of work, whether you choose to use a 2D animation program like Macromedia Flash (or better yet, Toon Boom), or a full-out 3D animation program like Maya.

It's important that you understand the basic principles of animation before you set out to learn a complicated program. Get that why down before you embark on the how.

While you can easily start your animation training at home, you'll make the most of your time if you can take part in formal classroom animation training--for oh so many rasons. I'll tackle that topic in an upcoming column.

Animation Training Links

Posted by geekbooks at June 3, 2004 11:44 PM

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