For Week 2, the focus is on creating a pendulum animation while applying the overlapping action principle. This principle, crucial in animation, emphasises that different parts of an object move at different rates, rather than everything moving uniformly. In the pendulum exercise, the base of the pendulum moves first, with the string and the weight at the end following the motion in a delayed, overlapping fashion. This creates a natural and fluid movement, where the swing of the pendulum’s weight lags behind the main motion due to inertia and gravity.
In addition to the animation task, a drawing exercise involves creating a pose with a line of action running through it. This line of action helps define the motion path and energy flow, ensuring the poses are dynamic and balanced. The overlap drawing exercise reinforces understanding of how different parts of an object or character interact, improving the ability to portray natural, believable motion. These tasks directly tie into the teachings from the “Animation Survival Kit” book, helping to solidify the concepts of overlapping action and improving overall animation technique.
The process of learning to animate the overlap drawing, how fundamental it is to bring life and believability to characters. The overlap drawing exercise has helped understand how different parts of a character or object interact during motion. It’s not just about the movement itself but about how energy flows through a character’s body—each part moving at slightly different times, creating a natural ripple effect.