Previs Part 2 – Distinguishing the Characters

You can’t outthink me if I don’t even think

As the previs develops, one major problem is ensuring that both characters—Prod Igy* and Maximus—are easily distinct in the rough animation. Previs is largely concerned with blocking out movement, staging, and camera angles, making it difficult to portray character identification in the absence of final models, textures, or full animation. To get around this, I added a second rig to differentiate their silhouettes, movements, and positions from one another.

wanting to experiment with camera angle and staging. Both play an important role in highlighting these distinctions. Maximus’ authority can be emphasised by placing him in a more dominant posture in some shots, whilst Prod Igy’s underdog status might be highlighted by using lower perspectives.

Ensuring that both characters are distinguishable enhances the visual flow and strengthens the narrative. By addressing these elements early, the foundation for the final animation becomes more solid, allowing the storytelling to shine!