George Lessons
Earthbending is fun
Week 5 marked the conclusion of the body mechanics phase and the introduction to acting through facial animation. Previous feedback led to noticeable improvements. Movements between poses now transition more smoothly, with better coordination between body parts.
This refinement reflects a deeper understanding of how the body moves in unison yet retains independent motion, which is essential for creating animation that feels alive and responsive.
The introduction to acting shifted focus to performance through facial expression. Animator Jeff Gabor’s showreels were used as a key reference for studying nuanced emotion and timing.
The process began with breaking down the dialogue line, identifying the underlying emotions, and researching how those feelings are reflected through subtle facial cues. This analytical approach helps establish a foundation for authentic performance.
To support the acting exercise, a character bio was created, detailing the character’s backstory and emotional context. This step informed the development of expression thumbnails and layout planning, ensuring consistency between personality and performance. The combination of narrative, emotion, and design marks a new layer of complexity beyond physical mechanics, where the body and face now work together to tell a story.