Anticipation is an important technique in animation, it can make the animation more powerful and rhythmic, but also can increase the audience’s sense of participation and anticipation. The principle of the preparatory movement is that before a major movement, do a movement in the opposite direction to accumulate strength and tension, and then release it to form a strong contrast and change. The use of preparatory action can be adjusted according to different animation styles and purposes, sometimes exaggerated, sometimes subtle, the key is to conform to the laws of physics and character personality.
But how do guys practice these techniques？
SHOOT REFERENCE VIDEO
Observe and analyze real motion. You can search for videos on related topics, or record yourself or someone else’s movements, to see what pre-movements are involved in different movements, what their form and function are, what their speed and amplitude are, and how they affect the effect and mood of the movement. You can also observe the movements of different people and animals in the park or elsewhere, noting the details and characteristics of their preparatory movements
DRAW STORYBOARDS
Draw storyboards and shoot sheets. Before you start animation, you need to draw a storyboard to summarize the story and scene of your animation, determine what actions you have in your animation, what actions need to be prepared, and what direction and time are the preparatory actions. Then you need to make a shot sheet to arrange the content of each frame of your animation, including key and intermediate frames of action and preparatory action, sound and music, background and Angle of view, etc. This will help you control the pace and flow of your animation, and it will also give you a clearer idea of what you need to draw.
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR ANIMATION
Check and modify your animation. After you have completed all the frames of your animation, you need to check and revise your animation to see if your preparatory movements meet your expectations, if they have strength and tension, if they have rhythm and variation, if they are interesting and engaging. You can improve the effect and mood of your animation by adjusting the direction, amplitude, speed, timing, etc., of your preparatory movements. You can also enhance the charm and style of your animation by adding some details and special effects.