Animation Flashcards
The most expressive part of the face; wide eyes indicate surprise;
squinƟng suggests suspicion or confusion.
Eyes
Smiles, frowns, and open mouths show varying degrees of emoƟon
Mouth
Raised eyebrows suggest excitement or curiosity, while furrowed
brows convey anger or concern.
Eyebrows
A slouched posture indicates sadness or Ɵredness, while an
upright stance suggests confidence.
Body language
Facial expressions and body language are key to making characters feel alive. They
help communicate emoƟons, thoughts, and personality without the need for dialogue
Expression
His exaggerated expressions make him extremely
expressive and lively.
The Genie from Aladdin
Despite having no tradiƟonal facial features, his eyes and
body posture effecƟvely communicate emoƟon.
Wall-E from Wall-E
Pixar uses expressive facial animaƟon to convey each
character’s personality clearly
The Incredibles
A character’s movement style is an extension of their personality. The way they walk,
run, and interact with their environment tells the audience who they are
MoƟon
Enumerat the Principles of MoƟon in Character Design
Weight and Balance
ii. Posture and Gesture
iii. ExaggeraƟon
Weight and Balance Heavier characters move slower and have more
exaggerated momentum, while lighter characters move quickly and with agility
Weight and Balance
Confident characters stand tall, while nervous characters
might fidget or slouch.
Posture and Gesture
In animaƟon, movements are oŌen exaggerated for clarity and
expressiveness
ExaggeraƟon
Examples of motion
Goofy (Disney) – Moves with bouncy, exaggerated moƟon, reinforcing his
clumsy personality.
ii. Shrek (DreamWorks) – His slower, more grounded movements reflect his large,
heavy frame.
iii. Tom & Jerry (Hanna-Barbera) – Their exaggerated movements enhance the
comedic impact.
Moves with bouncy, exaggerated moƟon, reinforcing his
clumsy personality.
Goofy (Disney)
Shrek (DreamWorks) – His slower, more grounded movements reflect his large,
heavy frame.
– His slower, more grounded movements reflect his large,
heavy frame.
serves as a reference for animators, ensuring that the character remains visually
consistent throughout an animaƟon.
A character sheet
– Their exaggerated movements enhance the
comedic impact.
Tom & Jerry (Hanna-Barbera) –
Enumerate the character sheet creation
Turnaround
Poses reflecting personality and movement
Expressions Showing Different EmoƟons
provides a 360-degree view of the character, typically showing front, side,
and back views.
Turnaround
A character’s pose should immediately communicate their personality.
Poses ReflecƟng Personality and Movement
The same character should be able to display a wide range of emoƟons while sƟll
remaining recognizable
Expressions Showing Different EmoƟons
Enumerate the Core Principles of EffecƟve Character Design:
Silhouette
Expression
Motion
The silhoueƩe is the outer shape of a character, and it plays a crucial role in making
a design instantly recognizable. A strong silhoueƩe ensures that the character is easily
disƟnguishable even in a completely blacked-out form
Silhouette
Examples of Silhouette
Mickey Mouse – The iconic round ears make Mickey recognizable even as a
silhoueƩe.
ii. SpongeBob SquarePants – The unique square body shape ensures instant
recogniƟon.
iii. Samurai Jack – His tall, angular frame contrasts sharply with his enemies,
making him stand out.
The iconic round ears make Mickey recognizable even as a
silhoueƩe.
Mickey Mouse
The unique square body shape ensures instant
recogniƟon.
SpongeBob SquarePants
– His tall, angular frame contrasts sharply with his enemies,
making him stand out.
Samurai Jack
Enumerate the key elements of expression
Eye
Eyebrows
Mouth
Body language
Color Theory and ProporƟons
Choosing the Right Colors for EmoƟonal Impact
Maintaining Consistency in Character Dimensions
Colors influence how characters are perceived by audiences.
Choosing the Right Colors for EmoƟonal Impact
Bright, saturated colors oŌen indicate energeƟc or heroic characters.
Choosing the Right Colors for EmoƟonal Impact
Dark or muted tones are commonly used for villains or mysterious characters.
Choosing the Right Colors for EmoƟonal Impact
examples of Choosing the Right Colors for EmoƟonal Impact
Superman
The joker
Elsa (Frozen)
Red, blue, and yellow suggest heroism and strength.
Superman
Green and purple create an unseƩling, chaoƟc vibe.
The joker
Cool blues and whites reinforce her icy powers and reserved
personality.
Elsa (Frozen)
