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Tips to Animating 3-D Models

Computer animation work in 3-D format requires not only reliable technical and creative skills, but also patience and diligence to work long hours and many months or even years to complete a project. Like live-action work, an animation project entails collaborative effort from various experts.



One of the primary jobs in any 3-D animation production is the 3-D modeler. This job requires the creation of the character's anatomy, which becomes the skeletal model that computes a character's positions and orientations during the animation.
  1. Maintaining a Character's Technical Integrity

    • Because the 3-D modeler is in charge of creating the integral system of a character, it is important that the specific animation variables, or "avars," are accurately made for each model. In simpler terms, these variables correspond to the character's skeletal system. In the case of a human or animal character, this refers to the actual bones in the body.

      The avars become the basis for a character's movements, which should impart integrity to the required realism, surrealism or fantastic look of the animation. The movements can only become logical and accurate if these basic components of the 3-D model are created properly.

    Keeping the 3-D Model's Weight and Size Accurate

    • The relation between the weight and size of the 3-D model is essential in animating a character. They should always be accurate to add believability to the appearance and movement of the character. By shaping the model accurately, it is easier to maintain the right weight, size and other physical properties for it. It will also be easier to perceive the model the way it should appear in its surroundings.

      As a basic guide, altering the time a model takes to move from one place to another affects how light or heavy it appears, which is important to provide the viewer the right impression about what he sees.

    Speed and Pacing of Model's Action

    • The speed and pacing of the model's movements provide significant details about the logical events happening on screen. A 3-D modeler should mount the model in a way that can provide smooth movement and the right speed and pacing for it.

      An animation timed too far ahead of the viewer's anticipation results in faulty storytelling. On the other hand, if the animation is timed too slow, the story becomes dull and boring.

    Showing Emotion Through Movements

    • An animated character works in the same way as an actor in a live-action movie. This means that even at the earliest stage of the animation, the character's 3-D model should already be properly set up to provide movements that can invoke the best emotions for the character.

      Acting out what the story requires of the character is very crucial to any animated project. Even the slightest movements are always critical to evoke the right emotions and the personality of the character.

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