Animation Techniques: Expressions and Movement

Create animated characters that leap off the screen with personality.

This four-week course is designed to build on your foundational knowledge of digital animation and take your skills to the next level. You'll learn ways to communicate narratives through character body language and expressions, enhancing your ability to create visually engaging movement.

Throughout the course, you will learn to think in three dimensions by mastering the rotation of shapes and maintaining consistent volume in your drawings. You'll delve into the nuances of facial expressions, learning to convey complex emotions through the eyes, mouth, and other facial features. You'll also learn how to animate walk cycles, runs, and unique gaits, equipping you with the skills to depict a wide range of characters, from humans to animals, in a way that reflects their mood and personality.

Whether you aim to create animations for film, games, or personal projects, this course will provide you with the techniques needed to bring your characters to life.

What you will learn:

✔ Rotate simple polyhedrons by breaking them down into planar forms, creating the illusion of 3D space in a 2D medium
✔ Create a wide range of facial expressions, focusing on the eyes and mouth, and combine these features to convey complex emotions in characters
✔ Use timing and multiple breakdowns to create dynamic and emotionally resonant animations
✔ Animate realistic walk cycles and other forms of locomotion for characters, applying unique movement styles that reflect the character's mood and personality