Cartoon Animation by Preston Blair.pdf

Chapter 1 - Chapitre 1: Introduction

Chapitre 1 : ÉLABORATION des PERSONNAGES

It can be an exciting experience to create and develop an original cartoon character. Constructing and

developing a character is not merely a matter of drawing the figure, each character also has its own shape,

personality, features, and mannerisms. The animator has to take these qualities into consideration to make the

characters seem lifelike and believable. For example, there are various personality types such as "goofy,"

"cute," and "screwball". Think about the type of character you wish to design, then use the diagrams and guides

shown in this chapter to begin your drawing. When creating a character, you should begin by drawing rough

"idea" sketches. These will give you a direction for the type and nature of the character you wish to create.

Develop the basic shape of the figure, then add the features and other details.

This procedure should be followed whether the character you are developing is a human, an animal, or an

inanimate object you wish to bring to life (for example, drawing a face on a computer and making it dance).

After you have developed the character and the proportions arc to your liking, develop the movement

expressions of the body, head, and hands. Hands can tell a complete story with just a simple pose. Study and

practice drawing the hands shown on page 28, then create some hand positions of your own. Also, the "line of

action" section is a big help in creating attitudes in posture and movement. This chapter is the starting point to

a world of exciting cartoon animation.

Chapter 1 - Page 10

CARTOON CONSTRUCTION

PROPORTION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CONSTRUCTING A CARTOON

CHARACTER. THE ANIMATOR MUST KEEP IN MIND THE RELATIVE SIZES OF THE BODY PARTS, BECAUSE

SPECIFIC PROPORTIONS ARE USED TO CREATE CHARACTER TYPES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HEAVY, PUGNACIOUS

CHARACTER HAS A SMALL HEAD, LARGE CHEST OR BODY AREA, HEAVY ARMS AND LEGS, AND THE JAW AND

CHIN NORMALLY PROTRUDE, THE CUTE CHARACTER IS BASED ON THE PROPORTIONS OF A BABY WITH A

LARGE HEAD IN PROPORTION TO THE OVAL BODY, A HIGH FOREHEAD, AND A SMALL MOUTH/EYE/CHIN AREA,

"SCREWBALL" TYPES HAVE EXAGGERATED PARTS AND FEATURES (DETAILED INFORMATION ON CHARACTER

TYPES BEGINS ON PAGE 32).

CARTOON STUDIOS OFTEN USE HEAD SIZE TO MEASURE THE HEIGHT OF A CHARACTER - FOR INSTANCE, A

CUTE BEAR MAY BE THREE HEADS HIGH, AND A PUGNACIOUS BEAR MIGHT BE FIVE OR SIX HEADS HIGH. THIS

INFORMATION HELPS THE ANIMATOR TO KEEP THE PROPORTIONS AND HEIGHT OF A CHARACTER CONSITENT.

STUDY THE CHARACTERS ON THIS PAGE, AND MEASURE EACH ONE IN "HEADS."

WHEN ANIMATING, YOU´LL ALSO FIND IT HELPFUL TO MAKE A REFERENCE DRAWING OF THE CHARACTER ON

A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER. THIS WAY, THE ANIMATOR CAN REFER TO THE PROPORTION GUIDELINES WHEN

DRAWING THE CHARACTER IN DIFFERENT POSES AND ACTIONS.

THE PROPER USE OF CARTOON PROPORTIONS MAKES A CHARACTER, SO ANALYZE THE PROPORTIONS OF

YOUR ANIMATED ACTOR BEFORE HE OR SHE GOES ON STAGE-UP ON THE SCREEN.

STANCE (SOLID MASSES) - DRAW A "LINE OF ACTION" THROUGH THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARTS TO

ORGANIZE AND SET THE ATTITUDE OR ACTION. CONSTRUCT YOUR DRAWING AS IF YOU WERE FITTING

TOGETHER THE PARTS OF A PUPPET AT THE JOINTS ACCORDING TO A CHARACTER FORMULA. THUS YOUR

CHARACTER BECOMES BELIEVABLE , AND HE ACTS, THE AUDIENCE EMOTIONALLY RESPONDS.

Chapter 1 - Page 12

BODY BUILT FROM CIRCULAR AND ROUNDED FORMS

THE ANIMATED CARTOON CHARACTER IS BASED ON THE CIRCULAR, ROUNDED FORM. IN A CARTOON STUDIO

SEVERAL PEOPLE MAY WORK ON THE SAME DRAWING AND THE ROUNDED FORM IS USED BECAUSE OF ITS

SIMPLICITY - IT MAKES ANIMATION EASIER. ALSO, CIRCULAR FORMS "FOLLOW THROUGH" BETTER ON THE

SCREEN.

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