12.3 Animating a Character

The following, in some respects, repeats what has been covered in Chapter 11 but it is important

to grasp the concept of manipulating Strokes to create a Pose at a Frame in the Animation

Timeline. Creating a Pose generates a Keyframe. You should also realise there is more than one

method of Animation which simulates movement in a scene. To demonstrate a simple Stick

Figure will be used conforming to the movement depicted in the Walk Cycle Image.

12.4 Movement in the Scene

Consider two basic ways for a Character to move in a Scene on the computer Screen.

1. The Character walks on the spot while the Scene Background moves.

2. The Character walks across the Screen in Camera View while the Scene background

remains stationary.

In either case the Character is drawn in a different Pose at different Frames in the Animation.

Drawing a Pose at a Frame, generates a Keyframe in the Animation.

In the diagrams for Method 1 the Character is Drawn in different Poses, always at the center of

the Screen while the background is located on the right then on center then at the left. In the

diagrams for Method 2 the background remains stationary while the Character is Drawn in a

Pose at the left then at the center then at the right of the Screen.

The Character's Poses correspond to a Pose in the Walk Cycle Reference Image. Figure 12.7

Keyframe 2 at Frame 10

Keyframe 3 at Frame 20

Keyframe 1 at Frame 1

Pose 1

Pose 4

Pose 8

Method 1. The Character walks on the spot while the Scene Background moves.

Pose 1

Pose 4

Pose 8

Method 2. The Character walks across the Screen while the Background remains stationary.

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