How to Make Animated Films

Masterclass 1 

Animation Basics

Class objective: To learn the underlying principles and disciplines of animation technique.

Equipment required: Lightbox, pencil, and paper.

Key, Breakdown, and In-Between Positions

All animation can be broken down into definable stages. In general terms, these stages are key positions, breakdown or passing positions, and in-between positions. Key positions are effectively the major positions in an action where that action ceases or changes direction in some way. The two key positions for walking, for example, will be the full-stride positions—one with the right leg forward and the other with the left leg forward. ...