Physics for Animators

Chapter 5Character Design

Long before the animation process begins, character design shapes the personalities that will perform your motions. When you use physics concepts to inform your design decisions, you can increase a character’s ability to perform the motions called for, and also improve its believability and appeal.

Size and Scale

The size and scale of characters often play a central role in a story’s plot. What would Superman be without his height and bulging biceps? Some characters, like the Incredible Hulk, are even named after their body types.

We often equate large characters with weight and strength, and smaller characters with agility and speed. There is a reason for this. In real life, larger people and animals do have a larger ...