Character Animation Bootcamp

During the Character Animation Bootcamp at the School of Motion, I immersed myself in the art of character animation, enhancing my abilities to animate characters with greater efficiency and precision for freelance work. This rigorous six-week course provided a deep dive into essential animation principles and techniques, culminating in a series of projects that showcased my growth and mastery in the field.

Squish & Squash

The first project involved animating a character rig, focusing on fundamental movements. Revisiting this animation weeks later, I applied newly acquired skills to refine and polish the piece, resulting in a more fluid and dynamic portrayal. This iterative process underscored the importance of continual improvement in animation.

Ollie Walk and Run

In this segment, I developed multiple walk cycles, including a standard walk, a casual stroll, and a sneaking walk. Additionally, I created a run cycle, delving into the intricacies of weight shift and fluid motion. These exercises enhanced the realism and expressiveness of my character animations.

Squish & Squash Jump

Returning to the character from the initial week, I animated two distinct characters executing jumps. This project emphasized the principles of squash and stretch, allowing for more dynamic and lively animations that captured the essence of character movement.

Dolly Throw

This assignment tasked me with animating a character throwing a ball. To add a personal touch, I transformed the character into a baseball player. This project was both challenging and enjoyable, as it required careful attention to timing and anticipation to create a believable throw.

Olly Scene

The final project was a comprehensive scene animated from start to finish. This piece represented the culmination of all the skills acquired throughout the course, enabling me to craft a cohesive narrative with well-coordinated character movements. It was a rewarding experience that brought the entire journey of learning to a satisfying conclusion.

CREDITS

Animation - Patrick Flaherty