🖌️2D Animation Unit 7 – Follow Through and Overlapping Action

What's the Deal with Follow Through and Overlapping Action?

• Fundamental principles in animation that bring characters and objects to life
• Follow through refers to how parts of an object or character continue moving after the main body has stopped
• Overlapping action describes how different parts of a character or object move at different rates and times
• These principles add realism and believability to animated motion
• Without follow through and overlapping action, animations can appear stiff, mechanical, and lifeless
• They help to convey the illusion of weight, momentum, and flexibility in animated subjects
• Mastering these concepts is crucial for creating fluid, dynamic, and engaging animations

Key Principles: Breaking It Down

• Follow through is based on the concept of inertia, where parts continue moving due to their mass and velocity
  • Examples include a character's hair, clothing, or tail continuing to move after they stop
  • The speed and duration of follow through depends on the weight and flexibility of the parts
• Overlapping action involves different parts of a character or object moving at different times and speeds
  • This creates a sense of natural, organic motion rather than everything moving in perfect unison
  • Examples include a character's arms, legs, and head moving at slightly different rates when walking or running
• Drag is another key principle related to follow through, where parts lag behind the main body due to air resistance or friction
  • This is often seen in long hair, capes, or loose clothing trailing behind a moving character
• Anticipation is the preparation for a major action, and it can be enhanced by follow through and overlapping action
  • A character may crouch down (anticipation) before jumping, and their hair and clothing will follow through after the jump

Real-World Examples: Where You've Seen It

• Disney and Pixar animations are known for their masterful use of follow through and overlapping action
  • In "The Incredibles," Elastigirl's stretchy body demonstrates exaggerated follow through and overlapping action
  • Sulley's fur in "Monsters, Inc." is a prime example of follow through, as it continues to move and settle after he stops
• Traditional hand-drawn animations also rely heavily on these principles
  • The flowing dresses in "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella" showcase follow through and overlapping action
  • In "The Lion King," Simba's mane and tail demonstrate these principles in action
• Even in stop-motion animation, follow through and overlapping action are crucial
  • The clay characters in "Wallace and Gromit" and "Shaun the Sheep" display these principles through their malleable bodies
• In video games, characters and objects often utilize follow through and overlapping action
  • The iconic red scarf of the protagonist in "Journey" is a standout example of follow through in gaming

Techniques: How to Pull It Off

• Timing is crucial in achieving effective follow through and overlapping action
  • Parts should start and stop moving at different times to create a sense of natural motion
  • Adjusting the spacing between frames can help control the speed and duration of follow through
• Pose-to-pose animation can be used to plan out the main poses, with follow through and overlapping action added in between
  • This allows for greater control over the timing and placement of these principles
• Straight-ahead animation can also be used, where each frame is drawn in sequence
  • This approach can lead to more fluid and organic follow through and overlapping action
• Exaggeration is often used to emphasize follow through and overlapping action for stylistic or comedic effect
  • Animators may choose to exaggerate the amount or duration of follow through to convey a specific mood or feeling
• Reference footage of real-world movements can help inform the timing and application of these principles
  • Studying how hair, clothing, and body parts move in reality can guide the animation process

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Overlooking follow through and overlapping action altogether, resulting in stiff and lifeless animation
  • Make a conscious effort to incorporate these principles into every animation
• Applying follow through and overlapping action inconsistently throughout an animation
  • Establish rules for how different materials and body parts should move and stick to them
• Making all parts move at the same speed and start/stop at the same time
  • Vary the timing and speed of different parts to create a more natural, organic look
• Exaggerating follow through and overlapping action too much, leading to unrealistic or distracting motion
  • Find a balance between realism and stylization that suits the project's goals
• Forgetting to consider the weight and properties of different materials when applying these principles
  • A heavy, rigid object will have less follow through than a light, flexible one

Tools and Software: Making Your Life Easier

• Most 2D animation software includes tools to help with follow through and overlapping action
  • Adobe Animate has a "Bones" tool that allows you to create a simple skeleton for your character, making it easier to animate overlapping action
  • Toon Boom Harmony has a "Deform" tool that lets you create a mesh for your character, which can be used to create follow through effects
• Onion skinning is a feature in many animation programs that allows you to see multiple frames at once
  • This can be helpful in visualizing and timing follow through and overlapping action
• Some software, like TVPaint, have built-in physics engines that can simulate follow through and overlapping action
  • This can be a quick way to rough in these effects, which can then be fine-tuned by hand
• Plug-ins and scripts can also be used to automate or simplify the process of creating follow through and overlapping action
  • For example, the "Overlappy" plug-in for After Effects can help create overlapping action effects

Practice Exercises: Get Your Hands Dirty

• Animate a simple pendulum swinging back and forth
  • Focus on the timing and spacing of the pendulum's motion to create a sense of weight and follow through
• Create a walk cycle for a character with long hair or a tail
  • Pay attention to how the hair or tail moves in relation to the body, and how it continues to move after the body stops
• Animate a flag waving in the wind
  • Consider how the fabric moves and folds, and how different parts of the flag move at different rates
• Create a character jumping or leaping
  • Incorporate anticipation, follow through, and overlapping action to make the motion feel dynamic and realistic
• Animate a character with loose clothing performing a dance or acrobatic move
  • Think about how the clothing moves in relation to the body, and how it continues to move after the character stops

Taking It Further: Advanced Tips and Tricks

• Combine follow through and overlapping action with other animation principles like squash and stretch or secondary action
  • This can create even more dynamic and interesting animations
• Experiment with different timing and spacing patterns to create unique and expressive follow through and overlapping action
  • Varying the easing or adding holds can dramatically change the feel of the animation
• Study live-action footage frame-by-frame to analyze how follow through and overlapping action occur in the real world
  • This can help you develop a deeper understanding of these principles and how to apply them effectively
• Practice animating different materials (hair, cloth, metal, etc.) to get a feel for how they move differently
  • This will expand your skillset and make your animations more versatile
• Collaborate with other animators and get feedback on your use of follow through and overlapping action
  • Fresh perspectives can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your techniques