CGTalk - what follows wha...

Jan Novak

09-28-2006, 09:41 AM

Hi and thanks for reading my post!

This is probably a very stupid question but I am so puzzled about it I just have to ask for help.

When a character spine moves, arms follow (they move after a spine moves), then palms follow. This works.
In regard to this principle, when a character bip (center of mass, groin - more or less) moves, the spine should follow, then arms and head. But another principle says that head should lead the motion, therefore head should move first. But then, what should follow after the head moves (and leads the motion of he body)? The spine or bip? Should they move in this order: "head-spine-bip" or this one: "head-bip-spine"?

Many thanks in advance!
J

Trazza

09-28-2006, 11:24 PM

Hey Jan

It really depends what your animating that determines what body parts lead what. In some actions you might lead with the hand or foot so there's no defining rule on what should go first. In answer to your question about the head leading though. If the head leads then the chest would generally come next, followed by the hips. (depending on how extreme the movement is of course)

I'm not sure if this is relevent either and it's more of an acting thing but Ed Hooks talks a lot about power centres and how different characters will have power centres in different parts of their bodies which can effect the movement of the character and what will lead what. I'm not going to get into it over here but it might be worth you checking out as well.

hope that doesn't make it more confusing
t

Jan Novak

09-29-2006, 08:13 AM

Hi!

Thanks for your reply. I'll put that into practice and see how it looks.
As to the second part of your post - that's something I have never heard about. Quite interesting. I am obviously not at that level of animating yet, but it's very good to know about it for the future.

Once again thank you and have a great weekend!

J

LucentDreams

10-06-2006, 05:11 AM

as trazza said it depends on whats happening. Consider something as simple as a person turning around to look at another person calling them.

If the character is delighted to see that person behind them they will probably look first and then turnt heir body, if they aren't interested or regret havign to turn around they may start with their body and turn their head last.

same with a person getting up from a desk, they may push up with their legs and let their hands rest on the desk if its a calm and patient or even undesired emotion, and they may lean in first then push up the elbows as their legs and hand push on the floor and desk and their head leads their body up if they are excited or angry etc.

If I walk impatiently my arms are pushing mye legs are pushing down fast for the next step, if I'm dragging behind (jsut thinkg of the term dragging) my arms are hanging by my side and my feet drag till the last second that they need to catch me again.

intent and emotion greatly control what comes first. Its the small details that make the difference.

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