Creating a new character.
Day One:
The biggest single misconception about animation is that you need to be an artist to do it, that you need to know how to draw.. You can be a prize winning animator and never touch a pencil or paintbrush.
Kit Laybourne, The Animation Book, Crown Trade 1979
Kit Laybourne's words in 1979 are even more true today with the potential of animation software and digital art. Kit has some brilliant ideas and samples from all different animations. But the book that I have found most useful is Mary Murphy's Get Started in Animation.
Written by Mary Murphy, who is a brilliant animator and teacher, this is the best book I have found so far. You can see Mary's puppet making skills here: animated puppet
Mary is also present on twitter: @shmiminashie
So I'm following Mary's instructions step by step to make my first ever 3D puppet. I've acquired some aluminium armature wire: 2mm, and 1.5 mm wide. I've wound it in spirals using a picture hook, a drill and a metal drawer handle.
Actually I've overlooked the first step:
"A few rough sketches of your character are essential."
Could be a mistake, I'm waiting to see how it turns out. May be completely different to the idea I have.
I've secured the arms and legs using polymorph which is the most magical material ever, hard at room temperature, soft in hot water, capable of modelling and remodelling.
It has surprised me how quickly it cools and solidifies, but hopefully I'll get used to this.
I've chosen to diversify and use hollow bamboo for the bones. And here's the result.
On the left is a Pintoy figure which I'm hoping to match eventually, then there's an action figure which I picked up in Budapest this week and on the right is my figure at the end of day one.
Obviously there is much more work to be done, eg making a head, so watch this space.
Mary suggests make three or four identical characters as the metal needs careful handling and breaks easily.
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