Critiquing Pendulum animations
- Delay at the tip: The tip of the pendulum should have a slight delay at the beginning to show weight and follow-through.
- Incorrect straight line: In the final swinging stage, the top and middle parts sometimes formed a straight line, which is wrong. They should create an S-shape or C-shape for smoother overlapping motion.
- Swing too fast: Between frames 59 and 63, the pendulum moved too quickly. I need to adjust the timing and spacing to make the swing more natural.
Ball with Tail
Anticipation is the build-up of energy before an action. It makes movements feel more powerful and believable. For example, a character squatting before jumping or pulling back before punching.
I also learned about the “K.I.S.S” rule — Keep It Simple Stupid.
We started a new exercise: the “Ball with Tail” animation. I observed references of squirrels and studied how the tail follows and overlaps with the body motion.