“Music is the space between the notes.” — Claude Debussy, Composer
Today I’m gonna share a simple tip that will greatly improve one’s animation. We’re talking, of course, of what is commonly known as the “Breakdown Key.” Whichever method an animator may choose work in, straight ahead or pose-to-pose, we all know that all shots are built around major “key” poses — snapshots of crucial moments in time and space. They are the guide posts and very foundation of any visual narrative. Like in the architecture of a building, the main story/animation keys are the cornerstones of the structure, being the most crucial elements that both hold up and ultimately define the look and feel of the entirety of work. The breakdown keys support, strengthen and clarify that structure.
Good key poses are important but even when they’re well-placed and well-choreographed success isn’t guaranteed. Ultimately, the space between them must be filled. 3D animators who work pose-to-pose in stepped mode often dread this phase — often viewed incorrectly as the “spline” phase — because it’s very hard to work backwards or rework what the computer has done. The technical switch over from stepped or spline mode is actually not the issue, rather it’s the mindset in how to approach filling in the rest of the frames. The issue is the breakdowns; keys that aid in the transition to full implementation of all the remaining frames in the animation.
Therefore, what presents itself as a problem is actually rather an opportunity. During this “inbetweening” phase — as it’s commonly referred to in traditional hand-drawn animation — the animator is given the critical option to either exercise his attentiveness and creativity or allow the computer to lazily do the interpolations for him. We all know the results of the latter choice; work that ends up weightless, structurally weak and unimaginative. What else could we expect from an inattentive or blasé approach? The astute and responsible artist takes matters into his own hands — incorporating his vision and wit to maximize clarity, weight, feeling and interest. And he makes this happen using well-placed and often beautifully designed breakdown keys.
Here are 3 very simple ways of improving your animation by controlling the various aspects of the breakdown (middle) key:
(1) Work with an ARC in mind:
(2) Use Graduated Spacing:
(3) Incorporate Shape changes:
In Summary, working to incorporate some of these suggestions will open up your work and your mind. If you let the computer do a large portion of the work, your art will be weak. And if all you do is follow your less-than-stellar live action performances caught on camera, don’t expect stellar results. Good art comes from not just planning and hard work but also clarity, awareness, and the dutifulness to think outside of the box. Don’t be afraid to exercise your imagination.
“Imagination is more important than intelligence.” — Albert Einstein, Scientist