In the dynamic world of animation, one of the fundamental principles that breathe life into characters is Solid Drawing. As one of the twelve principles of animation, Solid Drawing is the art of rendering a 3D character within a 2D space used by 2D character animation studios. It serves as the secret ingredient that transforms characters from mere lines on a screen into vibrant, living entities. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Solid Drawing and explore the single best exercise to enhance your skills in this essential animation principle.
Understanding Solid Drawing
Solid Drawing is more than just drawing characters; it’s about creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms on a two-dimensional plane. By understanding the anatomy, proportions, and structure of characters in various poses, animators can bring depth and believability to their creations. Mastering Solid Drawing is crucial for animators, as it forms the foundation for creating characters that move convincingly within the animated world.
The Importance of Solid Drawing in Animation
Solid Drawing is the key to achieving realistic and dynamic character movements. Without a solid understanding of how a character exists in three-dimensional space, animations can appear flat and lack the depth needed to engage audiences. Whether you’re animating a simple walk cycle or a complex action sequence, Solid Drawing is the backbone that ensures characters maintain their form and volume throughout every frame.
The Best Exercise for Improving Solid Drawing
To enhance your Solid Drawing skills, the blog post introduces a powerful exercise for animating an accurate turnaround of any character. The tutorial features two iconic characters, Gwen Stacy from “Into the Spider-Verse” and Akko Kagari from “Little Witch Academia.” The tutorial utilizes Clip Studio Paint as the animation software, but the principles can be applied to any program with a timeline and an onion skin function.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Exercise
Collecting References:
Gather neutral expressions and model sheet poses (front, three-quarters, side, and back views) for the chosen characters.
Use tools like PureRef to create a reference board for easy access.
Creating a Rotation Template:
Develop a template with a sphere representing the cranium’s center axis, indicating the rotation’s progress. Provide downloadable templates for Clip Studio Paint, Animate/Flash, and image sequences for other software.
Importing and Scaling Reference Images:
Import official art of the character poses and scale them to match the sphere’s cranium.
Tracing Key Poses:
Trace the key poses, ensuring they align with the sphere’s axis.
Emphasize the front, three-quarters, side, and back views as essential keyframes.
Adding Ellipses for Consistency:
Introduce ellipses to establish height and length limits for facial features.
Use ellipses to maintain consistency in facial details throughout the rotation.
Refining and Adjusting:
Compare and adjust the features in the front, side, and three-quarters views to achieve a consistent rotation. Address proportions and heights to ensure accuracy.
Animating In-Betweens:
Use onion skinning to create in-betweens between keyframes.
Adjust lines based on the green and blue lines, ensuring smooth transitions.
Coloring and Shading:
Use fill tools for coloring, and organizing layers for different elements (skin, hair, etc.).
Add shading with shadows, using guidelines to determine lighting sources.
Utilizing Volume in Animation:
Demonstrate how volume in animation doesn’t solely come from lighting but is inherent in the animation itself. Showcase the impact of shading effects on character perception.
Finding Model Sheets:
Direct animators to resources like the Living Lines Library and Settei Dreams for character model sheets.
Conclusion
Solid Drawing is the magic wand that transforms static characters into dynamic, lifelike beings. By exploring the recommended exercise and incorporating the principles of Solid Drawing, animators can elevate their skills and bring characters to life with depth and authenticity. Whether you’re a seasoned animator or a beginner, embracing the art of Solid Drawing is a journey that opens doors to endless possibilities in the world of 2D character animation.
