If you’re looking to get into animation, then you are in the right place. We’re going to discuss the basics of 2D animation studios for beginners to get you started. Let’s explore the basics of 2D animation using Adobe Animate and discover the joy of bringing still images to life.
The Essentials: Project Settings
Before we delve into the exciting world of animation, let’s set the stage. Michael chooses Adobe Animate as his animation software, opting for a project size of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a frame rate of 24 frames per second. Animating on 2’s, he cleverly reduces the workload by drawing every other frame, making the process more manageable for a beginner.
Animation Basics: Step by Step
- Boiling Text
We kick off our animation journey with a simple yet effective technique: boiling text. By writing the text three times on three keyframes with slight variations, he creates the illusion of the text boiling. It’s a quick and easy way to get started, emphasizing the importance of subtle differences in each frame for a more dynamic result.
- The Bouncing Ball
The bouncing ball exercise introduces fundamental animation principles like timing, squash, and stretch. There are several necessities for adjusting frame spacing to mimic acceleration and deceleration. After 52 frames and 20 minutes, we achieve a convincing bouncing ball animation, showcasing the importance of these principles in creating realistic motion.
- Liquid Text
For the ambitious animator, liquid text proves to be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. We meticulously outline the text, create guides for fluid animation, and add splashes for detail. The result is a mesmerizing liquid text animation that highlights the power of easing and careful frame manipulation.
- Flag Animation
Next on the list is the flag animation, demonstrating how wind morphs a flag’s shape. Use duplicate lines to complete the flag’s form, playing with the number of frames to convey the strength of the wind. The outcome is a visually striking animation that captures the essence of a flag blowing in the wind.
- The Walk-cycle
Walking animations may seem daunting, but let’s break it down into manageable steps. Focusing on key poses like contact, passing, up, and down, these poses mimic natural walking movements. Additional in-between frames add fluidity, resulting in a more lifelike walk-cycle animation.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a budding animator or simply curious about the world of animation, with your adventurous spirit embark on your own creative journey. Discover the joy of animation, and stay curious.
