California Career and Technical Education Standards

• AME.FS.10.6 Know the appropriate skills and vocabulary of the art form.
• AME.FS.5.1 Apply appropriate problem-solving strategies and critical thinking skills to wor...
• AME.FS.5.4 Use the elements of the particular art form to observe, perceive, and respond.

• How slow can you go? - Hooks / Set

  As a class, view examples of the follow through and overlapping action principle within slow motion videos or in animated form slowed down by your controller.  Attached are some examples of each or you may download your own choices.

  Follow Through and Overlapping Action are two techniques that help make the action richer and fuller with detail and subtlety. Follow-through action consists of the reactions
  of the character after an action. In overlapping action multiple motions influence, blend, and overlap the position of the character.

  A quote by Walt Disney sums up the principle best, " It is not necessary for an animator to take a character to one point, complete that action completely, and then turn to the following action as if he had never given it a thought until after completing the first action. When a character knows what he is going to do he doesn't have to stop before each individual action and think to do it. He has it planned in advance in his mind."  

  When the main body of the character stops all other parts continue to catch up to the main mass of the character, such as arms, long hair, clothing, coat tails or a dress, floppy ears or a long tail (these follow the path of action). Nothing stops all at once. This is follow-through.

   

  Overlapping action is when the character changes direction while his clothes or hair continues forward. The character is going in a new direction, to be followed, a number of frames later, by his clothes in the new direction. “DRAG,” in animation, for example, would be when Goofy starts to run, but his head, ears, upper body, and clothes do not keep up with his legs.  In features, this type of action is done more subtly.

  Example:  When Snow White starts to dance, her dress does not begin to move with her immediately but catches up a few frames later. Long hair and animal tail will also be handled in the same manner.

  I have also attached a document that defines the follow through and overlapping principle in more detail for your needs and the website reference. If you do research on the internet you may find some variations but the overall concept stays the same.    

  • Follow Through Defined.doc [ Download ] Follow through and overlapping action further detailed
  • Bulldog Shaking.mp4 [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Slow Motion Action
  • Bulldog Sneeze Shake.mp4 [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Slow Motion
  • Tennis.mp4 [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Shot in Slow Motion
  • Goofy_Baseball.mp4 [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] A great animation to look at the follow through and overlapping actions
  • Foghorn_Leghorn_Plop_Goes_The_Weasel.mp4 [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Animation example for follow through and overlapping action
• What do you see? - Lecture

  Explain that the class will be looking at the animation principle follow through and overlapping action and practicing the technique.

  Describe what the principle is and how it is utilized in the animation industry (see above document).

  Then as a class identify and discuss the follow through and overlapping action elements that are noticeable in one of the animated shorts from above, be sure to slow it down so the principle is evident.

  Create a class list of recognizeable traits on the board or a large sheet of paper.

   
• Your turn to try! - Demo / Modeling

  Group the students into threes or fours depending on the size of the class and materials on hand.

  Then have each group find their own animated short that displays a good example of follow through and overlapping action.

  The students will now mimic some of the actions found in the animations utilizing video cameras of some sort. They may use their own or supplied camera phones, digital cameras, web cams, etc. to record as long as the image is fairly clear on playback.

  After they have recorded the actions have them slow down the video through the playback controller and try various speeds and then identify the areas of follow through and overlapping action that they recognize.

  Now that they are comfortable using the equipment, acting in front of the camera, and identifying the principle let them try it on their own.

  Allow the students ten minutes of time to do actions like running, catching/throwing objects, jumping, playing games, etc. They should be videorecording various actions during this time.

  Once time is up have the students review their actions in slow motion and identify three actions from their video that follow the principle.

  The instructor should check each group for final understanding of the subject matter by visiting them and having each show the instructor their results.  
• Everyone has it? - Check Understanding

  Roam about the room a to be sure all students are on task and understand the material.

  At the end of the activity the instructor should check each group for final understanding of the subject matter and make note if they particpated properly in the activity.

  Ask if there are any further questions from the days activities.

   
• Take it home! - Independent Practice

  The students will now replicate an animated follow through and overlapping action sequence on sketch paper or in a sketch book of their own following examples as used in the industry.

  Show some examples of character sketches and animations representing the follow through and overlapping principle, attached.

  The students will recreate a swinging rope, stopping machinery action, or character that represents the animation principle.

  The students may try to recreate their own action sequence utilizing their own developed characters or objects, especially if you have already done character creation prior to this unit.

  Another option is to have the students sketch stick figure actions from the video actions they recorded earlier and replicate the action..

   

  • Pendulum.mp4 [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ]
  • With principle.mpeg [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Shows a short clip representing the principle
  • Without principle.mpeg [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Shows a short clip not representing the principle
• Review time! - Closure

  The students will swap drawings with one another and provide constructive feedback on the quality of the drawing and evidence of the follow through and overlapping action principle.

  The students will create any final revisions based on their partners' remarks and turn in for assessment.

  Be sure that all of the students are clear on the principle and if there are any last questions.