The following are notes taken at CG Con in L.A.
Much of this information was inspired by "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch
Eye Animation:
Eye animation is 90% (!?!?) of acting.
4 Types of eye movement:
1. Convergence (focus can indicate subtle cross eyed effect)
2. Saccades (eye darting = 2-3 frames)
3. Fixations (moments of focus)
4. Smooth pursuit / tracking of object
All of these things should indicate character intent.
NO movement indicates shock / intensity / character is lost in thought
Holding out thumb at arm's length will represent size of "focal window".
Pupil dilation occurs because of change in local lighting.
Enlarged pupils indicate arousal / influence of drugs / attraction
Blinks:
Eyes close faster than they open.
Blinks create emotion.
Blinks show change in thought process.
Always cut on a blink in terms of editing.
"We blink to cut the film that is out daily life" / Blink = natural edit
Rapid blinking may indicate switching emotions / discomfort or relief
We blink ever 2 seconds or so.
One eye's blink should be offset slightly from the other.
One eye usually blinks before the other. Offset is 1-2 frames.
NO blinks = intense / angry / scared
Babies don't blink very much
Elderly blinks much slower
I hope this is useful to you animators out there!!
This video was recommended to me and I have to say it is VERY useful for this stuff:
Anim School Advice On Eye Animation
Much of this information was inspired by "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch
Eye Animation:
Eye animation is 90% (!?!?) of acting.
4 Types of eye movement:
1. Convergence (focus can indicate subtle cross eyed effect)
2. Saccades (eye darting = 2-3 frames)
3. Fixations (moments of focus)
4. Smooth pursuit / tracking of object
All of these things should indicate character intent.
NO movement indicates shock / intensity / character is lost in thought
Holding out thumb at arm's length will represent size of "focal window".
Pupil dilation occurs because of change in local lighting.
Enlarged pupils indicate arousal / influence of drugs / attraction
Blinks:
Eyes close faster than they open.
Blinks create emotion.
Blinks show change in thought process.
Always cut on a blink in terms of editing.
"We blink to cut the film that is out daily life" / Blink = natural edit
Rapid blinking may indicate switching emotions / discomfort or relief
We blink ever 2 seconds or so.
One eye's blink should be offset slightly from the other.
One eye usually blinks before the other. Offset is 1-2 frames.
NO blinks = intense / angry / scared
Babies don't blink very much
Elderly blinks much slower
I hope this is useful to you animators out there!!
This video was recommended to me and I have to say it is VERY useful for this stuff:
Anim School Advice On Eye Animation
