Ernie Models To Print

 These have some general tips that can apply to all characters...see the labels for general construction of faces and how to use space and organic forms.

Some of these drawings may look anarchic but they still have to obey some general drawing principles in order to be effective.

One of the hardest concepts my artists have to learn is to make funny asymmetrical drawings - that still look like they are wrapped in flesh and stuffed with cartilage and teeth.

Many cartoonists have been conditioned to believe that construction consists of perfectly even, symmetrical circles and ovals - all arranged on a mathematical grid. So when they translate gutsy storyboard or animation drawings to layout or cleanups, they tend to even everything out and make the characters look like flat robots - or traced model sheets.

Hopefully these tips might help avoid that.

A REALLY IMPORTANT CONCEPT TO REMEMBER: 

CHEEKS, SMILE AND EYES 

ARE ALL CONNECTED FORMS!

Your mouth smiles because the cheek squeezes and pulls it up. When it moves up it also can effect the bottom of the eye shapes. Almost everyone seems to have trouble grasping this. There should be a whole course in this in animation schools I think.

 

http://johnkcurriculum.blogspot.com/

CONTRASTS for good design

Learning control of contrasts will make your drawings more alive, interesting and appealing.

There are many kinds of contrasts, not just contrasts of size.
more detailed info to come...

Inking: Eyes and Eyebrows Construction

Figure out the form and position in space of the cranium first - you want the eyes to conform to the position of the skull.

-also make the pupils look like they are sitting on the form of the eyes, not going in a different direction

****DON'T POKE THE EYEBROWS AND WRINKLES TOO FAR OUTSIDE THE HEAD OUTLINE**** - you don't want to make the head silhouette too complicated

Soon

I have some new theories about animating eyes but someone else is going to tell you about them soon.

SALE ON TOON BOOM ANIMATION PROGRAMS

I'd recommend the second product on that page "Toon Boom Animate" for $699 if you are just starting. It has great ink and paint tools and it's pretty easy to animate in.

Scribner Eye Theories

Should You Be Looking At This On A Sunday?

Here's the real reason you watch Peter Pan, right?
People ask me sometime, "why do I need construction? Won't that hamper my individuality and style?" I say if you want to do animation that is from difficult and interesting angles, that's why.
The fact that Tinker Bell looks so solid makes her all the more sexy. Of course she is a pretty stock design except for a couple subtleties in her angular eyes and body, but she is very beautifully animated and posed.
and it allows (Marc Davis?) to draw her from any position and do very tricky animation with her.
By the way, look at how well her eyes are handled. Just where the thick and thin lines are, how they wrap around her head from every angle.
Hre's that cutting trick I talked about in the Corny Concerto post. Just before the cut, Tinker looks in the direction of what she wants you to look at.
And what all the kiddies want to look at.

Finally, a girl's butt in a Disney cartoon! I wonder how this got past Walt, who had a fetish for boy's butts? I like the butt dust too.



You gotta be able to draw a head on a down shot to be able to make a head move convincingly in space.



OK, here's what everyone's been waiting for all through the boring opening of the movie.
I'd swear that someone at Disney's knew what people were paying their money for, but only would give it to them in small does. The whole opening of the movie takes forever and is about a bunch of stock bland characters walking around talking to each other and setting up a long depressing situation for kids.
They should have added a lot more Tinker Bell to the movie, since she is obviously the star. They have finally figured that out 60 years later, but it's too late. Now there are way too many rules against giving the audience what it wants.

I know some folks who work on the new Tinker Bell movies and from what I hear she doesn't look like this anymore and they have spayed her. Here's the Jolly Green Giant's wife in her weed burka.
"Pixar and Disney have given Tinker Bell a makeover. She's now wearing a jacket, leggings and knee-high boots. She still has the little white pompoms on her boots that she had on her little shoes. The new Tink first appears in Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, an upcoming film that's going straight to DVD and blu-ray. You can find out more about the film on Amazon.com and Disney.com. The release date for Lost Treasure is October 27th.

USA Today reports that Tinker Bell's last DVD adventure sold nearly 3.5 million copies - a very impressive figure. It's about time, then, that Tinker Bell dropped that skimpy leaf-hemmed frock and stepped into something more comfortable - and practical. After all, these days she's more than simply a flying Disney mascot who waves a wand and leaves a trail of golden dust. "Did we cover every race? Are we missing a pixie Aborigine?


But here's the original fun.
http://www.cartoonthrills.org/blog/Dis/53PeterPan/TinkerButt.mov