Think Like a Pianist
Not like a Harpsichord
Animation Field Notes
Twice-weekly field notes on the craft of animation from the animation directors chair.
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Latest episodes
The Lost Art of Drawing Feet
Feet plant your drawing in the environment, or they don't.
The Art of Hands
Hands are almost as important and expressive as eyes
The Character of the Artist
True creative productivity requires endurance
The Power of Obstacles
What lies in the way produces tension and depth
Find Your Inner Mad Hatter
What we can learn from Ward Kimball
The Art of Economic Motion
Combat "over-gesticulation"
Emotional Memory
Make your performances personal
Emotional Contrast
Shifting emotions keep a performance engaging
To Play the Joke or Not Play the Joke?
That is the Question
Fully Commit to Your Performance
Vacillating creates a shaky foundation
Blinks are Not Bird Seed
Lazy eye choices expose weak performances
The Coil Beneath the Performance
Desire is the Engine Beneath Every Performance
Listening is the Most Active Thing a Character Can Do
Don't let them go dead when they're quiet
Drawing From a Full Bin of Flour
The Quiet Work That Makes Performances Unforgettable
Truth before Technique
Technique impresses, but truth is what stays
The Art of Subtlety
Subtle animation isn’t about incremental movement. It’s about choosing well.
Two Conversations Happening at the Same Time
Be Intentional with Subtext
Acting is Subtext
What is felt beneath the surface is where the juice is
Action with Relational Motivation
How to add dimension to your performance