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Characterization and Personality as Conveyed Through Cartoon Animation in a 3D Space
By: Andrew Strickland
Supervisor: Chris Jagers
Masters of Interactive Technology degree conferred March 23, 2007
Thesis / Project completed: March 21st, 2007
This project examines the way that traditional, cartoon animation techniques can be reproduced within a 3D Studio Max environment to create characters with specific personalities for a modern game engine. It is vital to study how successful animation is produced, so that a game world may be created where the player understands character emotion and motivation. This analysis began by first researching the components of traditional animated works like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and then creating original characters that mimic the archetypes found in classic animation. These designs were then modeled in 3D Studio Max, and closely resemble the forms developed by Disney animators, as well as the simplified characters of Aardman Studios.
Once the characters were created, the models were rigged onto a skeleton, and then weighted for animation. By studying the types of movements found in hand drawn animated films, as well as the explanations of these movements in books like The Illusion of Life, a series of test cycles was competed on each character. These tests suggested that the animation’s stylistic tendencies should be pushed further in a cartoon, exaggerated manner, rather than rely on straightforward natural movement.
Upon the completion different animation cycles for each character, the cycles were imported into a large scene, where the three characters could interact. In this storytelling environment, juxtaposition proved to be an effective technique for displaying the character’s unique personalities. Their movements appeared even more outlandish when placed next to each other, especially when viewing how weight and speed interact to create different feelings. Further ideas and challenges also arose from synthesizing the different movement cycles within a single space, such as how to most effective transition each cycle, and the optimal order in which they could be to create a plot.
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