Maya Lesson - Animation Principles

    Using Maya, this lesson focused on placing the animation principles in a 3D format. This lesson was focusing on timing in Key frames, easing in and out, squash and stretch, and secondary animation.

 Slowing In and Out

 The pendulum works by using easing in and out, this decrease in movement happens when the energy that keeps the swing going lessens. This animation was 200 frames, starting with placing the basic movements, and placing overhangs to give the pendulum it's speed. The frames start at intervals of 12, decreasing down to 4's. We then used the Graph Editor to smooth out eh curves and make a more realistic swing.

  Secondary Animation and Overlap

 The chain works by placing secondary animation in links 2, 3 and 4. This was made a lot quick by copying the previous key frame co-ordinates onto each of the link individual attributes. Then going back to the graph editor, we separated the curves (so they wasn't overlapping) to give that secondary animation. 

   Squash and Stretch

  To make the Toadstools bounce, we used the rig created created for this exercise. Previously all our animations have been on 200 key frames, this one was placed on 20. Using this rig means we won't make any mistake with he other coordinates. Using the Translate Y, we placed the basic key frames for the bounce. Then using the Ctrl curves above and below the toadstool, we placed new coordinates to give the squash and stretch motion. Once the curves was smoothed out in the graph editor, we added a infinity cycle so the toadstool will continue to bounce for 200 frames.

  The Bouncing Ball

   

 After all this, we placed  all the above principles together and created the bouncing ball animation. This one was a little more involved, starting on 25 frames and using mainly the Translate X and Rotate XYZ, afterwards going to the graph editor we have to made one side linear to give a faster drop. This animation involved placing hang overs so to create a much more dynamic drop, a stretch on the bounce up and a squash on the landing. Easing in and out, timing and squash was the main principles used.