Flour Sack Animation with Joshua Reynolds

 

Above is a fine example of "Flour Sack" animation by Animation Apprentice student Joshua Reynolds, using the free flour sack rig, available for download online.  The flour sack rig is one we like to use in the early stages of learning animation, so that students can get used to the idea of creating the illusion of weight, and also getting a performance from an inanimate object.

Pantomime Animation with Joshua Reynolds

 

One of the key skills every animator needs to learn is how to tell a story without words, to create "pantomime" animation. The art of pantomime is that, like mime, the audience should understand completely the story being told - without words.   In the example above, by Animation Apprentice student Joshua Reynolds, Joshua tackles the "Phone Booth" exercise, in which the animator must tell the story of a phone call silently, just using body language and expressions, communicating to the audience what the character is thinking and feeling.

Bird Animation by Joshua Reynolds

Above is an excellent example of bird animation by Animation Apprentice student Joshua Reynolds, using the "Red Whisker Bird" rig by Truong. Joshua has used live action reference to excellent effect, creating a charming and believable piece of avian animation.  Being able to tackle photo-realistic animal and creature animation is one of an animator's core skills, as studios ramp up production on films with photo-realistic animal animation such as The Jungle Book and The Lion King.