Action Analysis
This will be the place where I post reference videos, but there will not be a lot writing, as most of my explaining, writing and other notes will be in my sketchbooks.
This will be the place where I post reference videos, but there will not be a lot writing, as most of my explaining, writing and other notes will be in my sketchbooks.
Now, moving!
Bird flight is notoriously hard to animate convincingly, and there are many reasons for this. The action is very fast, but even in slow motion it is often hard to understand what's happening underneath because the bones are concealed by feathers, plus the movement is completely alien to us, it's not something we can act out or get a feel for. When investigated thoroughly, many things about flight seem odd, even counterintuitive. Over the years I've animated quite a few birds and have slowly gained a rudimentary knowledge of the dynamics and biomechanics of flight, as well as how to apply some of the traditional animation tricks to it.
''Swimming is the closest thing we experience to flying, and it is tempting to animate bird flight like an airborne swim-cycle. Because of the vast difference in density between air and water, this can often lead us astray in a number of ways.''
''Swimming is the closest thing we experience to flying, and it is tempting to animate bird flight like an airborne swim-cycle. Because of the vast difference in density between air and water, this can often lead us astray in a number of ways.''
I enjoyed watching this for reference, although it has nothing to to with Birds flying, watching humans attempt at similar activities, can sometimes be just as helpful. ;)
You just have to look at the arm and leg moments and it can tell you a great deal.
You just have to look at the arm and leg moments and it can tell you a great deal.
But lets get back to more birds and what better animal to look at than my favorite one of all, the owl.
Their wing structure always amazes me, how big and impressive they are, for such a small little bird. The texture of it amazes me every time and I think this is one of my favourite pictures.
As you can see the Owls wings move downwards, they are pushed forward and then rotate back as they return to the up position. The reason for this is simple once you understand lift, and if you'd like an explanation click below. As a general rule the slower the bird is flying, the further forward it'll push it's wings to generate extra lift, the faster a bird is flying the less it'll push it wings forward.
Lets include the most famous owl of all times, Hedwig!
As you can see the Owls wings move downwards, they are pushed forward and then rotate back as they return to the up position. The reason for this is simple once you understand lift, and if you'd like an explanation click below. As a general rule the slower the bird is flying, the further forward it'll push it's wings to generate extra lift, the faster a bird is flying the less it'll push it wings forward.
Lets include the most famous owl of all times, Hedwig!
At one point the wings look like they have been animated to rotate down faster than they move up, at one point I count them moving down twice as fast as they move up, but maybe that's just me.
Hedwig pushes the the air down as hard and fast as he moves up, like he's swimming! :)
Birds wings have a greater surface area and therefore resistance to the air on the way down, where as on the way up the bones in the wing rotate in various ways to reduce the surface area and increase the speed at which they can move them.
Degree of flex. and bone structure. There is more on bone structure in detail in my sketchbook.
Hedwig pushes the the air down as hard and fast as he moves up, like he's swimming! :)
Birds wings have a greater surface area and therefore resistance to the air on the way down, where as on the way up the bones in the wing rotate in various ways to reduce the surface area and increase the speed at which they can move them.
Degree of flex. and bone structure. There is more on bone structure in detail in my sketchbook.
Barn owls bend their wings more than the eagle or other larger birds.
This video is just wonderful and such a good reference, it's beautiful and gives you such a good insight.
If you just look at the moment of the owls wings, you can almost see every little bone in those hugely feathered wings.
If you compare the owl to any larger bird however, such as the crane for example..
This video is just wonderful and such a good reference, it's beautiful and gives you such a good insight.
If you just look at the moment of the owls wings, you can almost see every little bone in those hugely feathered wings.
If you compare the owl to any larger bird however, such as the crane for example..
Wonderful moments in this video.
If you just look at those long legs, you can see that the bird has moved down into a sitting position, even if it does not look like it, how he cranes his neck to get the water of his back, wonderful movements.
One more video now, before I swiftly move onto humans.
You can not forget about the best animal when it comes to action analysis, the lion.
If you just look at those long legs, you can see that the bird has moved down into a sitting position, even if it does not look like it, how he cranes his neck to get the water of his back, wonderful movements.
One more video now, before I swiftly move onto humans.
You can not forget about the best animal when it comes to action analysis, the lion.
Look at those big cats and their impressive hind legs run, those are truly wonderful creatures.
Picture above is the anatomy of a lion, to get a better picture of its bone structure, feet and legs.
Right, moving swiftly onto humans now!
I had a lot of fun watching videos of Judo throws and other sports, such as tennis and skiing, both my favourite activities! :)
Picture above is the anatomy of a lion, to get a better picture of its bone structure, feet and legs.
Right, moving swiftly onto humans now!
I had a lot of fun watching videos of Judo throws and other sports, such as tennis and skiing, both my favourite activities! :)
It always amazes me how quickly the legs and hips move together, all together in one swift movement, almost like our friend the lion above..
So for anyone who knows a thing or two about skiing, they know the knee and hip work is everything. It takes a certain skill to be able to work those two together, without losing balance, but once you've figured it out, it could not be more fun.
It's such a graceful sport with such a delicate movements.
It's such a graceful sport with such a delicate movements.