How do you incorporate body language and gesture into your animation workflow and pipeline?

1 Research and reference

The first step to incorporate body language and gesture into your animation workflow and pipeline is to do some research and reference. You need to understand the meaning and context of the body language and gesture you want to use, and how they vary across cultures, genders, and situations. You also need to find some reference materials, such as photos, videos, or live models, that show the body language and gesture you want to animate. You can use these references as a guide, but not as a copy, as you need to adapt them to your character's design, style, and story.

2 Plan and sketch

The second step to incorporate body language and gesture into your animation workflow and pipeline is to plan and sketch. You need to decide what body language and gesture you want to use for each shot, and how they relate to the dialogue, mood, and action. You also need to sketch some key poses and breakdowns that show the main body language and gesture of your character, and how they transition from one pose to another. You can use thumbnails, storyboards, or rough drawings to plan and sketch your animation.

3 Block and refine

The third step to incorporate body language and gesture into your animation workflow and pipeline is to block and refine. You need to translate your sketches into 3D animation, using simple shapes, curves, and timing to block out the main body language and gesture of your character. You also need to refine your animation, adding details, nuances, and variations to your body language and gesture, and making sure they match the character's expression, voice, and personality. You can use layers, controllers, or modifiers to block and refine your animation.

4 Polish and review

The fourth step to incorporate body language and gesture into your animation workflow and pipeline is to polish and review. You need to smooth out any glitches, pops, or jitter in your animation, and make sure your body language and gesture are clear, consistent, and convincing. You also need to review your animation, checking for errors, feedback, or improvements, and making any necessary adjustments or corrections. You can use splines, curves, or graphs to polish and review your animation.

5 Test and export

The fifth step to incorporate body language and gesture into your animation workflow and pipeline is to test and export. You need to test your animation in different contexts, such as lighting, camera, or environment, and see how your body language and gesture look and feel in the final product. You also need to export your animation, using the appropriate format, resolution, or compression, and making sure your body language and gesture are compatible with the target platform, device, or software. You can use renderers, exporters, or converters to test and export your animation.

6 Learn and improve

The sixth step to incorporate body language and gesture into your animation workflow and pipeline is to learn and improve. You need to evaluate your animation, analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of your body language and gesture, and how they affect the audience's perception, reaction, and engagement. You also need to improve your animation, applying the lessons, tips, or feedback you learned from your experience, and exploring new ways, tools, or resources to enhance your body language and gesture. You can use critiques, reviews, or analytics to learn and improve your animation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?