Flash 8 2D Animation - the head

This is the first in the series of videos made by the head animators for the show Odd Job Jack. A TV show that uses Flash as the production tool for the 2D animation. In it you will find some amazingly detailed tips on how the professionals who have been in the industry for years do it. I strongly advise you to watch this video and pay very close attention because it is worth its weight in gold. You! up the back there! Jones, pay attention! Also, there is an amazing book in the resources section at the bottom of this page that details some of these professional animating techniques in a book.

This flash 8 2D animation video tutorial deals with how to animate the head. It shows you how to set up all the parts of the characters head into the layers. The dialogue is placed on the top layer with the parts of the head separated into layers and put into a layers folder. Ctrl+Shift+W allows you to see all the work space. Layout is explained in minute detail. Where the eyes should be, the spacing in the frame, the use of a guide 3D puppet used for layout. The number of layers visible needs to be as few as possible so that the work space is maximized. Layer folders hide all the pieces of the character, the body, forearms, neck, head, etc and leave the folder closed. All positions of the body and arms and head are put into the folder. You don't make key frames inside the folder. It is a visual nightmare to keep track of. The easy way of animating is to drag through the folder and make key frames.

If you want to make an adjustment of the head, then click on the part and just make a key frame on the folder. If you need to tween, just tween the whole thing. The level of detail in this flash 8 video tutorial is mind boggling. This tutorial is about lip-synching and face acting. The pupils need to start at front three quarter. Turn off snap to grid so you can have full control. Buzz is a little white gap between lines. The way to position the eyes is shown and what not to do. Default eyebrows are boring - symmetry is dry and not good for a cartoon. Kiltered brows means offsetting the eyebrows so they are not even. Be careful about intersecting lines. Facial expressions should be very clear and strong - happy, sad, shocked, cool. Emotions are always big. Real angry, real happy, etc. Hotkeys are imperative to your time.

Go onto the next flash 8 professional 2D animation tutorial - Animating the body .

Flash 8 Resources

Hollywood 2D Digital Animation: The New Flash Production Revolution - this book takes you through the flash 2d animation broadcast production techniques used by the professionals. This book is a must for any serious animator who wants to see how the big boys do it.

Stop Staring: Facial Modeling and Animation Done Right - Readers move from "Getting to Know the Face," to synching audio, working on the mouth, eyes, and brows, and rigging. A methodology for facial animation that gets results and makes the process fun. The book can be used as a step-by-step guide for learning new skills or finessing techniques, or as a reference book for troubleshooting specific expressions such as "happy eyes," "frustration," and "sneers".

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