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Video Game Design Composition
Mechanics
Mechanics
are the technical aspects of creating the objects and animation.
Solid drawing together with straight-ahead and pose-to-pose action are the
animation principles that apply to this stage.
Solid Drawing
Solid drawing
describes the technical skill with which an animation is
composed to represent the fullness of characters and objects occupying space.
Characters and objects should not be drawn so they appear flat or wooden.
Rather, they should have a fullness of presence in the animation. To achieve
this, the mechanics of the elements of art, principles of design, anatomy, and
three-dimensional space must be applied to the animation.
Most animations are not hand drawn anymore, so the artist needs
the technical skill to produce 2D and 3D digital images. In addition to
understanding the theory of solid drawing, a video game artist needs to
properly use technology such as photo-editing software, 3D modeling
software, and motion-capture devices. The amount of technical skill
required depends on the type of animation being created and the technology
being used.
Straight-Ahead and Pose-to-Pose Action
Straight-ahead action
refers to creating motion starting at the beginning of
a scene and continuing in sequence until the end of the scene.
Pose-to-pose
action
refers to planning the motion for a scene based on key points at which
certain motion must happen. A storyboard is usually used to identify the key
points. Both methods have advantages, but the pose-to-pose method allows for
more planning and control.
Figure 11-11.
Ralf Juergen Kraft/Shutterstock.com
A dog’s tongue can be a source of secondary action. As the dog moves, the tongue may
wag from side to side or be withdrawn into its mouth.