>> Defining Animation.

I don’t refer books for animation definitions. Animation is something which cannot be defined but it should be understood. I usually ask my animation trainees to define animation in their own words. This helps me to open them up, and broadening their mind for more possibilities in animation. By this I get positive response too, they aren’t reading out definitions from any book, but they really emoting the idea of animation by exploring in their own world for the same. They come up with different exclamations like… “Animation is observation!” “Animation is acting!” “Animation is recreating reality and adding up more value!” “Animation is illusion!” “Animation is music(rhythm)!” Some intellectual students comes with unique definitions like, "Animation is Newness in Every step."; "Animation is connection of REAL(Audience) and the REEL(Movie)."

Don’t you think all these are true? :D

Animation is an art form. One can’t teach animation. We can show the way and fill up them with all information but at last they are the one who actually need to do, feel & experience it. I can compare it with swimming. One has to jump in to learn it out by using the body, heart and the mind. Coach is there to help & to provide all necessary information and techniques to do so. How this is different from animation training? It’s exactly the same. No one can actually teach animation, but one has to become the animator by practicing the art by themselves.

In simple words Animation is giving life to the characters or inanimate. Many times we see fresher’s demo reel which has the stock of unwanted, unrealistic & purposeless movements. So, for me “Animation means creating illusion of movements with the purpose.” I can also define this as “Animation is expressing the inner motion or performing an activity with the help of virtual puppets.” Surely every animator has their own definition and work flow for the animation. Same as we all have different ideology or philosophy for the life. Yes animation is illusion of life only.

Basically there are three different stages:

· Knowing Animation

· Doing Animation

· Thinking Animation

Anyone can “know about animation”. Nowadays even small kid can differentiate between the styles of animation. Knowing about the principles, tools, method of animation is not difficult at all. Doing animation by following the idea of directors which appeals the audience is crucial. Able to put the idea & make it work. There are lots of artists in the industry which will make CG puppets move according to the direction. I’ve seen people working in the industry with years of experience still they need someone to direct them because they can’t make acting choices for their shots, scenes. There are some who just have entered in the industry & moved ahead faster & became better. What makes these people different from the other? Thinking..! Thinking about the character, about the motivation for the action, thinking about the emotional involvement of the other elements in the scene with the main character... Thinking animation is the most of all. That’s why I said Animation is not making things move but moving with purpose. In current time companies need people who actually can think & deliver the performance by their own. Thinking, planning for animation is actually the toughest thing. Crating motions which actually make people laugh or compel them to cry. Doing motion is easy but artist spend all of their time in thinking and planning for the performance which can inspire the audience. Proper the planning, faster and better the work will be. There is lots of thought process involves in planning. One has to develop the skills of keen observation in order to create appealing performance. Planning for the shot is not today’s topic so I am not going deep in there. But increase the practicing hours if you want to reduce the gap between fresher and professional level animator.

More practice= more doubt or problems= more solutions (by the self R&D or with the guidance)= more experience of solving problems.

One can learn more, by practicing more and can grow faster. :D