“When thinking about the 12 principles of animation, what is the significance of Pose to Pose and Straight Ahead animation within contemporary computer animation practices?”
In the 12 Principles of Animation, Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose refer to the methods in which animations can be produced. While Straight Ahead animation has frames produced consecutively, Pose to Pose animation has actions planned out and broken down into Keys, Extremes, Breakdowns and Inbetweens. Both methods have their own advantages, yet a combination of the two provides the best animation results.
As Straight Ahead animation is very intuitive and spontaneous, it has a greater chance to evoke a fluid movement. Meanwhile, the methodical structure of Pose to Pose makes it easier to control and plan the animation with the chance for revision before the final animation is completed. When combined, the two are able to balance out each other and produce a fluid but predictable animation.The capabilities of contemporary computer animation allow for elements of Straight Ahead animation to be incorporated over the top of Pose to Pose animation.
In terms of 2D animation, core aspects such as legs and body movements can be planned and animated in separate passes from arms, ears or capes, which may be added afterwards using Straight Ahead animation to produce a fluid movement in the end. In 3D animation, while the computer interpolates the frames between the key poses, the animator can then take control of any aspects of the animation that require attention to mimic the natural movement Straight Ahead animation.
References:
AlanBeckerTutorials. (2015, February 6). 4. Straight Ahead & Pose to Pose – 12 Principles of Animation [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8quCbt4C-c
Johnston, O., & Thomas, F. (1981). Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life. New York, NY: Abbeville Press.
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