To understand movement better for my animation, i looked into a couple of existing examples that represent the 'sneaking' motion. I chose to concentrate on the sneaking aspect as it is one of the crucial movements within my animation. So to get a better understanding of the psychical and mechanical changes, i found two videos that highlight different examples of sneaking. They're different in a sense because of the age difference and products used to make them.
Here is the video introduction of a very successful game called 'Oddworld, Abe's Oddysee', created in 1997 for Sony's Playstation (1). I chose this one from memory, as i remember the use of over exaggerating the movements to give the character more personality and add more emotion to the story/action. In this video, the character known as 'Abe' works in a food processing plant, until he discovers a new product 'New and tasty'. With his curiosity he creeps into a meeting held by managerial figures to find out this new recipe, and it turns out to be him! (his race). In this scene however, you learn a lot with what Abe is like as a character. Working as a slave with his fellow Mudokons (same race) in a big corporate factory, to earn a small living for the protection of his life. However, Abe is different, ambitious and daring, through this it is evident with the 'sneaking' clip that he will make sacrifices to know truth, even if it threatens his very existence. The animation itself of Abe creeping is very precise and accurate to the mood in which is set. Knowing the information of his current life, you also feel threatened for him in an emotional connection. So when he approaches the meeting of superior's, you can see the dread and fear within his exaggerated steps, which adds to the tension emotionally for us as the player.
I thought it was a good idea to use this video clip to understand the way emotion is represent through movement, so i could use it for myself within my own animation.
Here is the video introduction sequence:
(point of reference at 2:13 - 2:16)
Here is the second animated sequence i remembered from my childhood. I this scene represents the early stages of animation that became very good with expressing personality through motion. From the animated film 'Fantasia', 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' created in 1955 by Walt Disney. There is not a lot of heavy information of the film to date, and is still unclear who and how it was made (to an extent) The idea was taken from the Goethe story and made into an animated story. From watching this scene myself, i can firmly say that the animation itself represents emotions strongly through the unfolding action/movement. In this particular scene, Mickey Mouse or known as the 'Apprentice' is doing chores for the Sorcerer. It is evident the curiosity Mickey has by the way he watches his master perform magical spells and tricks, to the point he doesn't even watch what he is doing within his duties. Later on in the scene, the sorcerer finishes his work and heads off to sleep, leaving his magician's hat to the side. This leaves Mickey left not only in awe from his practices, but also curious of the power that is withheld within the hat. Left to his own devices mickey creeps to check that his master had vanished, and then went to examine the hat.
When Mickey checks on his master going off to sleep, you see and feel his emotions by his movements around the scene. He is cautious and aware of his masters presence, he knows what he wants to do, and knows if he gets caught it would be serious punishment. So he creeps and follows his master off to bed, so he is comforted knowing he can go forth with his intentions. The whole creeping scene adds suspense to us as the viewer, as you can feel that connection between the Sorcerer and Apprentice, that they both have clear representations of superiority and obedience. I think considering the age of this animation, Disney did well to represent the atmosphere and emotion within this animation. Also taking into the account that this was all strictly 2D animated and hand drawn. There are many references to the 12 principles of animation, especially through the secondary action and exaggeration of movements: Ideally with the 'sneaking' clip. I chose this to obtain inspiration for my own animation. I think it is good to look at older and newer examples of animation, that were both made differently, yet both show similar representations of motion through over exaggeration.
Here is the scene from 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice:
(sequence of interest: 1:18 - 1:24)
Small video demonstrating 3D animation of 'sneaking':
( point of interest - posture and weight)