Mercedes Shepherd
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    • Home
    • About
    • Pre-Production
    • Gratta Town Collection
    • AVERIE
    • Projects!
    • Major Characters
Mercedes Shepherd
  • Home
  • About
  • Pre-Production
  • Gratta Town Collection
  • AVERIE
  • Projects!
  • Major Characters

My Pre-Production Process!

On this page, you'll learn my process for creating an animation! Let's show you an example of something I animated for class:

Video Reference

First, I start by acting out the poses and facial expressions myself. This helps me see how I move naturally and helps me identify key poses. (It's also fun to get into character!)

Thumbnails/Storyboard

Once I nail down the video reference, I study it and figure out my key poses and facial expressions. I then draw them out and write a small description for it. If the animation is meant to have dialogue, I also write down the lines of dialogue based on each pose/facial expression.

Animatic

After the thumbnails and storyboard, I take the poses and draw them again on the computer using Storyboard Pro and sync them to an audio clip.

3D Layout

Next, I open the 3D animation software Maya and import my character and audio to get a feel of the what the real animation will look like! I set up a 3D camera that's aimed and ready to shoot my character and scene.

Animated Blocking (Rough)

Once I have my scene set up, I pose my character based on the acting in my video reference. If the animation is meant to have sound or dialogue, I also do a basic lip sync (jaw opening/closing).

Final Animation

Once my blocking (rough) animation is complete, I return to the animation and begin to polish the animation as much as possible! In addition to fixing the poses and adding in more of the principles of animation, I also start animating the facial expressions and eyes. The character and 3D camera may also adjusted

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