Phrasing (Part 1)-

Texture of movement is dictated by the underlying flow of force.

When approaching a new scene prior to thumbnailing, I look to establish a force flow first and gain some understanding to its texture by trying to ‘feel’ things out.

‘Feel’ by transferring this very abstract sense of force to an equivalent in sound, or by the use of hand or body movement to mimic, reading scene’s rhythm, spotting its ebbs and flows in pause places, speeding up, constant, slow down; and then divide them into short phrases (like a melody line or ways of spoken words).

Doing this step allows the animator to be very acquainted with the intended life force beneath, helping to visualizing scene in motion (not in still-frames); as well, helping to arrive at key gestures that would reflect more accurately both in form and force, beginning with thumbnailing stage.

(Above, a scene I made back in the late 80’s that in time…inspired and evovled into Blue, our main character from My Little World.)