With the digital age, animators now using more software than pen and pencil, people have the idea that this life drawing element becomes not so important anymore. This is not the case. When we animate digitally, especially 3D software, we still have to have a great deal of knowledge of the human form that we can obtain from life drawing, when applying muscle etc, even if your character isn't so human realistic;
"You study anatomy structure and muscle tissue to understand how the machine works, but then filter it through a storytelling form by exaggerating the poses and projecting intent," - Mark MacDonnell
However what does happen with most people using software to animate nowadays, is that they begin to suffer from a lack of these life drawing skills, however important they are, creating this barrier with being able to draw and consider the form during movement so effectively, and even draw in proportion, considering both form and function.
"3-D art often suffers from a lack of those skills by the practitioners, they’ve become accustomed to manipulating a virtual reality puppet without the skills of a puppeteer, attention to natural movement. I’m finding that many of these digital artists attend my classes to see if they can get at some of the secrets behind the sense of movement and authenticity through studying the human structure." - Karl Gnass
With animators getting so adjusted to 3D surface rendering, there is that aspect that what is below the surface, the soul of the character could get lost, after-all it is character that comes from within. This soul that you can feel and sense within life drawing, life captured in one snapshot.
Life drawing, in comparison to flat digitalised image, gives you perspective, proportion and structure. Something vital to consider in moving image, not only how the subject will move but how it situates in a space, considering shot compositions.
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