Breakdowns – animating a cute bouncing monster part 3 – 2D animation class [014]

Good breakdowns can bring your animation to a whole new level. We take a close look at how they define the path of a motion and also dive into some advanced tips and tricks that make your animation smooth, fun and believable.

In this animation tutorial we continue following a professional character animation workflow step-by-step. It’s part of our 2D animation class for beginners. Learn all about how to animate in OpenToonz!

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0:00 Intro
0:43 Breakdown basics: Defining the motion path
1:44 No easing around
3:01 Classic arc and middle position
4:08 Flipping through your drawings
5:11 Offsetting location and rotation
6:43 Contrasting curve
7:33 Tail drag and follow-through
8:47 Premium classes
9:52 Fast breakdown jumping up
10:33 Stretch, smears and multiples
12:14 Eye blinks in breakdowns
12:48 Drag of the arms
13:49 The way down
14:46 Head tilt and lean
15:09 Reversing the drag direction
15:47 Trying a different arc for the bend
17:37 Fix contact points
18:24 Final result
18:46 Support through Patreon

A breakdown is a pose at the turning point of a motion path – often during the fastest moment of a motion.

It’s often seen as the middle of a motion, but it doesn’t have to be in the exact middle of both the timing and the spacing.

While key poses and extremes are often (but not always) surrounded by similar looking ease frames, a breakdown is most of the time just a passing position with a large spacing before and after it.

In breakdown poses during a fast motion, most characters instinctually close their eyes to protect them.