In Class:
Tips to Block Efficiently
- Work fast and simple—don’t get caught up in minor details. Focus on the main storytelling poses and how they’re spaced over time.
- Reusing poses with copy-paste is totally fine, especially for repeated movements.
- Don’t ignore the hands and fingers—it’s not just about arm placement. Proper hand articulation adds realism and intention.
- While using references is helpful, try not to follow them too literally. The reference should inspire, not dictate, your final performance.
- Tools like Anamonolok can be useful to break down timing and test how well poses flow from one to another.
- If you’re using FK or IK, switch between them as needed for better control over different types of motion.
- Even when blocking in stepped mode, regularly check how things look in spline mode to preview how it will eventually flow—and adjust accordingly.
My Progress:
In Week 2, I started bringing my body mechanics idea into Maya. After planning the action last week, this week I selected a character rig for my scene and referenced it into Maya. I also brought in a sword model, since the animation is based on a sword attack.
To make sure the sword moved properly with the character, I used a locator and parented the sword to the character’s hand. This way, as the hand moves, the sword follows naturally, giving me better control over the animation.
Instead of jumping straight into spline, I began with blocking out the animation. This helped me focus on getting the key poses right—especially the anticipation, the attack, and the follow-through. I kept the timing in stepped mode so I could clearly see the changes between poses and make sure the movement felt strong and clear.
Blocking first really helped me visualize the rhythm of the action and check if the sword swing felt powerful enough.