Animation is an art, but it’s also a craft. And it is precisely by understanding the craft that you get to understand the art, how it works and what it means. The goal of this series is just that : laying out some fundamental techniques and concepts of the craft that make the analysis go deeper and get more interesting.
Nov 26, 2020 • Subscribe
More like this
Animation fundamentals – Layout and storyboard, what’s the difference ?
Animation Fundamentals teaches you about the essential principles behind animation. In this piece we delve on the difference between Storyboard and Layout.
Animation fundamentals – A short history of Layout
This episode of Animation Fundamentals dives deeper on the history and role of the layout process during the production of anime.
Sasaki and Miyano Ep 11 – A Matter of Timing
Hello Irina, how has your past week gone? I don’t have too many exciting things to say. My community band did a concert on Monday, which was fun,…
Does timing matter when watching anime?
I’ve been thinking about this concept a lot lately in terms of general media consumption. For the sake of this blog, I’ll stick with anime for now.
7th Loop Villainess #01 — Timing Out
Why is every master of their trade a 23 year old pretty boy? Impressions: I will have to admit that as far as these kinds of things go,…
Why It Works: Fabulous Hair, and Other Character Design Fundamentals
For this week’s Why It Works, I leapfrogged off Ninny’s absolutely fantastic hair from Burn the Witch, in order to discuss the nature and importance of character designs…
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting – Bad Timing
I read the first volume of the manga and was looking forward to The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting anime. Did it let me down?
Delicious in Dungeon - Fundamentals of Character Design
Delicious in Dungeon (otherwise known as Dungeon Meshi) is my favourite manga. Of all time. There's a reason the series was the first piece of media you saw…
Sasaki and Miyano Ep 11 – A Matter of Timing — Mechanical Anime Reviews
Here is my screencap gallery for episode 11 of Sasaki and Miyano!
Timing: The Legacy of Korean Comics Artist Kang Full
Whether by skill, luck, or hard work, you can’t tell the story of online comics in Korea without Kang Full.
Books: Chinese Animation and Socialism
By Jonathan Clements. Daisy Yan Du’s newly published collection Chinese Animation and Socialism: From Animators’ Perspectives focuses on the rise and fall of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio…
Pantopia - Figure and Animation Project
We've just been sent some details about Plantopia a collaboration between Japan's anime figurine makers - Good Smile Company, Max Factory - ...
Beastars and Stylish Racism In Animation
That’s a hell of a title, huh? Beastars is a fantastic anime, and I’m sure I’m months late to talking about how amazing it is compared to everybody…
Do Artwork and Animation Really Matter?
Regardless of the amount of time you’ve spent watching anime, you’ve no doubt noticed that people will often put a very big emphasis on the art style of…
The Animation of Rick and Morty
Canipa discusses the animation of Rick and Morty and how it differs from the creation of Japanese anime, from the advantages to the disadvantages. Support the channel on Patreon…
Attack on Titan, Bakemonogatari, One Piece, One Piece Film: Strong World, Punch Line
Why It Works: What Are the Fundamentals of Great Horror Anime?
This week in Why It Works, I capitalized on Halloween’s approach to write a general article about how tricky it is to make animation scary, and what tools…
Otafu Susume 21 – Aesthetics and Animation (Eizouken)
Fellow podcaster recommended Eizouken, so our otaku couple decide to discuss the aesthetics and animation of Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
Yoshinori Kanada and the nature of animation
assumption of this series, and the reason why it has tried to trace how Kanada’s influence spread and changed over the years. However, I have said little in…
Depth in Anime – Photography, Compositing and Animation
So I watched the first episode of A-1 Picture’s ‘Granblue Fantasy the Animation’ last night. Not sure I’m a fan. Like so many other anime these days, Granblue…
On Animation
These are mostly some personal views and experiences, you are welcome to read but don’t hold high expectations. In the last 2 years or so I didn’t watch…
Nijiyon Animation
THE LOVE LIVE FRANCHISE JUST CANNOT DIE!!! Yeah. We all know a certain Superstar is going to get an unprecedented third season. But what about those who are…
Idol Project, Love Live! School Idol Project, NIJIYON ANIMATION
Why It Works: Let’s Explore the Fundamentals of a Great School Festival Arc!
This week’s Why It Works column is pretty self-explanatory, as I use the convenient approach of My Hero Academia’s school festival arc to talk about why these festivals…
#MechaMarch Mecha Anime and Mechanical Animation from 2020
Yeah, I changed the title of from last year. Not because there wasn’t any mecha anime in 2020, but because there was some great mechanical animation in 2020…
The Kyoto Animation Fire and Mental Health Pleas
In 2019, Shinji Aoba broke into Kyoto Animation studio (also known as KyoAni), sprayed gasoline, and ignited it. He escaped to the nearby train station before collapsing from…
The Crossing, and why technique matters in animation
As people who follow me on Twitter might know, I had the opportunity to attend the 2021 Annecy festival – the most important festival dedicated to animation in…
Shenmue: The Animation – Growing Up and Slowly Understanding
This is another show that I watched on Adult Swim every Saturday for a while airing and wrote some short episodic posts about. Admittedly, I don’t know much…
+13: Paper Monkeys | 'Rocky and Bullwinkle' | Italian Animation
Three more exciting stories we haven't told.
Lookism anime: Stellar animation and a good adaptation.
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
Lookism anime: Stellar animation and a good adaptation.
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
Breaking Down Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' Breathtaking Animation | Animation Spotlight
Canipa breaks down the creation of Studio Trigger and CD Projekt Red's unexpected masterpiece. (Spoilers for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners) Support the channel at: https://www.patreon.com/TheCanipaEffect Sources and Further Reading: Interview with Rafal Jaki…
BNA, FLCL Progressive, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These, Space Patrol Luluco, Star Wars: Visions
A look at the ‘sakuga’ and animation of 2014
It’s that jolly old time of the year again where I poke people and they give me words about animation. Here’s a post dedicated to looking at some…
Rebuilding Kyoto Animation: Uncompromising Principles, Now And Going Forward
To bring closure to this special week of KyoAni posts, we’ve recapped how they’ve reacted since the arson attack one year ago: their firm decision to double down…
The Toei Animation Discrimination Case and Why It’s Important
Toei Animation was recently involved in a case of discrimination against a union representative.
The Tale of the Heike in Text and Animation
Rebecca Silverman looks at the original classic story that inspired Science Saru and Naoko Yamada's beautiful, historical anime series.
Kizumonogatari Staff Roundtable: Chief Animation Directors And Unit Directors
Kizumonogatari hit its 5th anniversary last month, and to commemorate that, we’ll be publishing a weekly series of interviews. First, a lengthy conversation with its lead animators and…
A look at the ‘sakuga’ and animation of 2015
Hello and welcome to the wonderful yearly tradition where we talk about how great the “sakuga” was in 2015. This post will focus on the 2D animation output…
Animation and subjectivity : towards a theory of framerate modulation
In my previous essay dedicated to Thomas Lamarre’s concept of animetism I argued that when studying animation, we shouldn’t just take into consideration space (how objects are distributed…
Animation Awards 2019 Final Day: Best Show And Movie
We’ve reached the grand finale of our animation awards! These are the shows and movies that, for some reason or the other, have impressed our panel of fans…
Shenmue the Animation Episode 13: Goodbyes and Traveling (Finale)
After all the running around the Yellow Head base by everyone last week, it all did come to a final fight on the roof top as I thought…
A look at the ‘sakuga’ and animation of 2013
As we come to the end of 2013, it’s time to look back on the year. Here’s a post dedicated to looking at some of the exceptional 2D…
'Saved by Animation'
Diving into Rogova's wild career and wonderful work.
Nijiyon Animation S2
Everything must have a sequel! At least in the Love Live animated universe. I think. Because yeah, this means even that short chibi series too got a sequel…
NIJIYON ANIMATION – Review
A fun appetizer for “Nijigasaki” fans.
Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, NIJIYON ANIMATION
AI Animation Again...
Ah sweet, ai-made horrors beyond my comprehension! Edited by @TeeHallumsYT SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/totallynotmark FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/totallynotmark FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@totallynotmark
Shenmue The Animation
Well, it’s about time. I think. I didn’t think Shenmue the video game would get an anime adaptation because you know, it’s one of those old retro classic…
Ray: The Animation
From creator Akihito Yoshitomi comes something of a Black Jack spin-off, with another supremely talented surgeon – Ray, whose x-ray eyes help her save the day wherever possible.…
Simpson's Animation Trickery
That last clip is pretty wild, would be very interesting to see them try that for an entire season. Edited by @TeeHallumsYT SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/totallynotmark FOLLOW…