Animator's Sketchclub Challenge: June 2016

4th July Parade!

Introduction

This month’s challenge required us to create the four extreme poses within a walk cycle which would feature within an Independence parade celebrating the 4^th of July.

"Next month witnesses America's legendary '4th July' celebrations - especially parades! So I thought that the ANIMATOR'S SKETCHCLUBshould celebrate its own animation '4th JULY PARADE'! We are most probably all independent artists after all - so why not celebrate our own version of 'Independence Day' - i.e. the way that all animator's should, whatever part of the world we come from!"

This is both an exciting and challenging exercise as all of the submissions will be together in one video parading together. As it has been a while since I last created a walk cycle I had to revise with help from Richard William’s book.

Initial

First thoughts that came to mind were of stars and stripes as Independence Day is a patriotic celebration; Being British I have never celebrated this day and was excited to try something new. This is why I did initial Uncle Sam sketches to gain a feel and look of the character.  

I went on to think who would be in a marching band and what they would wear. I was inspired by Drum Majors who lead marching bands with the large hats and sticks which they throw and catch. I saw this would be an appropriate character to march in the parade with exaggerated movements. I researched the look and actions of a Major before sketching including searching images and videos. This video is particularly amazing: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNe0ZUD19EE

I went on the produce some sketches of the Drum Majors extreme positions. I had to consider a number of factors including: shape, position and character within each position. I considered the major’s character as he would lead the band; my first thought was a whistle. This immediately inspired the shape of the positions and they would be diverse from exaggeration. Exaggerating how the Major would breathe in on the passing positions to then breathe out on the contacts produced diverse shapes. The contact is stretched thin as he violently blows all of the air out of his whistle to then breathe it all back in on the passing position much like a balloon.

I will consider swapping these positions and actions continuing to develop the character.