Animating character expressions (part 1)

It’s been a few years since I started working in animation. My journey began with 3D fashion animation and conceptual 3D art, which naturally led me into the world of animation. Over the years, my skills have significantly improved. I’ve come a long way since I first started learning, and now I find myself creating characters, writing scripts, and much more. Transitioning into a different industry was tough at first, but I’m committed to getting better each day. Along the way, I’ve gained countless lessons as I’ve embraced new skills.

One of the most important things I’ve learned in animation is the value of patience. The animation process is long and requires time and care. At first, I struggled because I wanted fast results. I tend to be a perfectionist, which made it difficult to accept how much time and effort it takes to build layers and bring a project to life. Now, I understand the importance of taking things step by step.

When I begin working with a new character, the first thing I do is create reference images to help me get to know who the character is. This step is essential for me in building the character’s personality. Once I have the reference images, especially of their emotional expressions, I begin animating in Maya to capture the right emotions. This process can take hours, but I’ve grown to love it because I can see my progress as an animator.

Currently, I’m working on animating the emotion of anger. One thing I’ve noticed is that I’ve applied an adult’s emotion to a child character, and I think I’ll approach that differently next time. However, I’m still happy with the outcome. Through this process, I’m learning more about myself as an animator and continuously evolving in how I approach my work.