Animation School Lesson 4 - 2 legged characters-full body

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Blogger won't let me upload images and hasn't for a couple days.
I have new posts ready except for the pictures.
Computer torture!

OK, now you know the procedure for copying and learning. Apply the same procedure to drawing these simple two-legged typical 40s cartoon characters.

Note that they both have "pear-shaped" bodies. This was pretty common in old cartoons. Bugs, Daffy, Tom and Jerry, Mickey, Donald all have slight variations on the pear shaped body. Once you understand how to make the basic shape, you can then apply it to variations in proportions for other characters.

Also Note! - DETAILS WRAP AROUND BODY SHAPE. They FLOW.
Clothes
Fur
Eyes
Fingers


Step a- MEASURE PROPORTIONS -how many heads tall is the character you are copying?

Step b - Mark proportions on your drawing paper. Match the proportions you are copying.

Step 1 - Draw line of action (we haven't covered this yet, but just do what Preston does in his step 1)

Step 2- Rough in the basic forms of the character.

Step 3 Draw center lines through the forms that wrap around the shape of the forms.

Step 4 - Draw basic forms of next level of details-eyes, arms, hands, feet, legs

Step 5- Draw smallest details- make them follow the forms that they sit on:
Pupils sit on eyes AND FOLLOW THE SHAPE AND POSITION OF THE EYES- they don't exist as little unvarying dots as in The Simpsons and many other cartoons today. Look in the mirror and watch the shape of your pupils change as you move your eyes.
hairs sit on head
Shirt wraps around body
etc.

Pear shaped bodies aren't the only kind of body, but they are the simplest and will help you understand the basic concepts of:
Construction
Proportion
Flowing details that wrap around construction

Once you start to get a handle on that, we can try other types of shapes and forms.