Useful Links for Model Sheet References.
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squibble in
Resources on
10 1st, 2009 |
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JK recently made a post over on his blog on how to use a model sheet. I have been working on model sheets for some of my own characters so I thought I would share some of the great examples I have found from around the web:
Unofficial Disney Animation Archive: Model Sheets of classic characters from feature films and television. This site also has a lot of other great resources that you might like to investigate such as colour keys and concept art.
celfcentered.com: Walt Disney Photostat model sheets (these are for sale, but you can preview the model sheets)
Larry’s Toon Institute : by Larry Lauria @ awn.com. Great basic info on how to make model sheets as well as beginner’s info on starting animation.
Nice model references. One often misunderstood aspect of creating and maintaining model sheets is that they aren’t static nor are they single drawing pages. By that I mean that model sheets should be frequently and regularly updated with additional expressions and poses over time as the character evolves. And equally important is that model sheets are composite pages. Classically, example drawings were cut out and pasted on to the actual model sheet to form a collection of character drawings. In the computer world this cut and paste process is much easier to accomplish. -JK
Thank you! Those are very helpful hints! How much freedom do studio animators have to enhance/alter expressions once they have been set down on a model sheet? I have often wondered this after seeing model sheets with only a few basic facial expressions. Do additional expressions and poses have to be approved by the lead animator/studio?
A studio production model sheet is part of the production bible so to speak. So yes there are usually several people on the team who are responsible for its content. As to poses and expressions, the final authority should be the director or supervisor but that is a production and studio specific decision.
For the comic strip creator, a model sheet is less of a communication asset and more of a way to help them keep track of the evolution of a character and to maintain consistency in drawing that character. Particularly until they have drawn the character over and over for a long time. The more characters that a cartoonist has in the comic the more important it is to have models for quick reference. -JK