It's been a LONG time since I've posted, but I come asking for help.
I need to ask a favor of anyone that might still read this blog. I am looking for examples of great eye acting. (In either live action or animation.) Any ideas? Please don't just say something like "Anything in *insert pixar movie here*" I'm looking for very specific scenes that I can pull for reference. :) I will compile anything I find in with notes on what I already know about eye animation, and post it here. Hopefully with your help we can all learn a little more about animating eyes.
Thanks!!! (hopefully someone still reads this blog.)
Thanks!!! (hopefully someone still reads this blog.)
posted by Leif at 12:51 AM
6 Comments:
Hello there!
Here we have a really interesting topic. Acting on the eyes is something that at least for me it's really difficult to get it right.
On the other hand, I will say that when it's right, it just feels right and I haven't been able to find any kind of formula for them...
To be honest, I will not be posting any names for now since I'm not sure about what to post but I will explain a little bit my way of working...
For some reason, even though that I haven't been able to come up with general kind of guidelines for eyes, the people in general has a really "shared perception" on how the eyes affect to the thought process. So once I start to work on my animation (Or even in my videoreference), I show it to some friends and I ask them, what is the character feeling at that specific moment. It's a great idea to turn off the audio so they cannot relate to the dialogue itself. It's also a great idea to use a close up of the eyes so nothing else become distracting...
By doing that, it's not easier to find what is sincere but at least you know that when it's right, it's gonna show right away...
I don't know if it makes any sense or if it's been useful somehow. In any case, keep posting good stuff!
All the best!
Good topic,
Theres so many great actors who are good with their eyes, its hard to pick any scenes in particular.
Susan Sarandon's eyes are very prounounced as far as facial features go and she knows how to use them to her advantage. I dont recall noticing her eye acting so much in other roles, but for some reason when i saw Enchanted the other day her eye acting stood out. There were even a few moments while she was in her awesome witch makup where she widened her lids or darted left/right real quick and it got a huge laugh from the audience.
I also recently rewatched Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind. I've noticed Jim Carrey uses his eyes actively in his performances. Im not his biggest fan otherwise, but watch his eyes in this role and probably to better effect in his more comedic roles.
Jack Black in School of Rock also has some good eye reference. Maybe not eyeballs so much as eyebrows, but its all connected. Jack has such extreme shapes for someone who's actually NOT animated.
On the more subtle side theres some really good eye acting from Alec Guiness in Star Wars in the scene at his house where he gives luke the lightsaber, and later in the cantina scene as well.
BUT.. Probably the best example i can think of right now though is from John malkovich in Rounders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaT2pBiS-JI&feature=related
Thats eye acting! I feel kinda bad for Matt damon in this scene though. John's just acting circles around him, he really did his research for this character and it shows.
-- looking forward to what you pull together..
Leif - wonder if you will get this. Thinking of you today. Happy Birthday!
Bill
hey i think a good topic would be curious George.. hes awesome
i remember watching the making of "chicken run" and listen to nick park talk about how much effort goes into making sure the eyes are just right because that's where 95% of the "acting" takes place. now every time i watch it i'm constantly aware of this. i know you don't want anything general, but seriously, pick a scene from chicken run or any of the wallace and gromit movies and you'll have some great material to work with. good luck!
Hi,
This might be a bit late, but here goes: there is an excellent book that absolutely helped me out in regards to animating and understanding blinks: its called "In the Blink on An Eye" by Walter Murch, its an editing book, but has an amazing chapter on eyes and blinks, I believe he references a few movies that would be great examples. I will try and get to my copy of the book, somewhere deep in boxes, and let you know the exact movies, but just thought it would be something good to check out, its pretty small about 100 pages and should be pretty cheap. hope that helps.
Kelly
Ohh, and if you would like you can see some of my work at kellyanimation.com
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