Follow Through
Follow Through is a fundamental principle in animation that makes movement look natural and believable. It describes how different parts of a character or object continue moving after the main action stops - like hair bouncing after a character stops running, or a cape flowing after a superhero lands. Think of it like when a dog shakes and its ears keep wobbling after it stops. This concept helps make animations look less stiff and more lifelike. Along with other animation principles like "Overlapping Action" and "Secondary Motion," Follow Through is one of the basic skills every animator needs to understand.
Examples in Resumes
Created dynamic character animations emphasizing Follow Through in hair and clothing movement
Applied Follow Through and Secondary Motion principles to improve the fluidity of character animations
Mentored junior animators in mastering Follow Through techniques for more natural movement
Typical job title: "Character Animators"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Character Animators
Online Communities
Professional Networks
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach teaching Follow Through concepts to junior animators?
Expected Answer: A senior animator should explain how they break down complex movements into simple examples, demonstrate the difference between good and bad Follow Through, and mention specific exercises they use to help junior animators understand the concept.
Q: Can you describe a challenging Follow Through animation you solved?
Expected Answer: They should provide a specific example of a complex animation problem involving multiple moving elements, explain their problem-solving process, and describe how they achieved natural-looking movement.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the timing of Follow Through actions?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they consider factors like weight, material, and speed of the main action to determine how long secondary movements should continue.
Q: How do you combine Follow Through with other animation principles?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of how Follow Through works with principles like Overlapping Action and Secondary Motion to create more convincing animations.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is Follow Through and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the basic concept of continuing movement after the main action stops and why it makes animation look more natural.
Q: Can you give some everyday examples of Follow Through?
Expected Answer: Should provide simple real-world examples like hair movement, clothing, or chains to show they understand the concept in practice.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of Follow Through principle
- Simple character animations
- Basic timing and spacing
- Understanding of animation software basics
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex Follow Through animations
- Character performance and emotion
- Multiple element coordination
- Efficient workflow management
Senior (5+ years)
- Advanced movement mechanics
- Team leadership and mentoring
- Complex animation problem solving
- Animation direction and review
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain Follow Through with simple examples
- No understanding of basic physics and movement
- Lack of observation skills for natural movement
- No demo reel or portfolio showing Follow Through examples
Related Terms
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