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Character Animation: Acting and Lip Sync

with Chris Kirshbaum

Sample Clip

This is Chris's third lecture in a series on character animation using Maya. In this lecture, Chris delves ever deeper into the world of acting and its most important aspect: the character's internal thought process. Chris covers the fundamental principles of lip sync and dialogue, from keying the audio track and breaking it down to phrasing and inflection. Building on earlier themes, including dynamic posing, contrast of shape and emotion, line of action and use of negative space, Chris shows you the step-by-step process of bringing a scene to the level of full 3D theatrical animation.

  • Importing Sound
  • Character Thought Process
  • Body Language vs. Lip Sync
  • Breaking Down the Track
  • Eye Direction
  • Phrasing
  • Rising Inflection
  • Plussing
  1. Importing Sound / Character Thought Process
  2. Body Language vs. Lip Sync
  3. Breaking it Down
  4. Lip Sync Proper / Eye Direction / Phrasing
  5. Applying Finaling Concepts to the Lip Sync
  6. Rising Inflection / Plussing
  7. The Final Details
  • Product Code: CKI03
  • ISBN: 1-59762-852-2
  • UPC: 805366017125
  • Duration: 146 minutes
  • Formats: DVD-ROM, Mac or PC only

DVD-ROM Requirements:

  • 1GHz or faster processor
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 64 MB Video RAM
  • DVD-ROM Drive
  • 5 GB of hard disk space
  • 1280 x 1024 display

DVD-ROM and Digital Download Requirements:

Minimum Operating System:

  • Microsoft® Windows® Vista®
  • Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Apple® Mac® OS X 10.2

Software:

  • QuickTime Movie Player (Version 7.0 or higher)
  • Acrobat Reader (Version 5.0 or higher)

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  • Software Used:

  • Autodesk
    Maya

Chris Kirshbaum

Character Animator
Dreamworks

Chris Kirshbaum is an alumnus of CalArts Character Animation, and has a BA in fine arts (drawing) from Arizona State University. He is currently a Character Animator at Dreamworks. Chris's film credits as a character animator include Shark Tale, Flushed Away, Over the Hedge, Kung Fu Panda and Monsters vs. Aliens. In addition to teaching in the Dreamworks internal artistic development and training programs, he currently teaches character animation at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. When not ensconced in the world of animation, Chris can usually be found either on a football field or behind a drum kit.

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“Chris is very fluent in the art of animation. Whether it is animating very subtle emotions or commandeering an extremely complex scene with multiple characters performing Kung Fu moves, Chris has the talent, patience and perseverance, assuring every scene he animates is of the utmost quality. In addition to his skill set, Chris has the remarkable ability of presenting his knowledge and experience to many others in a clear, concise and constructive forum. He "Can do" and "Can teach". Any student would greatly benefit from the tutelage of Mr. Kirshbaum. ”

- Dan Wagner
Head of Character Animation,
Kung Fu Panda

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