Weight Lift and Toss

Assignment: A character picks up a heavy object and then tosses it. Minimum length is 5
seconds.
Who is your character? Age? Weight? Sex? Attitude? Occupation? What is your
character lifting? Size? Shape? Weight? Flexibility?
What visually defines how heavy an object is? Size and our knowledge of how heavy
something is in the world. A car is heavier than a coffee cup. But a balloon can be
bigger than a bowling ball and we know that its not as heavy.
Timing The heavier the object, the more slowly it will be lifted and tossed.
Body mechanics - What part of the body is doing the lifting - the arm, the upper body or
the whole body? The heavier the object, the more the entire body is used to lift it. Think
about the difference between lifting a ping pong ball and a boulder.
Tension How much is the character straining to lift something? How straight and
stretched are the arms when trying to lift? Is the face grimacing or expressing strain?
How much are the knees bent or shaking when holding the heavy object?

Balance - Light objects can be held away from the body and the body can remain
balanced. Heavy objects have to be held close to the body for the body to remain
balanced. Large, bulky objects may have to be held on the characters shoulder or over
the characters head to achieve balance.

The heavier the object, the more effort it takes to throw it.
If pitching a baseball requires a step forward before the arm throws, how much more
effort is required before tossing a boulder?

Heavier weights require bigger anticipations. Anticipations should always be in the

opposite direction of the action. If youre throwing the object forwards, your anticipation
has to be backwards, not to the side or down.
When throwing a heavier weight, it results in a larger follow through action. It takes the
body time and effort to recover from the force of the throw and return to a normal
position.

The amount of weight shown in the lift and the toss has to be visually consistent. You
cant strain to lift something and then toss it as if it is light.
When doing this assignment, you need to account for the following things:
1. anticipate
2. grab
3. anticipate
4. pull
5. lift
6. stabilize
7. anticipate
8. toss
9. stabilize (or fall)

Student Name:
Section:
Due Monday, Oct. 20, at Noon
Name and section visible on screen.
Student name in filename.
Video is shot once and watchable.
MOV and animation files submitted.
Minimum 5 seconds
Screen Resolution is 640 by 480
Student has shown work in progress
Character stays on model.
Character has consistent size, proportions and shapes.
Solid, structural drawing.
Clear emotional attitude at all times.
Character exists within a layout, even if the layout is just a grid.

Proper anticipation for the grab

Enough read time for the grab.
Proper anticipation for the lift.
Proper use of straights and curves to show force during the lift.
Timing gives the impression of weight.
Character is properly Balanced during the lift and hold.
Feet believably support the weight and dont slide.
Animated on 2s if not in Maya.

Proper anticipation for the toss.

Proper shifting of weight for the toss.
Believable line of action in the toss.
Effort in toss is consistent with effort in lift.
Believable follow through on the toss.
Character ends in a believable resting position.
Feet believably support the weight and dont slide.
Animated on 2s if not in Maya.

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Comments:

Final Grade

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