Animating Eyes: Character Blinks

Here are some industry tips on how to animate eyes- specifically how to tackle a standard (vanilla) blink!

These are some of the things I've learned over the years from professional animators, that I've applied towards my own work :)

My Amazon Tech Recommendations:

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In three years, I went from having absolutely no experience in 3D Animation to working at DreamWorks Animation Studios teaching just about all of the 3D software used to make movies! After 2 years there, I left to try freelance / independent content creation on YouTube for awhile, before I head back to Feature Film!

This is my journey- the entire process from when I decided I wanted to be an animator until I eventually get there, and everything along the way that will make it possible.

Whether you're chasing a similar dream, or just interested to see where mine takes me, subscribe to follow along with the incredible journey that it takes to become an animator!

You will not be disappointed.

Keep up with the action and connect with me on social!
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Snapchat: sir-wade

*All other emails will be ignored; please leave your questions in the comments for others to benefit from as well
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Thanks for watching!
#3danimation #animation #characteranimation

[Tania_Doodlezilla_Vincent]

I loved loved loved this. My lead has been getting me to expand the pupil as I blink (because less light would be reaching it) and then have one adjusting frame as it contracts and shrinks when the light hits it again. Only slightly but it really adds something. Nerdy tips from other animators is like gold! Thanks for sharing

[SirWade]

What kinds of things would YOU want to see animated in a livestream?? Short exercises, longer ones, get those ideas and requests in!! :)

ALSO, some things I didn't remember to do in the stream or mention in the video: There's an arc to inner brow motion- scrunch it in when you bring the brows down! And more importantly, add some asymmetry to the blink motion. The lids can hit at the same frame, but mix up the interpolation a bit to add some texture, so it doesn't FEEL copy-pasted :)

[peeblekitty]

Very good tips, but more than anything else I'm amazed by how much thought and effort has to go into something as simple and unnoticeable as a _blink._ Mad respect for you animators, the attention to detail you need to put together convincing and expressive movement (especially in faces like this) is insane.

[Domzdream]

This is what I love about animation. So much variety of expression, and this is just the eyes! It’s all about timing of the expressions. It isn’t just expressions.

[animhaxx]

You are teachinf about eye blink and all this time I was looking at your eye movement

[PaulNaas]

Good overview SW! Will be sharing with my character animation class in the Spring.

[richsentertainmentproductions]

Thanks for the tutorial this helps a lot, I was just working on something with blinks. Now I understand where it went wrong.

[alicesmith]

Enjoyed the stream so much, can't wait for the next!!!

[enderperez-lopezanimations]

Thank you Sir Wade, great and useful video about blinks

[ArnoldVeeman]

Thank you for sharing this insight!
I always wondered how one does the eyelids following the shape of the eye itself.

[lukeferguson]

Best tutorial yet imo, and the stream was awesome for getting to see how exactly these things are done - especially for us beginners! Thanks mate

[BrianKouhi]

I love it, Thanks for the Tips Sir Wade!

[anji]

I couldnt stop blinking during this whole video

[Elhiot]

Nice !! I would love to see a LOOOOT of those type of short exercices ! I would watch them all !

[aidanlonergan]

Super useful thank you! Love the amount of detail you go into, got some awesome new techniques to try out now

[cinmussi]

This was awesome Sir Wade!! :D Suggestion for upcoming stream: Transition between mouth shapes (or short lipsync). I personally always struggle with making it look organic, even though I'm aware of some things that help with it (squash and stretch, arcs in the mouth corners, etc), putting it into action is hard haha

[RexVex]

2nd
Actually find your tutorials really helpful as I am trying 3D art

[marilysp.]

Thanks you so much for your content always helpful and for sharing your experience !

[CotyReinhartANI]

Some really good tips here, you can really that difference :D

[jasmineriski]

I know this is super weird but did anyone else notice the lorien legacies books in the back? I am so happy someone else besides me has that series!!