Drawing Skills you NEED for animation

[@cemadiby]

I think it is also important to just start. I practice all this but still animate, because if you want to start "when you'll good enough", you'll never will

[@manos7380]

Yeah, I did this with drawing itself. I would get a cool idea for a drawing and just say "I'll do it when I'm skilled enough" and of course if you don't draw you'll never get better

[@futurestoryteller]

@@manos7380 But I've done this, and as I've gradually gotten better I've gotten further and further towards a finished product. So it's not that I'm not learning or doing anything, it's that I'm comfortable disregarding failed attempts, and don't see the inherent value of following through on an obvious failure. After all, where you stop is kind of arbitrary anyway, isn't it?

[@BlueTheCartoonAddict]

Exactly!

[@alwayslookingatself]

I combined the drawing exercises with animation. Like I'd do gesture drawings from frames of progressive body motion then reanimate them.

[@j4nglle]

@@alwayslookingatself that's actually a pretty smart method, love that!

[@dmodernharmonyart2312]

I did the animation course at Sheridan collage from 2015-2019 and you definitely need to be a rounded artist before you get in. They don’t really tech you how to draw they teach you to refine your style, how to use all the programs in the industry, understand film languages and how to animate. But you definitely need to know how to draw lol.

[@happyfaults]

That was also my experience in art school! You need to get the basics down before entering, and the teachers just have you delve deeper into those basics and into other areas while also improving on what you've already got nailed down

[@anthonysemaan2220]

I'm really interested in the Sheridan course, could you share some of the resources that they taught there?

[@dmodernharmonyart2312]

@@anthonysemaan2220 hey sorry for the late reply. Just know your fundamentals like perspective and anatomy and understanding shapes and volume. I would also try to have an understanding of design witch will help you with stylizing your work. My friends and I recorded a podcast episode about or advice on the Sheridan portfolio. However the portfolio has change a little since we applied there 5 years ago but everything we talk about is still very relevant. Take a listen if you interested :) and good luck to you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX7ckHelZdaqask

[@sadidiot9686]

So i have a chance is what your saying? I never had a chance of developing my drawing skills through highschool bc of my suicidal tendencies...going in and out of phycward never left me time to study on top of that i didnt think i would live long enough....but im trying to turn my life around.

[@learniteasy8146]

Yeah I've been commenting this in most of the tutorials and people argue about that.

[@drawesomejulia]

When you animate a lot of mythical creatures such as dragons and the closest thing you have to a reference is a bat so you just end up making up how they move and having to wing it

[@aris1869]

(This is how I approach mythical creatures) What I’ve been taught/learned is it’s not so much making it up as mashing a bunch of different animal parts together (to figure out muscle structure) and call it a dragon. Ex: if I want a more anthropermorphised dragon, I give it human-like arms and hands. I also find cats are a good reference for dragons

[@a77ackeranimations20]

"Wing it"

[@perdasche]

@@a77ackeranimations20 pfft noticed that too

[@blownupfishnchips9071]

A little tip for beginner animators like me. More on the mind actually, to make you not feel intimidated by the workload. Treat keyframes and start-end points, the breakdowns as check points and the in-betweens as follow ups that should be adjusted.

[@Loreage]

I’ve been 3D animating for 4 years. Never drawn but deciding to learn 2d. It’s such a different learning curve but i love it just as much as 2d. Learning 2d is taking a bit though. My best advice is that animation is not sacred, for those starting up PLEASE don’t develop a “when im good ill animate” mindset star animation the day you start drawing. It doesn’t have to be and wont be good. But it will help you climb that mountain.

[@artcatdraws4203]

this is mostly for me so i can remember what he says, but I figured id share my notes with you guys. maybe it'll be useful. i mostly wrote down important things, and stuff I need to learn how to do and what to practice. its divided into points with the video 1) fast gesture drawing that shows clarity and emotions that tell a story. - do quick sessions for practice, for 15-30 secs. get the idea crossed. don't focus on tiny details. 2) figure invention. knowing how to construct things like anatomy proportions and be able to understand basic macanincs like the skeleton and muscles major shapes to be able to break down basic mechanics of movement. its important to help come up with a human figure quickly and is important in character designing. 3) line confidence- bold strokes. be bold and confined, don't me indecisive and be confident with your lines. less is more and its easier to cleas up if you don't do hairry lines. -try practicing making one side of a drawing one single stroke and the move on to another line. make them more deliberate. 4) solid construction. too much to write down. i will go back and listen again later 5) basic understanding of perspective skills: ;earmomg how to utilise vanishing pintsand solid objects. learn to draw and brake down cubes in the perspective line. ` take a photo and break down where the vanishing points are and try to use what you learn to make your own scene. 6) BASIC SHADING SKILLS: cast shadows, crest of shadows, learning how to deal with values, how to do soft shading, how to indicate harsh shading, how to deal with convincing lighting on solid figures. -just focus on a few tones and showcase believable lighting value. limit yourself to only three tones at first, white gray and black, to lighting and tone can add a lot to the mood, setting and form of the character. its essential to visual development. 7) layout and composition. know how to use effective camera, effective layout, effective visual design than can emphasize the story elements in your work. use things like shape abstractly to help pull focus and attention to desired areas and to emphasize. for animation its more about the shape language of the character animation. its all about design, and how the drawings look when animated. rather than just haveing stuff move, there also a sense of graphic design when it comes to you poses. character design is more about shape language that define the character design. for storyboarding and visual development and layout. its about how to use those shapes to strengthen the storytelling aspects of the piece/shot. animation is a medium that mostly deal with storytelling and visuals/art. having strong composition adds to that story telling aspect using layout and compositional skills to strengthen an emotion is a perk when it comes to animations. these are things to look for and when you study other pieces 8) forgotten skill. observation. good observation skills especially for a drawing is being able to see something and be able to break it down and be able to recreat it. its useful for adapting to different styles for projects. you have to be able to adapt to different styles for what your working on. when it comes to drawing and observation skills. practice: blind contour sketching. learn to avoid drawing bias.

[@FirepowerIGuess]

Thank you! These notes are helpful and thorough!

[@rodrigosandes8323]

I would be REALLY happy if you made a video about background design for animation. I find a lot of videos on youtube about backgrounds/environments for visual development and illustration but there's only a few especifically for animation.

[@jadajohnson6767]

3:36 😊

[@lilacfaun]

omg this is amazing. so often people just throw around "make sure you have the basics down" and i'm just like "what does that even meeeeeeeean that's so vague & big"-thank you so much for giving some direction! 💜

[@evankam28]

Thank you Toniko! It helps me to fine tune career pathway at Mt SAC while in Law School (or afterward)

[@BlueTheCartoonAddict]

Just gonna say, you're really basically my animation teacher. You're the person I listen and study from. One of the videos you have that really helped was the one on timing charts! You inspire me so much!

[@alittleofsomething]

This video made me remember my UK college days, where they prepared me for animation university... I was clearly showing talent, but then I've been given tasks that seemed completely pointless and I never finished the course in the end. Like trying to do something related to a certain theme, and then being told that my ideas are pretty much shit and that I should focus on stuff that I don't like at all and don't make me all happy. There were so many baffling things there, and the worst of all, they didn't make me properly focus on most of these useful things I needed to learn. Complete incompetence in that college. Good thing it was free and a big life experience.

[@kaymakesthings]

I would love to see a video on draftsmanship as you mention, and how it's defined. It's one of the words that gets muddled in other jargon but thrown around a ton so I don't think the meaning is properly understood.

[@creatingtailedstories]

10:51 I found that making 3d mockup with primitives (just drop planes, cubes...) works way better than trying to fit how perspective works into the head. At least found it much easier to get me going

[@felusthefine7700]

Thank you, Toniko! You are a huge inspiration to me and I really do appreciate that you would take the time to make these kinds of videos explaining the how 2D animation works and what skills I should be building so I can eventually learn the basics. Thank you very much and good luck in your personal works and projects!

[@harakrishn362]

This is like a mind map for me and vanish confusions 1) where we start. 2) what thing we really need to practice first.

[@oneuser8395]

Man, you don't know how useful and real I find the stuff you say, it's like I already had some idea of what things are like but getting to hear them from an actual animator in the industry is quite valuable to me, so just wanted to say thank you for putting your words and reflections out there for us. Greetings and good luck on your next projects :)

[@ThomasSchannel]

When I was learning how arms moves , with drag and follow through it helped me understand arms better in posing for drawings so taking things from anim to draw does help.

[@nathalik1]

thank you so much for making these videos!!! I was feeling really lost, but now im quite confident about actually doing animation! Hugs from Brazil

[@ozwellespencer955]

hey internet friend hope you the best in your art journey i'm fairly new to animation but i quite love it best of wishes to you and good luck ! 🥰😍 ❤💛🧡💚

[@FirepowerIGuess]

@@ozwellespencer955 Honestly, passion is one of the most important things you need. With it, you pretty much can do anything as long as you're willing to put a bit of elbow grease into it. I hope that your skills have improved, and that you're doing great after a years-worth since you posted that comment!

[@copagoy]

Thank you for this. For a while now I have been struggling what I truly need for Animation. I just felt lost. Thank you very much. I can't say that enough. You're videos are a huge reason I know how to animate.

[@blownupfishnchips9071]

Perfect timing man, I needed this. Better overdue than not at all.

[@Macketiplasiman]

Thank you for posting this video!

[@---xv3zf]

Animation is quite big, not everyone has to make animations like Toniko. In my opinion ability to tell a story is important. For instance, family guy season 1 isn''t as detailed as current season, but it still has charm to it. We learn about characters and there adventures.

[@chris.sketch3592]

This is the only video I will need for the rest of my art journey. Omg!!! Thank-you sir!

[@laknunvevo425]

Okayh!! I'll do my best this 2 year! I'll make my art improve 2018- 2021-2023

[@angelicadino6777]

So I was just vibing and listening to the video until I heard Sheridan College, I was like OMG that's literally the school that I'm striving to be in, despite the 'newer' complains, I dont think that would stop me from joining (though it has made me do a double take), hopefully the year I get into Sheridan it would be covid free and things would be better!

[@tonkable]

Really insightful! I definitely need to refine my quick figure drawings more.

[@matthewrausch1837]

Nice! I've been studying all of this a lot lately! Watching this video, I feel GREAT. Very confent in myself knowing i'm already doing a lot of these. Thanks so much Toniko! Watchin these videos not only I learned a lot, I also feel so confdent in myself knowing that I'm already naturally doing these tricks

[@khosrowrahmani710]

I found this video is really helpful and educational! altho my problem is understanding the "motion", and yet to this day I find it difficult to fully grasp this particular aspect of the animation and even storyboarding.

[@garrettviewegh677]

I only have an associates in fine art, so I feel the skills I have learned may translate well to animation reading gestures and designing characters. Though I plan on learning other techniques and skills regarding animation and learning the principles and programs through the internet and workshops. I feel it may be a just as good, if not cheaper option. In any case, videos like this are a great help.

[@AL1ASdraws]

i'm aspiring to be an animator. even though im not even the age to become one, your channel inspires me to start practicing now to be good later. good, clear, and educational videos!

[@fascinateandilluminate]

Did you give up?

[@krunkle5136]

Great video. Too many artists hide behind style without a solid foundation. Hard work pays off.

[@tejasbele1456]

Thank you so much for this video I was really looking for this video 😁👍

[@harkelan]

Thanks for this!!! Next task: *practice 40 hours a day* Edit: 23 posible ling ling aspirants liked this

[@AdondisArt]

There’s no point whenever ling ling has already become so good at animating

[@blendyboi5023]

So ling ling can play instruments and animate now

[@aharrypotterfan5951]

Bruh forgot who ling king was for a sec

[@blendyboi5023]

@@aharrypotterfan5951 ling ling not ling king

[@MaddieAnonymous]

@@blendyboi5023 ling ling is master of all arts

[@OpposeArt]

You have been just such an inspirational and wise source of information, thank you for the video!

[@faaaakfkkd]

warning: a long story. i just need a piece of advice. i'm not english so my language might sound very childish or not gramatically correct, sorry for that. my dream has been to master hand-drawn 2d animation since i was five years old. i grew up in a family of traditional artists who don't even see animation as a form of art. they would send me to different art schools, hoping that i will grow up and decide to become a traditional artist like them. i've been studying traditional art for almost twelve years, five of them professionally. every single one of my art teachers including my parents absolutely hated any animation style, i'm not even talking about anime. i am now studying traditional art at local college. all i do now is draw still-life and other traditional art stuff. our college's second year program is learning anatomy and proportions, and then that's it. after that we just repeat all of that for two years until we graduate. i've always hated drawing things that college commands me to draw. it's not because i'm not good at it, i'm actually one of the best students in my class. it's just that i'm extremely bored by academical drawing and it's been draining my drawing energy so hard that i ended up in a huge artblock. i stopped illustrating and animating more than a year ago and since then i can't find the time and energy to get back to it because i have millons of overdue assignments in college that are hard for me to complete emotionally. i'm quite confident in drawing figures, dynamic poses, reading the proportions. my parents have always told me i feel the proportions and anatomy even though i didn't know it at the time. i feel like i have solid drawing skills and that i'm ready to start learning animation professionally, but my parents keep telling me that i'm an idiot and don't understand the importance of becoming an absolute master of fine arts before moving on to animation. they tell me i'm talented and making big progress in fine arts but i might lose everything if i drop college after the second year... but i don't believe so. i don't think i'm gonna reach the peak of my potential after my fourth year of college. in fact, i don't think anyone's artistic potenitial has a "peak". after twelve years of constant drawing, i believe i'm starting to waste my time and energy on the unnecessary perfectionism. i feel like i'm starting to lose my illustration and animation skills... i already feel quite stiff and uncomfortable while drawing digitally. i'm afraid that if i carry on doing what i hate, i might lose what i love. god. i'm so tired of thinking about this.

[@seb-lobo4]

Thank you so much for this video!!! It helps a lot to get over my "fear of drawing" lol

[@gwb79]

Wow, I was just animating something this video is awesome

[@maskoflies9461]

So, do you first need to know how to draw (or draw properly) before following into 2D animation?

[@Vanyx1000]

love it whenever he does a voice

[@tempestfan8701]

Animate:✔ Equipment:✔ Software:✔ Character:❌(just bouncing ball)

[@Andra1150]

Great vid as always, thank you!) Speaking of drawing perspective: is it possible to be a good artist and animator, if you (I mean, I)) have one eye? You see, the thing is that I have had an operation on one my eye and I am afraid that I will lose my perception of depth, cause now I have monocular vision. Although I have seen some artworks of actor Piter Falk (he played Columbo and had one eye), for example, and the perspective there is kinda good (well, here and there; he has unique style). So I dont know, is it that fatal, that I maybe will draw "with one eye"? Of course, I will try to heal myself properly and keep my binocular vision, but it seems that my right eye will be kinda more leading)

[@nowhoami]

This channel really helps me alot with art!^^

[@ankitdarwhekar2258]

Mostly satisfying video I have ever watched for Animation and drawing Thanks a lot I know You are mostly focused on hand drawn animation but can you please make a video on puppet/cutout animation, because as you know you are using Harmony and this software is famous for TV animation/cutout animation Please make a video

[@Xitaychin]

Still can't start animate because it's hard for me to learn these programs(traditionally it's even harder) and I'm no good at drawing the same object several times, especally complex (though i practised and now it doesn't seem so unattainable)... I tried several times but eh... I'm more of a storyteller and a director but such an introvert that the only person I can rely on in the art is me... My mother is my spectator :D Animation! It seems so easy and hard at the same time. Can't practise a lot..

[@kanadchakraborty7434]

I want to become a character designer. So can you tell me please is it necessary for me to know composition too? please I need this

[@eoagr1780]

As an eager student I appreciate this video very much

[@carnidaess]

your videos are always SO helpful

[@mywebsits]

Hi , What animation program are you using ?

[@NikpumpOff]

I think my nemesis is posing and hair. I likely can't draw or make poses and hair appealing, as same as can't animate that. Thanks for the help, Toniko!

[@MetalArrow]

Extremely helpful video!!! Thanks man.

[@SMBShippuden4]

This is very informative

[@animationsfa4478]

I was wondering if you could do a video about making ideas for animations? as both an artist and an animator its really hard for me to stay motivated when i cant ever come up with an idea for what im gonna draw. like i would feel so inspired by animes and cartoons but when i would get my laptop and drawing tablet out i realized, i had no idea what to draw. so i would just put my stuff away and go do something else.

[@akiani]

work on ur basics, not only will that improve ur skillset but also give u more options for ur works

[@Yuniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

I out some music on and boom idea 😃 hope it works for you

[@alisarsaida6287]

i love you ...... I'm graduating now and I'm making a short animated movie , without your courses I'd be dead now

[@sarmy725]

Hello, I always loved animation and admired it (I am a big fan of japanese anime) and so I have set my goal to become a good animator. I am 17 and I am in second year of highschool. I know how to do the baisics of graphic design, how to work with photoshop, illustrator etc. and I also learned how to program websites and applications. The problem starts with me and drawing, I have 2 years (there are 4 years od highschool in our country) before I have to turn my portfolio for collage in and I have NO idea how to draw. Do you think that its possible to learn how to draw in 2 years on a level that would be accepted for my collage application? Ty for response in advance

[@josephheliel2401]

Thanks bro.

[@johnlecasu5371]

Thanks for the quality content

[@garbagepotato]

i struggle with anatomy but when i have reference ( not tracing) im decent

[@duvieira2836]

thank you for the video! it was very helpful :)

[@Lagknee]

Reminder

[@rodcav3]

What application is that you are using in the beginning of the video...I don't recognize the interface

[@gabrielbusaneli]

What are the artists he talked about in gesture drawing?

[@PleasantlyDisturbing]

Hi toniko, does your animation course cover all this online? I know it's a lot to pack in one short course , but I'm kind of lost halfway in my career and need to relearn things and fill the missing gaps, and fix my bad habits.

[@anotheregoistidiot8756]

The fundamentals are important

[@OhBeans]

Do you think focusing on portraits to really understand the face and expression is also needed? or is that a waste of time. I'm doing a figure class and I feel like my faces are weak!

[@devformation]

thanks👍

[@mosesmethri46]

How keep the thinks same ? But have to shift only direction

[@mosesmethri46]

I've learn how to blink eyes of a character but I hesitate to move the body means literally I've been drawing 14 figures fir just a blink of eye and it took 3hours for me and I cant even image I'm overwhelmed 😢

[@brocoli17]

Everything I know about animation is from you

[@awsumcreations7604]

I saw this to late I don't have all these skills I might go back to technology major or something I'll figure it out

[@valasafantastic1055]

useful video thanks

[@oliverrankin5285]

I very much found going through school that personal style was far less of an emphasis, when considering it holds very little utility in the industry. Much more emphasis was placed upon strong construction and spatial awareness, alongside gesturing from life drawing lessons. At the time I didnt fully appreciate the importance of life drawing, but over time skills obtained from such have proven to be a pillar of strength for most everything I do.

[@Omar-i-a-greatguy]

your awsome, thank you

[@peterstoric6560]

I’ve always been interested in animation, but my drawing skills are… let’s just say not the best. I’ve decided I might as well take a look at what it takes if I ever want to really get into it

[@BEPPEJHA]

I can draw stickman, but I can imagine so many animations it s frustrasting

[@randirafaeli]

Great advice thank you. And quick question, what is this software that you are using in the background?

[@Yuskebub]

It’s all in the description ^^

[@copagoy]

It is TV paint.

[@adittip230]

Do u know any free drawing course?? Or do u hav any of yours.?? Or suggest some KZbin channel??

[@oliverrankin5285]

to me Feng Zhu's are the most useful videos i've ever watched

[@_thewhitefox_726]

Proko!

[@awsumcreations7604]

Check out mikey megamega or reiq

[@angeloebrahem7670]

OMG PREFECT TIMEING

[@Dummi3_r.a]

Still have a year to work on this before i get to college

[@Thispersonisreal]

Toniko, how do you deal with no motivation and procrastination when you're a chronic procrastinator (aka words like just don't procrastinate does not help ._.)

[@RinkachiVilar]

3D effect for Android please?

[@shankar4510]

no anatomy ?

[@ItsNaama1]

I learn my art skills through animating, I’m not he best and I’m not good at all, but I can make decent animations

[@TheTimeProphet]

I do 3D animation so luckily my drawing skills don't have to be that good. Is this tv paint?

[@garbagepotato]

i really dont think i have the type of pc that can handle composition

[@amusingworld2029]

the dificult point to me is how to draw the next move of animation

[@Dan_sid4]

cool vid

[@josefine7095]

also this yt channel is good for practicing figure drawings kzbin.info Our art teacher uses it alot during the pandemic haha (sorry for posting another youtube link in your video comment section. I just thought this would be a relevant resource)

[@hopekelvin1065]

That laugh😁😁

[@edward18517]

Eh, yeah, knowing how to draw helps, but really I just start animating because creating is what I live to do. Get better as I do it more mostly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX67ap-JnK-bY5I

[@DamesProGamer]

well, i have none of those and i animate

[@ieda18]

i guess i should just give up 🤣

[@Phoenixart.]

Same :

[@michaelsilas5387]

😢

[@randomrandle9141]

If gesture isn't here I'm punching someone

[@futurestoryteller]

0:45 This is ridiculous. Mickey Mouse is obviously _already_ in animation.

[@El_Rosita_Fungoso]

Like Bobby Chiu will tell us: F U N D A M E N T A L S

[@riceontopstew]

thats why I 3d animate, I can't draw a circle even if my life depended on it.

[@ymotle]

In other words you need to eat your vegetables, I mean learn the fundamentals

[@BrinnTDSowo]

Can you try to Uhh Critique animations Like mine owo

[@kingmurder8245]

500th like oh yea

[@Jesusloves3]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 God bless everyone here. Jesus loves you and died for you on the cross. He did this to wash away the burden of sins, and if you open your heart to Him, He can take away the burden of your sins and give you a peace incomparable to anything in this world. ✝✝🙏

[@indigolevel]

Oh, agh, too much bla bla.

[@stinkysmellyonions]

but what site do i use?