SBW - Traditional Animation mentality & habits for digital medium

Today's episode on the String Bing Workshop is about traditional animation skills and habits to keep when approaching 2D hand drawn animation. We talk about traditional animation techniques that will help for the digital medium, and habits to stay away from.
Special thanks to Scott Wright, Matt Williames, Patrick Stannard, Samantha Maurer, and Sandeepan Chanda for the extra help!
MUSIC:
Saint Patrick's Parade - Doug Maxwell
Climbing - Bird Creek
Highway Wild Flowers - Bird Creek
Dusty Tears - Silent Partner
Believer - Silent Partner

[@CrownePrince]

Somehow I went for years without knowing there is a benefit to NOT using the onion skin or a light table.

[@excusemesirs.isthiswhereib4514]

Crowne Prince Thanks for introducing me to this video !

[@renarddubois940]

personally I don't get it..

[@renarddubois940]

I couldn't help but read your comment with your voice.. Crowne

[@Otatsuke]

And I went four years without realizing such important lessons existed!😁

[@jessejayjones]

Ahahaha, I loved that animation in the beginning! Your stuff is so good man.

[@Claragonza3]

I've allways used the onion skin because i'm actually self taugh and i allways wondered why do some frames look awful when i actually made the frame ''right'' and this has opened my eyes! It will be an habit hard to break but now i know that i'm doing it wrong, thank you so much men!

[@Wonchop]

So you call 'em Flashimators, ey? I prefer the term Flanimator meself. And yeh, I totally need to limit my onion skin usage. I notice I can get stuff pretty flowing when I just mindlessly draw, but struggle a little when animating over my animatic drawings.

[@marccox08]

This actually brought a lot of good things to light that I didn't even realise before. Thank you Toniko!

[@pizzaroneee]

I know this is an old video I HOPE YOU KNOW CUPHEAD because that game look amazing and they animate everything with handrawn and its pretty amazing!!!!! And thr soundtrack too they make the game feel old and it work

[@matsug5704]

Can anyone help me? i cant find the last song that plays here 12:26

[@caddincaddin8552]

This is really helpful honestly I've always loved that soft, smooth look in 2-D animations like how the classic Disney style was(I say was because there hasn't been a 2-D animated movie in so long, most companies are going to 3-D animation) I started looking into it because I want to learn how they do it, and this video helped me learn a little more

[@ByondRAGE]

I remember you from Deviantart when i was still studying art and animation. It's nice to see that you have continued and improved over several years. Also, WHERE THE HELL WAS THIS VIDEO WHEN I NEEDED IT. I could've practiced more with this knowledge months ago. Damn it, no time like the present. Thanks so much for this advice and i'll use it to the full extent.

[@DennySchneidemesser]

While I'm neither an animator, nor can't draw to save my life, I find these workshops fascinating and incredibly well produced. Kudos Toneeks!

[@drewby4701]

That's it!! Not using onion skin has now saved me. I knew something felt off but just never even considered turning it off. Feels silly to say. Thank you!

[@pencielist]

Hey Ton! I see you're doing really well with your animations! Really makes me wish we had more time to talk during Christmas last year! Hope to see you soon! Great work!

[@TeegMonkey]

this was really helpful AND entertaining! These tutorials help a lot!

[@KairiYajuu]

Oh my god everything I ever taught myself about animation is a lie >.< Why must you be so expensive, art school?? Now I have so many bad habits to destroy!

[@TrevorKeenAnimation]

Advice to the beginners from an old fart - draw, draw, draw, especially on paper. Paint, too. If you can't draw without a computer, you've got no business drawing with one.

[@renarddubois940]

ow c'mon!

[@johngddr5288]

Not really. There's business for sure, but that doesn't mean there isn't business on improving.

[@NihongoWakannai]

"if you can't write quickly and clearly with a pen, you have no business being a writer" "If you can't ride a horse, you have no business driving a car" "If you can't cook over woodfire, you have no business using a stovetop/oven" "If you can't paint with a stick, primitive paint and a cave wall, you have no business drawing with graphite"

[@jaredballoonboy7944]

Jozzarozzer THANK YOU.

[@jaredballoonboy7944]

Trevor Keen Shut it “Old Fart”, as you call yourself. One can be a master at drawing with a computer even if that person doesn’t know or like traditional drawing. What you just said was AN UNPOPULAR OPINION, NOT A FACT. Learn how to appreciate digital art. Traditional art is NOT more valuable or respectable simply because it is traditional.

[@redvelvett22]

Great video as always! Also Bon Bon is so fucking adorable jesus christ.

[@1Dyfeed]

Omg! i saw you on newgrounds many years ago. You made cartoon about Serpent , i . I recognoze that was you. i want to say thank you so much. I am interested in animation becouse of you. Спасибо большое.

[@superjboy16]

I love this video, and I learned allot from it! One mistake I was doing was onion skinning with large spaces, surprisingly though, I was thinking about arcs anyway. The other were my somewhat too technical drawings, and also the planning. But now I know that it can be done better, and I thank you for that!

[@MP-zx8ig]

Im animating for my college project right now and this was a super helpful video! There was lots of your points that I hadn't even thought about before this video

[@TheEshy]

I have so many bad habits to break

[@superjboy16]

I love this video, and I learned allot from it! One mistake I was doing was onion skinning with large spaces, surprisingly though, I was thinking about arcs anyway. The other were my somewhat too technical drawings, and also the planning. But now I know that it can be done better, and I thank you for that!

[@bradneece2409]

What's the name of his intro/outro music? It's not listed in the description

[@miagifford4716]

This was extremely encouraging and validating to watch! I'm currently studying at a school that strongly emphasizes and focuses in traditional animation. I love animating on paper, but sometimes I'll worry about "catching up" to people who already know how to animate digitally. Overall, I know it doesn't matter, and that my traditional training will translate well into digital once I take the time to learn. Thanks Toniko!

[@itsmyfavgameseries]

1:45 this tool looks hella timesaving!! Someone know how its called?

[@marialais6055]

They call it the puppet method i think

[@Pianodog]

God this video is absolutely incredible! Alot of things I don't think about in animating. One of the nicest thing about digital is being able to resize and move things if a single frame is wrong (not copying and pasting.) I'm so glad my teachers had us do traditional work on paper before doing digital, it was tremendously helpful.

[@kopi7105]

I love education videos with good background education music and also contains examples and swearings XD

[@venanciovenan5178]

quando você exporta do Flash para o after efects você exporta em qual formato...PNG sequence ou sequence JPEG?

[@justinwilliam5693]

Thanks for sharing man. Amazing animation and sound knowledge for someone like me who is self taught. I look forward to more of your tutorials and informative tips. Do you have any videos for putting together a good demo reel focusing on action and special effects for 2d animators?

[@TrilloLillo]

thank you! this helped me a lot! I'm guilty of some of the bad habits you mentioned haha

[@goober239]

Got any advice for a 21 year old with minimal art skills, and starting from ground zero?

[@noirblanque5324]

Same but im 14 lol

[@redchillicaterers1348]

what is the starting music's namr

[@MrChambers]

Thanks so much for these tips! Couldn't agree more!

[@Torvaxx]

Oh shit. Fancy seeing you here, sir.

[@pepinyostep3592]

+Mīmu-ō ikr 😂

[@SkeleRae]

Would you happen to have any resources on where to find tables and what paper to use for traditional animation?

[@robertmoorhead2406]

Where do you get the tools for set up? You know, the plexiglass circle thing, the animation paper, et cetera?

[@TonikoPantoja]

+Robert Moorhead I actually got my animation disc and paper during my days at school (I still keep the paper) but you can look them up at www.cartooncolor.com/ since that is where my disc came from. It comes with the peg bars too.

[@TonikoPantoja]

+Robert Moorhead What you can also do is buy a clipboard or light table, get a separate animation peg bar and tape it. I have portable light table in the philippines in which I had to add a separate peg bar.

[@aghastfont770]

With rule 6: I found myself with a short visual memory span, so I often end up with a detailed version of the anatomy of the characters. Perspective is my worst area and I end up spending ages jsut trying to get one small thing right. part of that came from my lack of background in art fundenmentals.

[@jackmacisback]

Hey at 11:54 talking about trying traditional animation, what is that drawing set up called? The large thin sheets that you flip through? I would love to get one or something similar, thanks :) Also is the 'Be as Keane as I' poster a real thing? I want one! haha

[@Thesmus]

So helpful :D Some of these could also be applied in digital drawing/painting. For one, I am practicing to not use layers and undo (especially undo....you can't have that in traditional xD). I do this to train myself to draw carefully, and to make my artworks have that traditional feel. This video also make me inspired further to create animations. But I still want to learn those numbers in animation :)

[@goldinthefurnace]

11:55 I thought that was Squidward you were sketching for a couple seconds. 😅

[@yellingyeti4795]

I love your videos! They always answer questions I've been having for a long time but couldn't put into words. Thank you and please keep doing more c: You're awesome!

[@hcneysuckle]

the way i went NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO when i heard you say to use the onion skinning tool less,,, i never knew it could be a bad habit!! ive never animated without onion skin on but i guess,,, i shall learn,,,,,

[@SnepperStepTV]

I'm actually a self-taught digital animator who wants to move to traditional because the tactile nature of analog mediums is beneficial to my art.

[@matsug5704]

My god this is amazing, love the tips and the music is so relaxing! what do you think of After effects as an animation tool?

[@edwinharrison5992]

There is something lost with cg animation and its not just traditional work i, i think a lot of whats lost is the thought process that comes with the time consuming work involved , i myself am working on some animated short cartoons which is part of my life long artistic dreams

[@counterstrike89]

Its amazing how the redrawn head looks so much better 7:26

[@234edog]

look at all these animators

[@AnimaThings]

That is so helpfull! Thank you ! I love your videos

[@jorshis7193]

Where was this channel 2 years ago ? ! Amazing !

[@shiawasekappukekiful]

"Guys who hate disney animation" damn, not that that's bad, but just woah

[@FlaxGalax_FG]

Wow, 8 years ago. The growth of that intro is great.

[@WaalkR]

Super informative, and really well explained! Thank you for this!!

[@redacted6378]

the beginning of this was fantastic

[@shankar4510]

Hey toniko. Is it possible to do 2d animation without light table at all ?

[@Nintendude.]

I wonder if people who hate Disney animation hates past or modern day Disney or Disney in general.

[@NihongoWakannai]

I disagree with onion skinning being as bad as you say. The problem there isn't the onion skin, the problem is relying too heavily on the onion skin and just tracing your drawings instead of using the onion skin as just a guide. I still prefer flipping sometimes, but onion skinning is better majority of the time

[@TonikoPantoja]

"The problem there isn't the onion skin, the problem is relying too heavily on the onion skin and just tracing your drawings instead of using the onion skin as just a guide." That's the point. I said depending on the onion skinning tool ALONE is a bad habit to have, and I encourage more flipping.

[@NihongoWakannai]

Toniko Pantoja To me it seemed like what you said in the video implied that shitty, offmodel drawings are an inhenret part of using the onion skin. You even said that onion skinning makes you disregard arcs and form, but it doesn't *have* to, you can still use onion skin while paying attention to those things. The issue is that people misuse the onion skin, the solution is to use the onion skin better, not just change entirely to flipping for those situations. The issue isn't with people using onion skin as a tool, but with people using it as a crutch. I'll only really feel the need to turn off onion skin if it's making my workspace messy and hard to read. And I'll often flip *while* using the onion skin.

[@TonikoPantoja]

I agree with you on that onion skinning is an advantage if you know how to use it. One of the most common mistakes beginner animators do is to solely depend on the onion skinning without feeling out the movement. *I even said in the video* not to stray away from using the tool (5:23), but just using it as a crutch. In the *short demo of the bad usage of the onion skinning tool*, I solely depended on the onion skin alone. I flip while using the onion skin all the time too when I work, but the first thing I'll always teach my students first is to flip so they can understand and feel the movement.

[@NihongoWakannai]

I can agree with that, maybe it could've been presented and phrased better in the video, but it seems we're in agreement.

[@MakzLazor555]

What's the animation used at around 7:10 when you were talking about copying and pasting the head? I'd like to see it

[@johnnydwicked]

Thank you very much for the animation habit tips. much appreciated.

[@jerartist127]

great vid thanks

[@metasprite5648]

Amazing video, all I have to animate is the 3ds flipnote shit, LOL

[@shankar4510]

I used to inbetween the wrong way . Now i realized why is that.

[@takemetoyonk]

7:04 this is amazing and reminds me of the old aerobics performance

[@Holyax]

Really nice video! While I agree with pretty much everything, I'd like to add that while traditional hand-drawn animation looks great, I think it can only survive in the cartoon form in the modern age. The Calarts/Disney style, which emphasizes the more realistic human anatomy can be replaced by the 3D softwares today, as it is much easier to have solid proportions on a puppet. But to have flexible and organic movement is not that easy to do in 3D, so that's where 2D cartoon come in. They have simple forms and proportions, but the levels of exaggerations are much higher, and can be easily achieved in shorter time spans. Sadly, most studios today do not take full advantage of this, so we see flat and ugly 2D cartoons which have cut-outs for bodies.

[@laasanha2654]

Help me Bonbon, i can't fucking animate

[@FunnyGuyTimmy]

Pop filter.

[@antigocanaldonag1848]

Good video bro, it was really helpfull

[@jopinto3672]

this was really good, thanks!!

[@jorgemedina124]

When did digital drawn started with tv shows or movies?

[@awkwardmolerat442]

1:32 , what software was being used here?

[@cringyxd7434]

This really helps! i had watched your informational videos on breakdowns, inbetweening and timing. I want to get a good started feeling of traditional work and flow in animation. Although i use Flipaclip which has a lot of advanced tools, sketching and being accurate is my way to go for a smoother look in what i draw. Thank you for your guidance!

[@CaCriGuz]

This is sooooo cool !!! Thank you so much :D really inspiring

[@joemama8543]

HELP ME!!! I want to make 2d animations but there's only one way....frame by frame and I was wondering if there's a simpler way to do 2d?

[@crazystone1214]

Hi Toniko Pantoja,Thanks so much for these wonderfull experience ! I`m a student and i want to know the software that u used to show kongfu girl ? plz tell me ,thank you very much

[@TheGamedawg]

This is such a great topic.

[@KulFox]

Do you (or anyone reading this comment) have tips on creating an animation table/board that holds paper in place, so it’s easier to flip and see the animation? I’m unsure if that’s “necessary” but from what I’ve read, it’s how most/many traditional animators work? Thank you for this incredibly helpful video !!

[@PokeNebula]

your narration is so peaceful, and i always imagine you as that tiny puppy, so it ends up hilarious whenever you cuss

[@MultiHeheboy]

it's gold

[@LeeTheUnicorn]

Thank you so much!

[@demonicbear3442]

amazing how other animators learn from each other maybe i can join with them.

[@DrawnMonster]

Really great video and tips! Wish i have find this some years ago... Subscribed!

[@kay486]

where are the animal sketches from?

[@xQuandaleDinglex]

This video was great! I'm so glad I've found your channel, I've subscribed!

[@corndog3164]

Amazing, thank you!!

[@eisenhalle9328]

I was following you on twitter but i didnt know you have the best animation tutorial on youtube! Thanks a lot for this!! i almost feel like I could already pursue animation confidently! You're amazing!!

[@fenrir-art4742]

I can do animations, but when it comes to my stories for movie ideas, I must use still images to balance myself and let visuals flow better for quality.

[@AmyMist]

Thanks so much for this video! It's really cool, and made me think about a bunch of stuff I hadn't before!

[@DarukiiA]

WOW It was reallly useful, I didn't notice that the onion-skin in little transitions was giving it a poor aspect of drawing

[@KensaKunVRC]

Are you a furry

[@MMBStudios_ng]

this is nice

[@TahOgawa1]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! You really inspire me

[@thatoneeggplant]

Thank's so much! just subscribed and this vid has helped me alot!

[@annat9898]

Thank you so much for this video, the tips and your heartwarming encouragement for us all to keep traditional animation at live.

[@sanaeel900]

Beautiful animation

[@rohanamor4323]

6:01 That my friend, how cartoon meme was born, look at Jerry mouse meme , and patrick star sticking on the ceiling etc., its not only but also funny it created a new humour these days and also grab them a new audience to watch their shows

[@Danoneeno]

Thank you very much!

[@sircrysalotz]

Thanks

[@eightbitfeline1415]

bon-bon my beloved!

[@yourmoistgrandma3202]

*Bon-Bon* is my Nickname!!! Thank you so much. LOL

[@6thFingerProductions]

Cool video bud! Thanks for the tips.

[@Dehydrayton]

0:55 how do you animate an image like that, that “shaking ”

[@rogiserus]

redraw it a few times and the work gets done by itself

[@Dehydrayton]

Juan José García Vizioli You’re a savior

[@deliafabri13]

Bonbon is me

[@rich520]

Thank you this was very helpful to me.