Body Language in Animations

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<b>Introduction </b><br>
<br> The intention of
this research was to take a close look at some animations and see if I
could identify the gestures and expressions used to give character to
the models. I started off by looking at some standard body language
cues from a <a href="http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2" target="_blank">non-verbal dictionary</a> on the web.<br>
<br>
Then I went through two Gromit and Wallace movies: "The Grand Day Out"
and "The Wrong Trousers", and identified all the major gestures and
cues.<br>
<br>
This web page contains images taken from the above web page, the Gromit
and Wallace movies and a few other images I scanned in. There are also
a few animations where static images do not correctly convey the
information. Most of the descriptions of the gestures are taken from
the non-verbal dictionary.<br>
<br>
Also note that this does not in any way cover all the possible body
poses. It only features poses I could identify in the movies I looked
at.<br>
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<td><b>Body Angle</b></td>
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<br>
The angle of the body, particularly the shoulder, relative to others
reveals how we relate to them. In this image from "the wrong trousers",
Gromit is distancing himself from Wallace. This positioning of the
model gives it more character than if Gromit's upper body was actually
aimed in the same direction as his head.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/angdis.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_08.JPG" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Clenched Fist</b></td>
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<br>
The clenched fist reveals a state of anger, excitement or fear. Nick
Park uses a shaking clenched fist frequently to show an excited Wallace.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/fist.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_05.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_09.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.009.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.002.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Palm-up</b></td>
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<br>
The uplifted palm suggests a non-aggressive pose where the character is
making an appeal. The jaguar who keeps complaining about lack of space
in "creature comforts" continuosly uses this gesture. The meaning of
the dialogue would have changed drastically if the model was animated
using a palm-down which is an aggressive pose.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/palmup.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_02.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_13.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_14.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_15.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_03.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_10.JPG" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Adam's Apple Jump</b></td>
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<br>
Usually the Adam's apple jump is a sign of anxiety. It's also used to
show swallowing or gulping. In the animations that I looked at I found
it being used frequently to show Wallace swallowing something.<br>
<br>
Here's a <a href="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/adams.mov" target="_blank">QuickTime movie</a> showing this action.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/adajum1.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.014.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Self-touch</b></td>
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<br>
Self-touch is used when emotions are running high, to comfort, relieve
or release stress. These gestures include touching the lips, massaging
a hand, etc. Nick park uses these useful gestures to emphasize pauses
between dialogues or to tell us that the character is getting ready to
do something.<br>
<br>
Here's a <a href="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/nosewipe.mov" target="_blank">QuickTime movie</a> showing Wallace rubbing his upper lip.<br>
<br>
Here's a <a href="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/handrub.mov" target="_blank">QuickTime movie</a> showing Wallace massaging his hands.<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/selftouc.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.003.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.016.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.015.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Body-shift</b></td>
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<br>
Body-shifts are cues which show an unspoken feeling or mood. In this
scene from "the grand day out" Wallace keeps shifting his legs around,
telling us that he is getting impatient.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/shift.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.012.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.010.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.011.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Precision-Grip and Power-Grip</b></td>
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The Power-Grip is used to grasp an object tightly with a closed fist.
Its used as a gesture of anger, fear or determination, as in the scene
where the penguin is behind bars or when an angry Gromit is confronting
the penguin.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/power.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_04.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_12.JPG" border="0"></td>
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The Precision-Grip is used as a symbol of sophistication and
thoughtfulness. Since it requires the use of opposable thumbs, it is a
gesture used by higher primates. The fingers which are not used for
grasping can be flexed to give more character.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/pregrip.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_06.JPG" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.007.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/acting_07.JPG" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Gaze-down</b></td>
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The Gaze-down conveys a defeated attitude. It can also denote guilt or
shame. Gromit frequently uses this expression to convey a feeling of
hopelessness.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/gazedown.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.001.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Contemplation</b></td>
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<br>
Using the hands to cover the mouth and lower part of the face is used
as a gesture denoting contemplation. Wallace uses the gesture when he's
thinking hard about something. As he strikes this pose he'll in most
cases drum his fingers on the cheeks. At the same time he gazes off in
an extreme angle.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.004.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.005.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.006.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.008.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Satisfaction</b></td>
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<br>
After consuming his favourite cheese, Wallace usually rests his hands
on his stomach as a gesture of satisfaction. Another cue of
satisfaction often used is to partially close the eyes. In many cases
when Wallace is eating or drinking, his upper and lower eyelids come
close together revealing only a tiny part of his eyes.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/image.013.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<br>
I don't have images from the animations for the next three gestures, but I was able to identify them in a few scenes.<br>
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<td><b>Shoulder-shrug</b></td>
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Shoulder-shrugs are signs of resignation. Gromit usually uses this gesture to dismiss a comment from Wallace.<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/shrugdi1.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Hand-behind-head</b></td>
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<br>
This is usually a sign of frustration or disagreement. However a
variation of this is to put the hand on top of the head. Now it becomes
a sign of uncertainity or puzzlement. The creature on the moon in "the
grand day out" uses this gesture when it gets active for the first time.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/handbehi.jpg" border="0"></td>
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<td><b>Hands-on-Hips</b></td>
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<br>
This is a gesture showing that the character is ready to take steps.
When Wallace first sees the creature on the moon, he walks over and
stands in front of it with his hands on his hips, conveying the idea
that he feels superior to the creature and that he's about to do
something with it.<br>
<br>
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<td><img src="http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/tutorials/sajan/handonhip.jpg" border="0"></td></tr></t>
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[don_rulez]

yehoooo .. thnkuu .