A method of animating multiple tracks of motion picture production of different actions of the same character providing the means of repeated jump-switching from multiple tracks of animation action to multiple tracks of animation action during the action in a scene, while retaining in this process a smooth and logical sequence of drawing progression, the steps of the method comprising:
- recording the drawing number frame exposure of multiple actions of the same character on animation exposure sheets, scheduling specific frames wherein the actions coincide into the same drawing, or similar drawings occupying the same area, whereafter switching of animation action tracks may occur;
- said drawings of coinciding multiple actions being positions in the following types of animation actions:
- 1. angular change of direction,
- 2. circular change of direction,
- 3. momentary parallel of multiple actions,
- 4. animation character cycles,
- 5. animation character cycle actions progressing in a stationary position on a moving background,
- 6. fast animation character turning and twirling actions,
- 7. foreshortened perspective actions of animation characters progressing directly to or from the camera,
- 8. animation actions of anticipation/action/reaction,
- 9. actions of a burst of speed,
- planning the paths of action of said multiple actions leading into and out of the above types of coinciding animation actions on layout drawings and graphically locating the field position of drawings wherein the multiple tracks coincide to allow track switching,
- laying out projected key drawings of the scene in said paths of action, including those drawings in the above types of animation actions wherein the multiple actions coincide,
- recording the field size of the frames exposed (on exosure sheet) of drawings of coinciding tracks on animation exposure sheets, and recording the measurements of the N/S and E/W coordinates of the field location of the centers of said drawings with respect to two mutually perpendicular sides of the scene field on said frames,
- animating the drawings of said multiple actions of the same character according to the said layout paths of action and projected key drawings, forcing the animation of multiple actions into a distortion of direction, of drawing spacing, and of cycle construction to coincide into the same drawing, or a similar drawing with loss of silhouette definition, being positions in the following types of animation action, specifically as:
- 1. In animation actions of angular change of direction the drawing of coinciding tracks is positioned at the extreme corner of reversal, and is followed by a drawing leading in an angular change of direction;
- 2. In animation actions of circular change of direction the drawing of coinciding tracks is positioned at the center of the curve of reversal or the extremity of said action prior to reversal,
- 3. In the momentary parallel of multiple actions the drawing of coinciding tracks is positioned between the extremes of the actions during the lift or sink of the character and at the greatest loss of silhouette definition,
- 4. In animation character cycle actions the drawing of coinciding tracks may occur at the mutual point of greatest silhouette definition loss and at either the recoil, lift, or high point of the cycle,
- 5. In animation character cycle actions progressing in a stationary position on a moving background the drawing of coinciding tracks occurs at the lift point after the recoil, or at the sinking position, and with a loss or coinciding of silhouette definition,
- 6. In fast animation characer turning or twirling actions the drawing of coinciding tracks occurs at the center of the turning or twirling,
- 7. In foreshortened perspective actions of animation characers progressing directly to or from the camera, the actions are forced into similar drawings of the same area and with a loss of silhouette definition at the drawing of coinciding tracks,
- 8. In animation actions of deliberate anticipation, quick action, and deliberate recoil the center of the acton when silhouette definition is lost is the drawing of coinciding tracks,
- 9. In actions of a burst of speed the drawing of coinciding tracks occurs at the center of the burst of speed which may be a blurred or streaked drawing,
- 10. In animation actions comprising a combination of the above actions,
- producing multiple tracks of camera-originated animation film negative,
- frame coding multiple track film composite, video tape transfer, or video disc transfer, placing frame data of the drawings of coinciding tracks allowing track switching, with data of said drawing location coordinates for each scene, at the start of the scene for access by random access memory storage unit.