Video Reference Examples

Here are a few selected links relating to video reference (and film reference in the pre-video days) in the creation of expressive character animation.

The use of filmed actors for character acting reference goes back to the earliest days of drawn animation. Here's a clip showing how Disney filmed  the actors from "Alice In Wonderland" (1951) as they did their voice recordings for the film, then used the film footage as reference for the animation acting.

Interesting footage from "The Little Mermaid" - many of Ariel's characteristic movements and gestures were actually invented by the 12-year actress during her voice session. Glen Keane appears for a moment in the last clip on the page:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/leonoraepstein/this-live-action-footage-for-the-little-mermaid-is-fascinati


A more recent example - Johnny Depp and other actors on the set of "Rango." Notice how most of the actors actually use their costumes to help get into character for the voice session:

Lastly, some websites specialize in providing pre-recorded video reference for common character actions such as walking, falling, fist fighting, etc.


https://vimeo.com/groups/aniref
http://www.youtube.com/user/endlessreference


Stock footage companies are an excellent source of reference for hard to shoot items like wild animals and volcanic explosions:

http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com

http://footage.shutterstock.com

http://www.stockfootageforfree.com