2D Animation 1: Fundamentals (MFA) - Animal Locomotion Studies @ Seneca Park Zoo (2022)
March 3, 2022
Vanessa Sweet
2022. 1st Yr MFA Animation students partake in an animal locomotion project and strike out to the Seneca Park Zoo to learn about the mechanics of different animals as well as partake in observational analysis: A critical skill for all 2D animators.
![Students sitting working on paper, drawing reference from the seals in the zoo.](https://s3.cad.rit.edu/cadgallery_production/images/2133/4rAO9rg6wybPrKlySHa1xIiIfvIomyrQTkQHlU8G.jpg)
Student use their viewfinder to locate composition and perspective they wish to draw for their sequence
![A black frame is held in a hand, through which a window shows part of the watery exhibit behind.](https://s3.cad.rit.edu/cadgallery_production/images/2133/wTerPmh1kfT5UXd68pAjWOP7HzQWA0w1vMFHfjw1.jpg)
View finding at the Zoo. Students looked through their view finders to locate interesting compositions and to navigate alternative perspectives for animation.
![Paper is strewn on a bench, displaying some of the observational drawings of the seals movment.](https://s3.cad.rit.edu/cadgallery_production/images/2133/YlOUnXKsYUbcrUp7BvFWfwbFI0WFOY5jlR3v9jG3.jpg)
A student's observational analysis drawings of animal movement and mechanics.
![Image of a seal in a zoo take squinting suspiciously at the drawing tablet offered up for him to view.](https://s3.cad.rit.edu/cadgallery_production/images/2133/vrwl8vfUvjutCN2j9nMPrGH9qtBb93SEdH6Lxq89.jpg)
Everyone's a critic.