Rotoscoping is a sophisticated animation technique that involves filming live-action then tracing each frame to create a very fluid, lifelike movement.

Students are attracted to this process because they have “not only something to look at and take ideas from, but also make it their own” (Animation Club Participant.)


Continuity
As in other film making efforts, it is important when rotoscoping to ensure consistency from one frame to another. Changing styles, colors, or sizes too rapidly within scenes will cause the animation to appear incoherent.

Recommendations:

  • Begin working with short clips (3 to 10 sec.) Rotoscoping can be a very time intensive process.

  • Use live action that contains lots of movement such as: sports footage, dancing, and actions that form a natural cycle (for example: juggling.)

  • Tell students that yes, rotoscoping is a laborious process but there is no shortcut to coolness.

  • For longer animations, divide the sequence into shorter clips for different students to rotoscope, like the one below.


Example of a rotoscoped frame from a multi-student collaborative video.

Click Here to See Completed Project


Advantages:

  • Video source footage is only used as a reference that you will draw over, so it won't actually appear in the final product.

  • Rotoscoping makes it easier to animate really difficult, complex actions.

  • Rotoscoping motivates students to learn more complex software applications.

  • The process of rotoscoping teaches students about the reality of animating as a very time intensive activity.


 
 
 

© 2008 Karin Gunn. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: February 2008