Animation : The Importance of Life Drawing in Animation - Or Not? by Bob Harper

I’ve got to go to some life drawing classes, we had a couple sessions in my painting class in university. I’m not an animator myself but I exclusively draw on paper so I’m all about building my skills the old way and I 100% agree that life drawing is the way.

Thanks for sharing the article, Bob Harper. I did life drawings growing up, but I didn't know they were called that. I remember one of my favorite drawings back then was a picture of a chameleon. And I used to love drawing in notebooks and sketch books. I think life drawing is a crucial part of animation, and I think it'll always be relevance in today's art/business.

I have found that life drawing has helped me make my animation and characters feel more alive and dynamic. I honestly would love to do it on a regular basis.

Great share, Bob Harper, thank you! I’d love to hear more about your take! The evolution of tools and workflows has definitely shifted how we approach fundamentals, but I think there’s still a lot of value in exploring where traditional technique meets modern practice. Want to share more about your perspective?

Ashley Renee Smith I believe the classic way of instructing may be archaic in today's animation marketplace. Instruction should be tailored to goals. Life Drawing is essential for someone who wants to pursue a career in animation for shows that require actual anatomy and movement. For those who wish to pursue a career in more stylized, unnatural types of animation, a basic understanding of anatomy is fundamental, but an overemphasis on life drawing could be detremntal for types of cartooning and also unleashing one's authentic style.

If you want to be an artisan and find work on productions, then Life Drawing is extremely important. But if you want to create the next South Park or Muppets, then maybe not so much.

I had a discussion, years ago, with a very respected artist named Roger Armstrong. He was classically trained and worked in different styles and mediums. I, and a few other artists were experimenting with a cutout UPA style and I quipped that life drawing can get in the way of stylized art and animation and he bellowed "You're damn right it does!"

Bob Harper, this is such an insightful perspective. It’s a great reminder that the path to becoming a working artist or creator isn’t one-size-fits-all. The goal should always be to equip people with the skills that support their vision, not steer them away from it. Thank you for adding such valuable depth to this conversation!

Great article Bob Harper! As someone who leads a team of animators. I find there to be validity in this article. I would like to see a study if possible a group of animators who take life drawing versus those who do not and what the difference is long term (I doubt that study would ever happen) but it would be an interesting find.