Breaking 3D Models to Achieve the Perfect Animation Shot

It is always a delight to catch a rare glimpse of 3D Animators as they twist, bend, and break their character models to nail the perfect shot for their sequences. What usually remains unseen behind the scenes can be just as entertaining as the final animation itself, the truth recently reaffirmed by Aleksey Besedin, a seasoned 3D Animator and Rigger.

In his recent Twitter post, which gained widespread attention over the weekend, the artist showcased a 3D sequence featuring a character dropping a box, comparing the animation as seen by viewers and the actual appearance of the character.

To achieve the desired outcome, the author had to transform the character model into a hilariously monstrous figure, distorting the body and elongating the arms to accurately portray the hands. You can view the full demo attached above or by visiting Aleksey's Twitter page.

Earlier, Pixar's Animator Cody Lyon shared a similar showcase, demonstrating how the technique of breaking character models was used for Luca, Pixar's 2021 animated film:

In the comments to Cody's Twitter post, a user named Mapache Pinto showed how one of the flamboyant poses from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure's Bloody Stream opening appears from a different angle:

And back in 2023, Walt Disney Animation Studios' Tony Bonilla showcased Mirabel from the studio's Encanto with elongated and non-anatomically-accurate arms, which are not seen in the actual movie but are more than evident when seen from another angle:

Don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.