Lilly & Mary W.I.P Blocking and expanding my Approach.

Lilly & Mary

 So After  during the weekend I started on my Lilly and Mary test animation. This test is aimed toward creating two separate personality's which are interacting with each other for the first time. At this moment iv been focusing on the shy girl(Lilly). The initial Surprise of the character was relatively simple to visualize but the after math which is her movement away from Mary has been somewhat more difficult.  A point that has me a little sidetracked is whether or not I should animate Marys approach.... As far as my planning had went Mary suddenly appears from behind Lilly and I'm not entirely sure the best method to take on this.

Lilly & Mary Screencap (Eleven Rig)

 

Early Stages of Animation (Blocked and Step Tangents)

Earlier today I was discussing with a classmate, whether or not I should try using Japanese animation as a source of reference. Many books I have read on acting and character personality are saying how effective using memories and your own observations of people can improve animation along with helping to generate a unique look.  Frankly I don't have much of a database towards the observation of real life people and as I consider more toward how my own animations look I would prefer to avoid going with a systematic and repetitive result.  
So here is a question I have been looking at toward this: If I use Anime (The strength and brunt of my interest) how would my animations and characters express themselves in a 3D context? compared to using Pixar, Dreamworks and real life examples which can be said as the more common look being generated. This being said there is also the risk of it resulting as being considered  anime styled as well the only variable being the Use of a 3D medium over the usual 2D. There is also the factor of what can be adapted from 2D into 3D a factor which is also been experienced with Classic cartoons  making the leap into 3D.

Examples : Surprised or Shocked , Four Anime Examples:  OHSHC, Accel World, Binbougami Ga!, Robotics;Notes

Three Pixar and Disney Examples: Tangled, Toy Story and Toystory 2.

"Ouran High school Host Club"

"Accel World"

"Binbougami Ga!"

"Robotics;Notes"

"Tangled"

"Tangled"

"Toy Story"

"Toy story"

"Toy Story 2"

"Toy Story 2"

 Though not all of these situations might not be the best at representing this topic. They were the ones that fit my requirements while searching for them as a reference. The anime examples each have their own style of showing this expression. While Tangled and Toy Story has a some what repetitive formula. The only image to contradict this is Woody's reaction to Buzz (The first example of woody above).

On another note was looking for more books into my chosen topic and found two  more book One which I have read before for its history of how animation adapted into New media, This time I aim to depict it of its useful sources toward character personality & Development. The other more focused towards Acting and Movement.  There was also a book I've had my eye on every time I've visited Amazon to buy books. Hopefully this will give me some insight and help improve on my dynamic drawing as my current approach feels rather lax.