Full Body Animating

[Alcaknight]

How did you guys get into full body animating? I have been stuck on sticks, and I really want to change, but I am finding it hard. Any tips?

[Alcaknight]

Here is an example of a hand animation I just made. First time *trying* to animate a hand.

http://www.truploader.com/view/424468

I'll post it on deviantart also just in case that link didnt work.

http://alcaknight.deviantart.com/art/Hand-Animation-118876119

Any tips?

[boundless]

Draw first. Go out and draw landscapes, bowls of fruit, people at a bus stop, and everything you can. Practice translating 3D objects onto paper. That's the only way you'll get better at drawing and imagining things in 3D. Draw from life as often as you can.

And then, grab a copy of The Animator's Survival Kit. And if you're using your computer to animate, you should really get a drawing tablet.

[Anghenfil]

Draw people, and draw a lot. 

You can also start by animating really simple Preston Blair-type figures, with lots of round parts and not much detail.  Or you can animate even simpler shapes like a ball with a detail (eyes, a mouth, a stripe, etc) or a flour sack.  If you try simple exercises, it'll be easier to create a foundation to move into real full body acting.