Becoming one with the crowds: Illustrating collective movement

Project overview

How can movement, energy and the diversity of bodies be captured in a single image?

As part of the ‘Faire corps avec les ribambelles’ project, second-yearstudents on the 3D Animation course created an illustration featuring a succession of characters dancing. A true exercise in observation and visual storytelling, this work led them to explore the many ways of depicting the body in motion whilst constructing a dynamic and coherent composition.

The challenge was to give each character their own distinct identity whilst creating a harmonious whole, capable of conveying the collective energy of a choreography.

Assignment brief

The students were tasked with creating a colour illustration in panoramic format (16 x 65 cm) depicting a host of varied characters dancing.

The exercise was based on an original constraint: to incorporate into the composition a photograph of the student in a dance pose, used as a starting point or reference to inform their exploration of movement.

Building on this foundation, the students devised a fully-fledged choreographed sequence in drawing form, in which each character contributes to the overall dynamic. The image was intended to convey movement through the sequence of poses, the interactions between the figures and the overall rhythm of the composition.

Although completed within a relatively short timeframe, the project nevertheless required a high standard of finish. The students finalised their illustrations either by inking them – to enhance the clarity and graphic quality of the drawing – or by producing a detailed pencil sketch, preserving all the richness and spontaneity of the line work. Colour was then added to complete the piece and bring the composition to life. 

Learning objectives

The aim of this project was to reinforce the fundamentals of character drawing and the depiction of movement.

In particular, the students worked on:

• anatomical studies
• understanding different body types
• posing and the depiction of movement
• character expressiveness
• the construction of a visual choreography
• composing a sustained, rhythmic image

The exercise also provided an opportunity to explore the concept of collective movement, which is essential in the animation industry, where every pose must contribute to the clarity and energy of a scene.

Techniques used

To create their illustrations, the students utilised:

• observational drawing and preparatory research
• reference photography
• inking or detailed pencil work
• traditional or digital colouring

Through this project, the students demonstrated a fine command of character drawing and movement. The diversity of the figures, the richness of the poses and the care taken with the composition give rise to lively, dynamic scenes, in which each character contributes to telling the story of a shared collective dance.