3D Computer Animation

Instruction Pages by Wobbe F. Koning

General Animation 3D Modeling 3D Animation Shade/Light/Render Post Production Resources

Moving Hold

A moving hold is the slight bit of motion a character has while they are in a pose. If there is an absolute hold, a complete static pose that lasts several frames, the a 3D character immediately feels lifeless. Even if it is something small as breathing, there should never be a total absence of movement.

• Keith Lango's Tutorial on moving holds.
• Moving Hold - Bobby Beck (Pixar Animator)
• What Is a Moving Hold? by Shawn Kelly on (animationmentor.com

In traditional animation, alternating two or three virtually identical drawings can be used to avoid the line going dead in an animation style that is somewhat freehand, as shown in this (excerpt from) animation from Bill Plympton: Fascist Santa

I originally posted a (link to) a video with animator Jeff Lew's with take on the moving hold, but that has since been removed from YouTube, porbably to sell more DVDs

---