Camera and Cinematography for Animation Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Camera and Cinematography for Animation flashcards as text
Which shot type frames a character from the waist up and is commonly used in dialogue scenes in animation?
Answer: Medium shot
A medium shot frames the subject from approximately the waist up, making it ideal for conveying both facial expression and body language in dialogue.
What is the term for the imaginary line between two characters that, if crossed by the camera, causes a spatial disorientation known as breaking the 180-degree rule?
Answer: Action axis
The action axis (also called the line of action) is the imaginary 180-degree line that defines screen direction; crossing it creates a confusing reversal of positions.
In animation cinematography, what does a 'Dutch angle' (canted angle) shot convey?
Answer: Tension, unease, or psychological disturbance
A Dutch angle tilts the camera diagonally on its roll axis to create a sense of unease, tension, or a character's disturbed mental state.
Which camera movement smoothly follows a moving subject by physically moving the camera sideways, parallel to the subject?
Answer: Tracking/dolly shot
A tracking or dolly shot moves the camera laterally to follow a subject, maintaining consistent framing while the character moves through the environment.
What is 'field of view' (FOV) in 3D animation cameras, and how does a wide FOV affect the scene?
Answer: The angle the camera captures; wide FOV exaggerates depth and perspective distortion
Field of view is the angle of the scene captured by the camera; a wide FOV captures more of the environment but exaggerates perspective, making near objects appear larger relative to distant ones.
In animation, what does an 'establishing shot' primarily accomplish?
Answer: Orients the audience to the setting and spatial relationships at the start of a scene
An establishing shot, typically a wide or extreme wide shot, gives the audience geographic and contextual information about the scene's location before cutting to closer coverage.
Which cinematographic principle states that important visual elements should be placed along the lines that divide a frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically?
Answer: Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds divides the frame into a 3×3 grid; placing key subjects at the intersections or along these lines creates more dynamic and pleasing compositions than centering.