Unit 11 : Planning for the 11 second club

In this unit, we have reached the end of the module and are set to apply all the theory we've learned by creating an animation with audio from the 11 Second Club. This will enable us to demonstrate our newly acquired skills and techniques in our own individual short animation to submit to the conclusion.

11 Second Club Planning - Body Snatches audio

• 2 voices

• Utilising everything learnt from this module : pantomime, blocking, thumbnails, timing, frame count, stepped keys, anticipation, accent pose, dialogue and lip-sync, constraints.

Development of ideas -

• 2 voices but 3 characters needed

• A serious setting, but a whimsical element to make the shot more exciting

• Eleven rig (as suggested by 11 second club)

• Can adjust rig (hair, gender, eye colour)

Transcript -

Voice 1: My friend has had some difficult emotional experiences during the last couple of days, but I think this is something that we could work out amongst ourselves.

Voice 2: All right. I'll leave this part of it with you.

Voice 1: I appreciate it.

Concepts -

A meeting?

An appointment?

Police station?

• Eleven rig

• Mr Buttons rig

The friend is Mr Buttons - whimsical, confused? worried? stressed out?

Eleven rig 1 - is voice 1 - maybe he’s just trying to look after mr buttons, or found him and wanted to help him out, tries to convince voice 2 that he’s got it all under control and doesn’t need help, he’s trying to act serious but has good intention.

Eleven rig 2 - is voice 2 - he’s confused, becomes freaked out by Mr Buttons, and doesn’t want to be involved at all and more or less gives in.

Mr Buttons - “friend” - bigger than the set, his head hits the roof and he’s uncomfortable, he’s trying to find a comfortable position but is making it worse and becoming more and more stressed out - exaggerated features, squash and stretch, a character almost like Mr Bean - no dialogue just body language and gets himself into a muddle in a humours way rather than sympathetic way.

Eleven rig 2 - holding something of importance - a picture? Some kind of tool? A needle/injection?

Eleven rig 2 - wants what he has

Mr Buttons - stressed

An injection to calm him down? Or maybe an annual injection at the vets?

In the vets office, talking over the counter, Mr buttons in waiting room.

Sketches -

Plan -

• Test Eleven rig/Mr Buttons rig for suitability

• Footage/live reverence import into scene

• Start by blocking in stepped keys

• Animate on 4’s, then 2’s

• Break down timing

• Add in camera/ camera angles

• Block plus - in-betweens

• Blocking plus plus - Spline curves

• Adjust timing

• Refine key frames

• Add further keyframes for emphasis and weight, as well as offsetting for fluidity

• Clean up tangents (slow-in, slow-out, constant speed)

Key notes for references -

• Start pose

• Anticipation

• Accent/reaction

• Squash

• Settle/ finish

Eyes -

•  Quick dart (1-2 frames)

• Down then to the side

• Blink at change of direction

• Blink minimum of 6 frames

• Fast down, slow up

• Avoid still/dead eyes

• Maintain eye contact

• Eyebrows move up/down with blinks

• Eyes move first before body

Characters that are still -

• Breathing - deep, slow regular

• subtle movements

• Avoid “floatiness”

Dialogue -

• 2 frames ahead of audio (maybe 1, maybe 3 at appropriate times)

• Keep it snappy for quick dialogue

• Decide on accent

• Keep it simple

• Don’t animate every vowel

• Hold 2 frames for M,B,P,F,V, T, TH

Key notes to consider -

• Eyebrows indicate thought process (create strong and solid facial expressions) - The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams

• Don’t change expression during change of direction - The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams

• Delay/offset hands from one another - The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams

• “Do one thing at a time and be crystal clear” The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams

• “Getting the feeling of the word and not the individual letters” The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams

• Make the characters actions fit his words - Timing for Animation by Harold Whitaker and John Halas

• Consider the rise and fall of the voice  - Timing for Animation by Harold Whitaker and John Halas

• The body is used to underline content, hands to emphasis  - Timing for Animation by Harold Whitaker and John Halas

Additional images -

Bibliography -

Classic Mr Bean (2025). Mr Bean Goes Shopping | Mr Bean Full Episodes | Classic Mr Bean. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKHVBV_a2YI [Accessed 10 Aug. 2025].

Whitaker, H., Halas, J. and Sito, T. (2009). Timing for Animation. 2nd ed. New York: Focal Press.

Williams, R. (2021a). The animator’s survival kit : dialogue, directing, acting and animal action. London: Faber & Faber.