I believe it is essential, even if not explored personally, to consider the rubber hose animation movement that was prevalent in the 1920s- 1930s animated culture. An essential part of the rubber-hose style is that animators were using “curving forms” that sacrificed ” any sense of a body’s structure for the sake of smooth, flowing movement” (Barrier, 2003 pp.74). An interesting thing discussed by Barrier is how The Skeleton Dance was animated “very rapidly in essentially mechanical patterns ” and how the skeletons “take part in simple repetitive dances” (2003, pp.61). He expands how ” their bony limbs are surprisingly rubbery” (Barrier, 2003, pp.61) and gives implications that the robber hose style is complimented by its strong use of sound. Due to the rubber-hose style’s inherent ability to create smooth cycles, its timing with music potentially looks less forced and mechanical, ironically adding a level of realism to ‘dance’ motions. This arises many considerations when designing my own skeletons and their movements in relation to sound.
Examples of Rubber-Hose Animation
3D Translation
An interesting example I found was a YouTube video which accentuates features of the ‘rubber-hose’ style of animation recreated in blender. This, however considers more visually stylistic approaches only in its inherent character design. The movement also do not truly resemble any likeness of the rubber-hose’s squash stretch and cycle adaptability.
Considering this, I have researched into potential ways to create a rubber-hose rig within 3D space a researched several rigging tutorials withing Maya. The video below highlights quite efficiently how this effect can be achieved by using leg and arm IKs. This will very useful for future endeavours into nostalgic recreation within 3D space.
References
Barrier, M. (2003) Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. Oxford University Press.