ABSTRACT
This chapter deals primarily with the process of animating jumps, or indeed anything that actively challenges the force of gravity. The effects of gravity, such as weight, will feature strongly in the other tutorials, but our interest here is focused mainly on the issues relating to a character launching himself upward, against gravity, seeking to leave the ground, and then returning earthward under the force of gravity once again. All jumps are underpinned by the basic principles of the bouncing ball, so first we’ll remind ourselves of the most widely used and acknowledged principle for introducing animation to first-time students.
