The Animator's Paradox

This page is part of the BA Thesis The Animator's Paradox by Lukas Wind (2022)

The Animator’s Paradox

As animators we deal with movement in every aspect of our work. We know far more about movement in animation and how to construct it than about movement of and within our own bodies. I call this phenomenon The Animator’s Paradox:

   Animators forget to move themselves while they move other things on a daily basis.

Introduction

Due to the frequently occurring health dysfunctions amongst animation students like back pain, headache and tendonitis that severely interfere with our work (and can be avoided), I created a pool of easy-access knowledge that equips the starting animation student (that should be you) with practical techniques and some additional theory in order to improve health and prevent injury. I am not trying to convince you of any lifestyle choices and I can’t make you aware of the importance of your health (although I wish I could). The only thing I can do for you is to open that door – stepping through is your decision. And I deeply wish for you to take that step out of curiosity and not because of tendonitis or back pain.

Being the author, I obviously recommend you to read the full version because it provides additional information that can't be accessed from here (contact me for a digital copy or find one on in the archive). Don't worry, all the practical content is here.

Before you continue: All the exercises should be done with great caution and at one’s own risk. In no way do the articles and exercises replace or disregard a medical check or treatment by a qualified expert and I am not responsible for any inconveniences caused by advise given in this context.

The articles can be read in chronological order by clicking the next linked chapter at the bottom of the page (or the previous linked chapter at the top of the page). You will always arrive on this page by clicking Back to Index on the top of every page.

Table of Content

   • Sitting
   • Standing
   • The Options
   • Working environment
   • Natural light and screens
   • Climate
   • Chairs
   • Desks
   • Mice and keyboards
   • Graphic tablets
   • Gadgets
   • Movement opportunities
   • Kleiner Gesundheitsguide für AnimatorInnen by Vera Lang
   • The Animator’s Routine