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ThirdPotato ā Tutorial- Comic Continuity
Published: 2011-03-28 05:12:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 25645; Favourites: 875; Downloads: 465
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My friend had some questions so I decided to throw up this method I learned from Larison at SCAD, though it was a tedious assignment XD having to map out every single panel >,< But it certainly taught me bout continuity! 8DGo
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Comments: 76
Wonderful, thank you! I really appreciate these sort of tutorials. I never thought about drawing out a floor plan to block characters before, very helpful.Ā
I understand the 180 rule, but just for the sake of discussion... have you seen The Lion King 1 1/2? I know, it's a Disney straight to video sequel and as such probably doesn't count for much, but there are quite a few scenes that seem to break the 180 rule, particularly in this sequence: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0lo1pā¦ .Ā
Do you think they made the wrong decisions here? I personally feel that those shots work, but would love to talk about it!Ā
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You're most welcome! So I scanned through the clip in mention. Surprisingly, they dont' break the 180 rule very much except around 2:50 where it goes from a full front shot to a full over the shoulder shot.
In rare instances you can get away with a full 180 without confusing your audience. In the case of the scene in 2:50-2:57, it works because you have a full front, close up of Timon, and when the camera whips 180 behind him, it is zoomed out, and the focus is off of Timon. THe focus becomes Nala & Simba in the field, so your audience isn't too confused about the position of the camera now that their attention is diverted.
If you ever watched the old Kimba the White Lion series, the 180 rule is broken all over the place there, because they would often re-use the same shot and just flip it horizontal to save on animation. This caused a lot of confusing 180's, but at the time, I don't believe the "180 Rule" was a standard in eastern animation.
In the clip you sent, in the very beginning of the scene where you have Timon & Pumbaa watching Nala&Simba from the bushes, it LOOKS like a 180, but is in fact not. You go from directly behind, to a left, 3/4 front. So the camera only swivels 3/4 of the way. It would break the rule if it was shot from a RIGHT 3/4 view, as the camera would have to swivel past their direct-front in order to shoot that angle.
I believe Disney makes very conscious efforts when storyboarding to assure visual flow and to direct the eye right where it needs to be.
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You're right! That makes a lot of sense now that I re-watch it. They tip-toe around the 180. Very keen observations 
Thanks for clearing that up!
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OMG. I've never thought of using this for comics. TY.
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This is really neat, thanks! As an aspiring animator/storyboarder I have to deal with continuity all the time, and although I knew this method generally, I hadn't thought of the lines to indicate which way the character is facing. So obvious but so effective! Thanks a bunch.
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Thank you! Glad to have helped n.n
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Thanks for this!
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The way I learned it, there was also a 30 degree rule (that shots should vary a minimum of 30 degrees from the prior shot). Do you think that applies in comics? Or do you think the only reason it applies in film is to prevent the appearance of a jump or skip at the cut?
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It doesn't so much apply for comics, because everything about a panel should go towards the storytelling. You should change angles often to keep variety throughout the page, but only if its necessary. In many cases, you'll want to keep the same angle for a specific pacing or mood.
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Very nice, good info. Does the 180 rule apply when your character is facing the "audience" staring at something in shock, and you flip it around in the last panel to show what they were staring at?
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Nope n.n Good question!
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Thanks, that was my first thought when I saw that rule. XD But I see how it applies to everything else.
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I always draw all the backgrounds for an entire chapter last for continuity reasons. I draw the characters in the poses I want them to be in first and THEN make the background work with them.
I find that having the background you want in a scene "set in stone" limits the options you have for drawing the characters.
When thinking of a story, I envision the total environment in a semi-3d-ish way. I know where everything in a set is in case I need to use it.
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I never thought, when I saw this so long ago, that I'd use it, but this is actually going to be pretty helpful in the upcoming month or so. Thanks for posting <33
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woot. im a film major so i know all about the 180 rule~
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Congratulations! Your tutorial has been featured in #Divine-Tutorials first Divine Tutorial News Feature! The news article can be found here: [link]
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Thank you kindly for the feature!
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Wow, that's an elegant solution for scene planning. Simple, yet powerful, and it helps you form and retain how all the environments you use are put together.
Thanks for sharing.
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This looks pretty ace, really. I like how this sort of planning allows for a different dynamic. I could even see this floor plan diagram being used IN the comic in an interesting way.
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I absolutely love drawing from other disciplines like architecture or film. I think people who get stuck in the mindset of "comic art" are limiting themselves. n.n There are so many ways of incorporating all forms of art into everything we do! Thank you for the kind comment!
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Oh lord, I had Film and Animation for a semester and I learned this all too well. *headdesk* It was painful, but the 180 rule works! (especially when some of your watchers are nitpickers with/without critique requested!)
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XDDDDDDDDDD Tell me about it.
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i remember in a book about comics, it was probably trying to say this, but it did so with a wall of confusing text and thn a picture, and I felt as if I missed something important. This clears it up considerably. Thank you fyuvix.
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I'm glad to have helped! n.n
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Oh, a very good help! I never thought I'd learn so much from something so simple, but it's one of those simple concepts that really helps a lot.
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Thank you so very much!
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I've never learned so much from so little. This is like a note you can pull up if you're stuck, that's why I am going to fave this!
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THank you so very very much!
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That's a great tutorial. I would never have thought to do that
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Glad to hear it could help n.n
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THank you! n.n
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that's a really good approach to plan a good layout. your tutorials are always so helpful
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Aww, I think the flip-flop method can be used quite effectively.
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It's even more effective if you can show someone's front and then someone's back without flip-flopping the characters.
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you have such an adorable avatar! xD
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