SHS
TVL – ICT
ANIMATION NCII
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
Use of Hand Tools and
Equipment
(Week 2)
1
What I Know?
Lesson
Use of Hand Tools and
1 Equipment
What’s New?
Creating animation like in movies and TV series requires extensive collaboration that
involves a long process and a lot of work. In creating an animation, animators must
use a collection of equipment that helps process and create the graphics and content.
In traditional or hand-drawn animation technique, each frame is drawn by hand.
This is also called classical animation or cel animation. This type of animation uses
specialized materials and equipment for animators.
2
Using the correct tool for animation jobs is the initial step for safe and efficient hand
tool use. Tools are designed for specific use and function. That is why even graphite
pencils have various grades for a specific purpose. Using any tools incorrectly will
delay one's work and can cause minor injury or tool damage that can become a factor
of delays in accomplishing tasks.
To avoid mishandling of tools, personal injury, and tool damage, select the proper
tool to do the job well and safely. When doing any kind of work in the animation
industry, you need tools to help you get things done. For a traditional animator,
having an organized desk and proper tool for the task is a must. Organizing one’s
workspace such as an animation desk is essential for keeping track of their work. It
is very vital that animators familiarize the different tools and equipment used for
animation so that one can accomplish the task given to them effectively.
Tools must be of good quality and in good condition so that less time can be
consumed to accomplish one’s task. All the tools must be placed in a space that is
easy to reach by the animator.
In this module, learners are expected to learn the different materials, tools, and
equipment used in animation. You will also learn to check, inspect, and assess the
conditions of each tool for proper operation and safety. The occurrence of possible
accident or danger ought to be avoided even if the animator works and spends most
of the time on his or her drawing desk. Having the correct information of functions
and uses of animation tools will help you produce a better-quality output (Ando,
2016).
What is It?
TECHNICAL TERMS
● hand tool - a tool held in the hand and operated without
electricity or power
● equipment - set of articles used or needed for a specific
purpose or activity and is operated by electricity
(AC) or battery (DC) or needed for a specific
purpose or activity.
● ergonomic - the applied science of equipment design; as for
workplace, it is intended to maximize
productivity by reducing operator fatigue and
discomfort
● field size - the area of the picture that is framed by the
camera when the scene is shot or in the case of
computer animation, it shows how much of the
image will be in the frame
● graphite pencil - also called black lead or plumbago; made
with graphite and clay
3
In traditional animation, preparation of materials depends on the needs of the client.
The layout, animation director, animator, clean-up process, in-between process, and
during the final stage of the production are needed as well. The following are the
common tools, equipment, and materials in animation.
HAND TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR ANIMATION
1. Pencil used to rough-out key
drawing. HB or B pencil is needed
for clean drawing, while the colored
pencil is used for roughing out the
animation.
2. Clutch pencil is a pencil commonly
used by animators for clean-up
drawings. It is a mechanical type of
pencil that doesn’t have to be
sharpened.
3. Sharpener is used to sharpen a
pencil's lead by shaving away its
wood surface.
4. Eraser is used to remove pencil
markings on a surface such as
paper. An animator needs to have
an eraser to rub out lead cleanly. It
is available in soft plastic and
rubber.
5. Brush is used to get rid of any carbon
dust or eraser residue.
4
6. Masking tape is used to secure
animation papers or for taping
down the peg bar.
7. Mirror is used to catch the right
facial expression for a character.
8. Animation paper is a special type of
paper used to rough out animation
drawings. Usually comes in field
sizes (12 fields or 15 fields) however,
A4 size is commonly used.
9. Animation lightbox is used to see
clearly through all the layers of
drawings. The essential feature of
this equipment is to have the light
to shine through different layers of
paper for tracing.
10. Animation disc is a drawing disc
placed on a lightbox and used to
work out camera movements and to
pan walk cycles. It has two peg bars
found in its top and its bottom. It is
made up of metal, plastic, or wood.
11. Camera rig is used to tilt and to
pan the camera without shaking
and is made up of metal frame to
hold and control the camera.
12. Camcorder is used to record and
store images that will be imported to
the computer.
5
13. Scanner used to import
information such as images to the
computer and is used as an
alternative device to a camera.
14. Drawing tablets used to control
mouse pointers as if you are writing
or drafting on a paper. It is also
used for digital coloring and
drawing.
15. Personal computers are used in
animation for line testing. And is
utilized as well as to manipulate
digital, mathematical, logical, and
graphical information. Used by
animators to clean-up, sequence,
edit, and finalize graphical projects.
https://www.slideshare.net/conniemariemagno/tools-and-equipment-for-hand-drawn-animation
What’s More?
What I Have Learned?
What I Can Do?
6
Assessment
References
Books:
Ando, Alma C. Animation 11 – Technical Vocational Livelihood Series: Phoenix
Publishing House Inc., 2016
Online Resources
https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/5cf5c663de5715001abdfeee/module-1-
personalentrepreneurial-competencies
https://www.slideshare.net/conniemariemagno/tools-and-equipment-for-
handdrawn-animation https://www.slideshare.net/suertezaragosa1/animation-
tools-and-equipment
https://www.scribd.com/document/318697920/tools-and-equipment-for-
handdrawn-animation
