Staging

When trying to convey a complicated idea to an audience, it can be a challenge to make the idea clear and understandable. Staging is used to help an audience member through these complex ideas so that they understand and can follow them throughout the work of art or animation.

What is Staging?

This principle explains how certain actions, poses, or camera moves are used to help the audience understand an idea, reaction or mood [1]. This principle is a tool that makes the story flow by directing focus and attention to one character. Edmond will help explain a bit further.

Here, Edmond is spending some time with his friends. When you look at this scene, there is no story, and there is no specific spot that your attention is drawn to. Suddenly, Edmond sees something. 

Because of Edmond's pose (his facial expression), attention is drawn to him. He shows that there is something surprising or scary, and it sets the mood. With the way Edmond is posed compared to his friends, it is an example of staging.

Here is an exciting example of Staging from the Disney classic, The Lion King [2]:

The Lion King: Stampede Scene

What am I looking at?

• The largest example of Staging in this scene is when the camera zooms in on Simba (the lion cub) as he realizes that he is about to be in the middle of a stampede. This camera mood plus his pose sets the mood for the scene. Leading up to that moment, the mood is unsure. Although the viewer knows that something big is happening, it is hard to understand how much danger he is in until Simba himself realizes it.
• Throughout the scene, watch as attention is directed towards Simba. As he struggles on the tree, he is separating himself from the background and grabbing attention. That is another example of staging in the scene.

How can I apply this to my work?

• If you are trying to convey complicated information, or there is a lot going on in your scene, try to draw attention to the most important character or object. You can do this by 
• changing the way the character is posed
•  zooming in
•  or creating an attention grabbing action to your character.

Do your best to make things clear for your audience, and have fun doing it!

Sources:

[1] Atkinson, David. Animation Notes #5 Principles of Animation.  Retrieved from http://minyos.its.rmit.edu.au/aim/a_notes/anim_principles.html.

[2] Dewey, A., Hahn, D., McArthur, S., Shumacher, T. (Producers), Allers, R., & Minkoff, R. (Directors). (1994). The Lion King [Motion Picture]. United States: Walt Disney.