Overview Between
Game Animation and Feature Animation
I will prudently say that in film, you have more time/ passes /iterations to finesse the animation. Working on multiple shots or a sequence, your animations could go through many reviews and receive a lot of feedback from your Character Leads, Supervisors and Director's. As opposed to games where you most likely have a leaner review process and limited number of passes, you need to have more confidence and initiative to move on with your animation knowing feedback/direction might not come until later, not come at all or come when it’s too late.
There is less time to refine your work but the job also includes a greater understanding of the purpose behind your animation. This isn't about making an Oscar winning performance but making a performance work for a player rather than an audience member. A film audience doesn't get to push a character's buttons and direct their actions; they sit through them and watch as a somewhat passive participant. In a game, however, the player (the audience) controls every movement, every experience, and every moment. It's more important to make them FEEL those moments through controller inputs and motion output rather than through inactive segments of storytelling.
I know some might be shocked, but storytelling is still an important factor and will be more so with the upcoming titles, improved software and new hardware. Storytelling is still a key component for games, we are expecting animators to produce great performances when they are working in cinematic or giving the chance to do so in-game. The story is the player’s motivation to continue to play the games, but this might not be the case for all games.
Again, the viewer is not passive, they're interactive, and it's your job to meet a whole new set of expectations to satisfy them. You have the same concerns film has regarding their emotional and story based performance, but you also need to sell immersion and intuitive interaction to the player.
The iAnimate Game Workshops will focus on teaching animation as well as game design relating to animation, which is expected knowledge from any major studio.
So there you have it, a quick overview of the differences between Film and Games.
-- Ric Arroyo