This was a little catch up exercise I did after my escape studio course. I based it off the queen's mannerisms in the Netflix series The Crown. Particularly from Olivia Colman - whenever there was a meeting with whoever was prime minister at the time. Often there was bad news about to be delivered. I loved how calm and composed the characters always acted. Even in the face of absolute stress - but that didn't mean you couldn't read it on their face or that there wasn't an atmosphere of tension. Everything feels so elegant yet emotional but also so foreign - like I was watching a completely different world that I most likely will never truly understand -I think that's part of why I loved the series so much.
Anyways! About this animation... It all seemed so simple in the beginning. Until I spline my blocking and it looks like she has incredibly strong calves. Since I based this off movement that is often really subtle and lacks any big dramatic expression - I had to focus on the finest details. Such as how female royals often kept their feet very close together as with their hands. So I focused a lot on keeping that feeling of modesty and formality.
I think the most dramatic point was when she drops down to the chair, in which her back slightly swings back and she catches herself. A big challenge here was not making it look like she hits a wall and flings forward. Every part of me wanted to go very cartoony and have her swing back and forth and settle - but wondered if that might draw away from the feeling. I think it's one I could have tried out on a layer. Noted for next time!