Animation: Water Spash Reference- Iron Giant

Greetings internet!  Put some of my students to the task of animating a simple water splash.  So while reviewing reference in class the computer (or the guy using it) crashed and I couldn't show my examples.  BUT, because I have this blog nobody reads I thought I would post two totally awesome splashes from one of my favorite movies, The Iron Giant. The great Michael Gagne styled the effects for this film and also worked on the second shot in this post, while Ryan Woodward worked on the Hogarth splash. Both segments follow below.  These are from the scene when Hogarth, Giant and Dean go out to the lake.  Hogarth says, "Hey Deeeean! Watch this!" Dean sits in a beach chair with his coffee and newspaper, "We're watchin', we're watchin." This is for professionals only!" and he jumps off a rock into the lake. (Sorry some frames strobbed out but here it is for the most part.) this one is a good stylization of a realistic splash.

 Primary splash begins.

 Note the bowl shape as the round splash rises.

 The upward action begins to succumb to gravity...

 ..and falls back to the water line.

 Cut to a high angle OTS to set up Giant's POV.

Even though continuity is inconsistent as far as the splash goes, you can still get the feel of the motion because the velocity of the primary splash (now fall) is similar.

The secondary splash or 'water column' starts to rise in the above frame.  The secondary column comes from water being pushed out of the way then collapsing in again.  This forces water upward at the middle of the splash.

 Column succumbs to gravity and rise shifts to fall.

 Heading back toward the waterline.

At this point Hogarth surfaces and asks the others to join him. We think they turn him down but Giant shows his fun side.  He runs out of the woods and leaps into the air. We track and boom down to follow his progress...

 ...he hits the water surface pushing out the water to the side in a very cartoony splash.

Wipe to a high angle exactly the same as Hogarth high angle. Camera angle similarities -whether noticed or unnoticed by the audience- reinforces the connection between Hogarth and Giant.

 Here's the bowl shape again.

 The sides rise up and out, more out this time due to the size of 'object'.

 Secondary splash breaks the surface...

...and shoots upward...

 ...and rises...

 ...and rises...

 ...and rises...

 ...and rises but begins to slow (for dramatic effect)...

 Cut to Hogarth amidst the tidal wave of Cannonball water splash.

I will add more to this but I hope this reference helps.  Thanks for stopping by.