I’m currently reading The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, and they keep saying “business” or “a piece of business” with no explanation of what they mean. From context, my best guess is it means an action. But it’s not really Google-able.
Can anyone explain what it means?
Unfortunately, I studied animation in Japan, so the jargon is a whole language different, but perhaps an example paragraph might help?
I’m not familiar with the use in animation, but in live-action television (and I believe also in theater and film) “business” is what characters do with their bodies so they aren’t just standing there saying lines.
For example: Marcia, Jan, and Cindy Brady are getting ready for bed. Jan is whining about something while Marcia is brushing her hair 100 times and Cindy is playing with Kitty Karryall. The hair and the doll don’t have anything to do with the plot, they’re just something the keep the characters “busy” while reacting to Jan.
Ahh yes, that makes sense. So “giving a character some business” in an animation would literally mean keeping them busy, so that you don’t end up with static drawings. Thanks!