animation question

# 1 05-10-2007 , 01:10 AM

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im intend to use alot of video reference for my character animating, and i figured to make it easier, it would be nice to import my video into some kinda frame counter.
My question

does anyone know or recommend any software or techniques for this as this will speed up my process and also make my character appear more realistic. i did google before anyone says to but im not sure of what im looking for, so i came to the place i know best....

here is a snap of my animation in progress but i know i can get it 10 times closer to the mark with frame reference for when i come to blocking out my poses

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=6497529879

those who succeed are only the failures that never gave up.

https://www.vimeo.com/7080130

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# 2 05-10-2007 , 01:32 AM

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Video reference is all good but dont rely on it in such a rigid way. Try and go through it and find the key poses and just thumbnail the key poses that you need.

Good quality animatoin is all about timing and spacing, you need to show contrast between your extreme poses.

There are some nice poses in your videos you just need to really plan the whole thing through on paper first, alot of the beliveability will come alot later when you go in and start offsetting your values and clean up your curves into extremes.

Photo reference is great but dont use it in a tracing style , step through it and try and grasp what makes each part of a motion work.

Also i recommend you dont use smooth curve until your happy with all your poses. If you want more help you can contact me at laurie.priest@gmail.com.

Ill put up an example jump animation or somthing to show you user added image

.

Makes me very happy to see people doing some animation KEEP IT UP !!! user added image

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# 3 05-10-2007 , 01:38 AM

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hey laurie,

thanx for your advice. like most on here im just starting out in the big bad world of animation. im a self taught maya user of about 18 months and only been animating characters for about 8 months. so i need all the help i can get.

i start Animation Mentor in jan so i know from jan il be on the right track, until then i appreciate all the help and advice i get,..so a big thank you to you

and yes...animating makes me happy too! its the bomb!

those who succeed are only the failures that never gave up.

https://www.vimeo.com/7080130

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# 4 05-10-2007 , 01:46 AM

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Hah good course, i know a few ppl who teach on there its a good place but prepare to work your ass off. =D
There are many ways to approach animation and they will most likely tell you to draw everything out first.

Buy these books :
Force dynamic life drawing for animators by mattesi.
Richard Williams: animation survival kit

Buy a load of anatomny books as well, i like George B Bridgman, Jack Hamm and Bruce Hoggraths stuff.

This things almost finished rendering ill wack it up on you tube, excuse the shitty enviroment user added image

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# 5 05-10-2007 , 02:23 AM

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nice one. ur a star

send me the link wen its done

those who succeed are only the failures that never gave up.

https://www.vimeo.com/7080130

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# 6 05-10-2007 , 02:40 AM

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https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8zb6dvDpMso

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# 7 05-10-2007 , 03:12 AM

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nice nice man. i like it alot! very smooth. i love the follow through at the end. wot was he doing wen he was crouching??

those who succeed are only the failures that never gave up.

https://www.vimeo.com/7080130

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# 8 05-10-2007 , 03:14 AM

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so how did YOU learn to animate so well?

those who succeed are only the failures that never gave up.

https://www.vimeo.com/7080130

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# 9 05-10-2007 , 03:17 AM

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just an over the top anticipation, =) in any case.. its all about timing and spacing which in turn implies weight.

CG animation has a TON of short cuts that can make the process unbelivably fast, i do most my animatoins in well under a day, that one took arond half a day max i think.

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# 10 05-10-2007 , 03:39 AM

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thigns that really help me:
-contrinually try and pick out whats wrong with your work, be your own harshest critique.

-work just outside your skill range, dont try and animate an epic if you cant make a decent bouncing ball.

-allways look at other peoples techniques, why is the person next to you faster, better.

-dont get stuck in hours and hours to tweaking, find the root of the problem and simplifty the task, if somthing looks wrong with the hand dont piss about keying the hand all over the place, its probably somthign wrong with the hips or the shoulder. If the body is off balance everything else will be as well.

-Focus on the sillhouette, animate to a single locked camera and use this to judge the animation. Look at animatoin like burning safari, consider how different the impact of alot of animatoin would be if it was taken from another perspective.

-Look into and research your medium, cg is awesome for fast animation. The main adavantage is that we can have keyframes seperately and seperate out translates and rotates. Magic happens when you offset your keyframes and seperate out your translate and roatate keyframes.

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# 11 05-10-2007 , 11:59 AM

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superb advice mate. really really will help me, in fact im gonna save this page as a reference guide. It all makes sense.

What is CG animation?? a site? if it is, can u give me th link? thanx

those who succeed are only the failures that never gave up.

https://www.vimeo.com/7080130

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# 12 05-10-2007 , 04:09 PM

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CG is computer generated, ill post example of a 3 key walk just using copied and pasted keys as well if you like. (except on the feet rotation).

Also never use weighted curves and crap it just confuses things.

start with bouncing ball dude, its exactly what they will do at Animatoin Mentor as well.

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