Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: r1k on March 26, 2014, 11:19:28 pm

Title: pompous walk cycle
Post by: r1k on March 26, 2014, 11:19:28 pm
I need help making this walk cycle look more pompous, or arragant, but without adding more frames to it.

(http://i.imgur.com/jNrYZBR.gif)

edit: tried some different things:

(http://i.imgur.com/6GnDs9Y.gif)
here I just made the arms out more

(http://i.imgur.com/GB0g4O1.gif)
and here I gave him wider steps and the changed arms

the original version seems a little more flamboyant, like a strut.  The last version is more like a tough guy stance.  But Im not really sure which reads as more arragant or pompous.
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: HarveyDentMustDie on March 27, 2014, 12:54:32 am
Maybe this will be helpful somehow - > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLBUd3r1y3I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLBUd3r1y3I)  :crazy:
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: Conzeit on March 27, 2014, 03:39:17 am
try low center of gravity. your center of gravity is very very high, that's nerveous. works for someone actively threatening but not for someone who thinks he's the shit and doesnt have to do anything  to get his power across.

Harvey's link kinda has that even though it's stiff, see how his torso wobbles from side to side on contact frame? that's low pivot...I'd also highlight the longs strides and gestural motion of the arms. Though, honestly his walk is a wee bit too jerky, who he is as a wrestler and his suit is probably a lot of why that intro is impressive.

this comes up in my head
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8TS-E2pxek

also I'm sure the Animator's Survival Kit has something on this even though I just cant find the book right now :p
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: Johasu on March 27, 2014, 03:57:06 am
It seems to me that your steps are a bit too fast.
Pompous, cocky, arrogant are all feelings that make you feel more relaxed around other people.  The step animation is very fast imo.  Try slowing the footfall down a bit maybe.

I don't read the energy as pompous.  I read it as focus and direct.  No nonsense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uI75nJj3Nc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uI75nJj3Nc)  <-- This is a bit exaggerated I think, but it has closer to the feel I think you are aiming for.
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: r1k on March 27, 2014, 09:22:57 pm
ok I tried to take into account all your criticisms.

(http://i.imgur.com/zq3hADX.gif)

I think this is about as slow as I can make it without it looking too jumpy without adding more frames.
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: HarveyDentMustDie on March 27, 2014, 10:47:29 pm
Now it's much better. :) Legs are perfect. Maybe his arms should be a bit longer, and his hands should go partially in front of his torso during the walk if you know what I mean.
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: r1k on March 27, 2014, 11:23:50 pm
ok I did the arms more like that vince mcman walk, I also tried speeding it up just a little bit. Heres the old one sped up for better comparison too

(http://i.imgur.com/gBnSyZf.gif)  (http://i.imgur.com/ezlzCqA.gif)
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: HarveyDentMustDie on March 28, 2014, 12:49:48 am
Now arms go too high, it looks goofy. Do the same thing but lower. Like in your previous version, just move hands more toward the middle.

If I may ask what's the purpose of this animation, and what kind of character is he supposed to be?
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: r1k on March 28, 2014, 02:01:58 am
(http://i.imgur.com/rt2CVXe.gif)

lowered the arms.  I think its looking pretty good now.  This is for a commission, he asked for me to make the walk look pompous, this is a npc character.  Im going to send this to him now and see if this is the kind of walk he had in mind though.

EDIT: well I sent it to my boss and he thought it looked pompous.  If there are any other critiques though you can still say them.  Though now Im going to block out the walk cycles for the other required directions (cardinals and diagonals)

Thanks everyone for the critiques, I tried to incorporate and atleast try out everything suggested.
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: Mr. Fahrenheit on March 28, 2014, 10:44:37 am
IIRC Arms usually go to about mid thigh, but if you're making a fat cat oil baron or something then the arms could be shorter I'd guess.
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: Probo on March 28, 2014, 02:28:15 pm
when i think of a pompous walk, i think of something quite different. chest puffed out, head held high looking down his nose at the world, arms behind his back even. snooty.

http://www.design-calendar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Screen-shot-2010-10-20-at-9.59.07-AM.png
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: Conzeit on March 28, 2014, 04:35:51 pm
@r1k that certainly gets pompous across! when you do the other directions you'll start thinking of this more in 3d, you'll probably see little subtle tweaks that you could do to improve his movement. Then when you add in the detail you'll see even more tweaks...or maybe that's just me, every time I look at my work I can see more and more tweaks :p

@probo yes, that posture works but that says nothing of how he should move...you could start with a pose like that and end up with an animation similar to what r1k had at the beggining out of trying to emphasize the puffed chest by balancing everything on the chest.
Really in practice I think the only difference between animating the pose you suggest and what he's come to is yours would require less arm movement. Maybe r1k can puff out his chest  bit more? woudlnt hurt, but depends on the specifics of the character, really.

I think both are pompous but what you suggest is a bit more scornful and less relaxed, works for someone more official like high in the millitary or the goverment, not so much for say a hollywood actor, celebrity or just a guy with a lot of money. No idea what is closest to the character r1k got comissioned to do.
Title: Re: pompous walk cycle
Post by: Probo on March 28, 2014, 05:35:28 pm
yeah i shouldve gone into more detail. my idea of pomposity is more aristocratic and aloof, rather than extrovert cocky swagger. but its semantics, pomposity can apply to both.

im not an animation expert but the way i see that stance i mentioned translating into a walk: a quite static upper body, arms held rigid, chest puffed out, long confident strides. could go different ways with the legs really, could glide gracefully with very little vertical movement, could almost march, stiff-legged, with some pronounced vertical movement or like a military parade, not much. you could definitely add your own ideas there based on the imagined eccentricities of the character

might not apply to your dude (he might not be posh, or a British WW1-era Colonel), but thats just where the word pompous takes me personally.

edit: i think as well the walk im thinking of would look much more pompous in profile