Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: coldmage on June 28, 2017, 06:50:15 pm

Title: Stabbing Animation
Post by: coldmage on June 28, 2017, 06:50:15 pm

A stabbing animation for this ninja character. I made a few iterations, but I'm not 100 percent sure of any of them. Critique?

(http://i.imgur.com/Ptkmnor.gif)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZNFjgmS.gif)
(http://i.imgur.com/bzF12dO.gif)
(http://i.imgur.com/d0leNLd.gif)

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: eishiya on June 28, 2017, 07:00:41 pm

I think the bottom one has the best timing, but I'd push it even more - faster strike, slower return. I'd hold on the most extended position longer.
I also recommend that the wind up bring the knife further back, and the attack push it further forward. The silhouettes in all of these are very weak because the knife barely comes forward of the body. Twist the body, have not only the knife, but even the arm come out in front of the torso.

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: coldmage on June 28, 2017, 07:49:16 pm

Thanks for the advice eishiya. Here is the result:
(http://i.imgur.com/ZJOhdsA.gif)

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: eishiya on June 28, 2017, 08:16:39 pm

Better! I think you can go even further. Turn the body more, and hold the frame where the knife is at the peak of the thrust. If you're using a constant framerate, repeat that frame.

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: coldmage on June 28, 2017, 08:50:01 pm

Not certain if the body rotation works, but this is the result:

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

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: eishiya on June 29, 2017, 04:06:31 am

The rotation doesn't read since you've drawn the torso as if it's a cylinder - no matter how you rotate it, it'll look more or less the same. I do see you've changed the shadows to show the rotation, but the contrast is so low that these changes are only noticeable if one zooms in a lot.

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: 9_6 on June 30, 2017, 05:49:06 am

Put some weight into it.
(http://i.imgur.com/J0GbStF.gif)
A stabbing motion involves the entire body, not just the shoulders.
You make a step forward to put some force into it.

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: MysteryMeat on June 30, 2017, 08:13:55 am

I think the big problem with these is they don't feel FAST enough for a ninja. I've taken the last edit and illustrated:
(http://imgur.com/kHUPA8d.gif)

For speedy attacks, forego buildup entirely and instead work with the followthrough some. Combo attacks forego even that until the combo ends!

Edit: Actually you know what? just study the animations from fire emblem: the sacred stones, they are pretty much all fantastic studies in making the most of a limited number of frames:
https://youtu.be/WIkbQhOz5H8?t=49s

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: CFKaligula on June 30, 2017, 02:40:20 pm

I think mysterymeat's edit is the best, 9_6's animation works best for more heavy objects. The heavier the object the more anticipation in the animation. So for a spear or a huge knife, then 9_6's animation would be the way to go. However, knifes are very light, so as mm says, they require no anticipation.

Title: Re: Stabbing Animation
Post by: coldmage on July 02, 2017, 05:34:44 am

Thanks for the edits and advice, they were very informative.
Tried to make it fast, but still smooth:
(http://i.imgur.com/B6nY1ad.gif)
(and one where he stops for a bit before stabbing again):
(http://i.imgur.com/anzpgL3.gif)