Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Zizka on September 25, 2017, 11:05:47 am

Title: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: Zizka on September 25, 2017, 11:05:47 am
Hello guys!

I want to do a no,no as an animated cursor for my game when the player can't do something. I'd like it to look better than it does now. I've used my own hand as a reference.

(https://i.imgur.com/33z1ce1.gif)

If you'd like to help out, you could point out how to improve on the animation and/or the hand itself.

Thank you!
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: eishiya on September 25, 2017, 01:45:24 pm
It looks choppy. Maybe make it loop? Otherwise, have a longer pause between the sways.
Usually people sway their hand two or three times (like "uh-uh" or "uh-uh-uhh") with no pause, then pause. Your hand pauses after every sway.

I feel the motion is a bit too much for a "no-no" hand sway. At least when I make that motion, the palm of my hand moves only a little bit, maybe a pixel's worth. My finger moves a bit more (which would be exaggerated for animation). In your animation, the entire hand rotates so much, it feels more like a hand pointing to different things, or to a range of objects. However, before trying to make the hand sway less, I recommend playing with the number of sways and the lengths of the pauses between them, it might read just fine with just that adjusted.

People do not usually associate the colour blue with "no". Maybe red would work better? That way, the cursor will read at a glance, quicker even than the animation can fully play.
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: Retronator on September 26, 2017, 05:22:50 am
In addition, I'd try and remove that 1px up bounce when the finger is pointing up and see if that helps smooth it out as well. Unless you have an important reason for that shake in there.
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: Zizka on September 26, 2017, 09:40:58 pm
I need to keep the same color for gameplay reasons.

Better?

(https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7aD7jKbQLwe2Gj4I/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: Kellawgs on September 26, 2017, 09:57:35 pm
The new one looks nicer, but I think what it really needs is for the whole hand to rotate rather than the finger. When I personally make a "no no" wiggle with my finger, my actual finger stays relatively still while my hand does the motion.

I know this would be a bit less simple of an animation though.
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: astraldata on September 27, 2017, 05:34:36 am
The first animation is just too jumpy -- seems like some of the frames bounce up/down unexpectedly when the finger is pointing "up" for a long time there -- but I think it is much better than the new one.

If you just eliminated the up/down motion on that hand before and after the finger-wag while the finger is just pointing idly up, you'd have it nailed. :)
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: Zizka on September 27, 2017, 10:21:20 am
Well, I guess we're having different opinions here because some people prefer the new one while other prefer the old one.

(https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7aD7jKbQLwe2Gj4I/giphy.gif)

(https://i.imgur.com/xeBYhgi.gif)

If I compare both, I personally prefer the new one, it's more on the right track I think. I just need to lessen the finger movement and move the palm a bit more.
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: MysteryMeat on September 27, 2017, 10:30:30 pm
I think a midground between the two is needed, the finger can't really bend that way towards the other fingers so having it rotate slightly there would make it work out well without looking quite as stiff as the other one
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: astraldata on September 28, 2017, 04:30:20 am
I suggest repeating the animation with the whole hand moving 3 times continuously (without stopping) and then see what you think.
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: Zizka on September 28, 2017, 11:30:00 am
Alright so I tried a middle ground for the two, only had time for this as I have to go to work:

(https://media.giphy.com/media/3ohhwDLqHDMXxaJlsc/giphy.gif)

I like this one a *lot* better.

Comments?
Title: Re: "No no" finger animation...
Post by: eishiya on September 28, 2017, 12:23:28 pm
The bent fingers look like they're blinking rather than moving, so I guess your subpixelling is be too subtle.