Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: zyndikate on November 07, 2007, 09:16:07 am

Title: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: zyndikate on November 07, 2007, 09:16:07 am
(http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3384/animationhh8.gif) (small, and zoom doesnt work, sorry!)
Started to working some on a walking sprite, right now I want to get the animation of the contruction down before I add details.
The fat is suppose to wobble, dont know if its so sucessfull with squeeze and stretch in lowres, any suggestions?
I also played around with his eyes, doubtfull it will look good though.
Its a bit of hair on his head sticking out.
Any other general suggestions?
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: baccaman21 on November 07, 2007, 09:23:25 am
absolutley nothing wrong wiht what you've done so far...

color it up and lets have a ganders.

(you're quite adept at this pixelling lark, like I said in my intial post on you RPG thread - natural born pixeller - backgrounds and animations too!)
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: rabidbaboy on November 07, 2007, 11:32:50 am
Like bacca said, you're a natural.
I've spent more than an hour trying to get the legs right, I could even get something like this done. :D
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: PypeBros on November 07, 2007, 03:49:39 pm
for some reason, he gives me the feeling that he's "hitting" something with his foot at each step.
maybe the movement ends too abruptely.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: Darien on November 07, 2007, 03:50:47 pm
Yeah, I think his feet don't swing out far enough

Everything else about it is wonderful, though
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: baccaman21 on November 07, 2007, 04:43:19 pm
for some reason, he gives me the feeling that he's "hitting" something with his foot at each step.
maybe the movement ends too abruptely.

the floor maybe?
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: 8bitty on November 07, 2007, 08:54:37 pm
Quote
the floor maybe?

infront of him.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: baccaman21 on November 07, 2007, 09:42:03 pm
hmmm... maybe you guys have a point...?

It does suffer from exactly the same condition I pinpoint here (http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=5371.msg63970#msg63970) - but for some reason this doesn't jar too badly (in my eyes anyway)...

maybe you could do the same as what I've suggested to adarias in that previous thread? that may cure that sense of hit a wall with the feet...

I certainly wouldn't make the legs any longer though... (contrary to what Darien says [sorry darien]) I don't think this will help for two reasons, 1. it'll make the legs longer than they're physically capable of being (and you'll lose the mass consistency)... and 2. it's emphasise that 'kicking a wall' effect even further...

Have a go at sorting out the 5:3 Floor to Air ratio... and see if that helps with the kick thing... (I'm saying this tentatively cos I'm not 100% sure if that'll resolve it [plus I kinda like ti how it is TBH])
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: Darien on November 07, 2007, 10:27:50 pm
yeah ignore my previous comment

 I guess what makes this animation odd to me is that there is so sense of the character of the character falling.  for instance if you compare it to this tutorial: http://www.idleworm.com/how/anm/02w/walk1.shtml  there is no "high point"
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: ndchristie on November 07, 2007, 11:41:48 pm
yeah it's funny there's a great sense of weight being thrown around in the upper body, but the legs don't give a reason for it.  the upper body is happily bouncing along despite a static waist, and although it could be the result of the lower body movements, it isn't currently related because we see no hips drawn.  the thrust of the pelvis during the step is what should throw the fat around.

still, i don't have words to say how appealing i find this little guy
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: baccaman21 on November 07, 2007, 11:52:52 pm
not wanted to be rude or pure scorn or anything, but that idleworm sample walkloop is like so overused and identified as being the perfect walk loop to study.

Not that there's anything wrong with it it's just that there's many ways to skin a cat, and cartoon walks come in all sorts... I know I keep bangin on about it but the Richard Williams (in my sig) book has some cracking walk loop samples that just take pi55... and observations for walks and what have you... I can't recommend it enough taking animation principles to a higher level...

I just wish my copy wasn't packed away in a storage facility (along with 95% of my other reference library) - otherwise i'd scan a few of the pages and upload them just to show the fun stuff you can do once you know the basics... (re: the idlewind anim is basic)
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: zyndikate on November 08, 2007, 12:35:24 am
FIRST: (http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3384/animationhh8.gif)
LATEST: (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7237/animationyl3.gif)
Thanks for all the comments guys!
Yea, I realise that there is a hard kicking and that its not really justified - it was suppose to be from his fall (a heavy guy), but he isnt falling that drasticly now so he wouldnt need to put his leg to take the fall that fast.
I did some tweaks, I think its hard to show somethings when limited to such a small character.
Added a little hipmovement. Tried to have a little more fall, tweaked the absorbing leg a little when "smoother" inbetween for it when in air.

I have animation books, but the problem for me is nailing it all down - you tent to focus on several things at a time when you havent done much animation (maybe the 6pixel stickmen I used to do crazy stuff with on the amiga  counts? :) )

Ill also try having the pelvis making it wooble, now it looks more like its floating from side to side.

I also did this before the last comments came.. I dont like, it was a boring guy, but since they probably share some problems:
(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4659/animation2mh2.gif)
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: Darien on November 08, 2007, 12:49:16 am
not wanted to be rude or pure scorn or anything, but that idleworm sample walkloop is like so overused and identified as being the perfect walk loop to study.

jesus, i just used it because it had the clear label for what specific instance I thought the animation needed... never said zyndikate should aspire to have his animation just like the tutorial's

zyndicate, the update is much better.  I still think there should be more of a fall, though.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: Sohei on November 08, 2007, 12:52:23 am
This is the greatest funky walk!!! Last update.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: infinity+1 on November 08, 2007, 01:01:07 am
are the colors only temporary or something??
as they look right now, it totally destroys the piece.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: ndchristie on November 08, 2007, 02:17:55 am
I just wish my copy wasn't packed away in a storage facility (along with 95% of my other reference library) - otherwise i'd scan a few of the pages and upload them just to show the fun stuff you can do once you know the basics... (re: the idlewind anim is basic)

I have my copy about 14 inches from my mouse, any pages in particular you might want scanned?
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: zyndikate on November 08, 2007, 03:21:41 am
are the colors only temporary or something??
as they look right now, it totally destroys the piece.
Which one do you mean? The last one? Dont mind that one, as I said I didnt like it so I just posted it for problemspotter. That has nothing to do with the character since Im redoing him.
If you mean the first one its just for construction.

EDIT:
a quick update:
(http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4738/animationgv0.gif)
Did I overdo it? :)
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: baccaman21 on November 08, 2007, 11:25:42 am
I just wish my copy wasn't packed away in a storage facility (along with 95% of my other reference library) - otherwise i'd scan a few of the pages and upload them just to show the fun stuff you can do once you know the basics... (re: the idlewind anim is basic)

I have my copy about 14 inches from my mouse, any pages in particular you might want scanned?

yeah... the ones that talk about the double bounce and the fact that you can inverse the head from going up instead of down and what have you... (mind you, out of context it may not make that much sense...) - and the part about breaking joints too...

@Darien... no offense meant buddy... and I take your point ;)
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: Sohei on November 08, 2007, 11:53:13 am
I think that it became very unrealistic. Look like cartoon jelly-man. The very first one is more to my liking.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: zyndikate on November 09, 2007, 04:19:22 am
(http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/8126/animationbv5.gif)
Latest, some fat Robin Hood or something.
It wasnt intended to be "realistic" - I dont know if you mean the animation looks plain bad or that its just not you liking.
I still like the later ones too, I dont see anything really wrong with them just diffrent walks.
I settled with this one since I wanted to start adding some details,
havent started defining any anatomy(if its needed) - now its just simple forms in light.
Any suggestions on animation, palette or anything else are welcome.

EDIT: noticed somethings, the legs seem to stop for a second - Ill probably need to throttle it up right after the contactframe. Also his back is a little pixel-jumpy.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: sharprm on November 09, 2007, 04:39:55 am
Really like this, can't wait to see it finished. Don't know enough about animation to really help, but I think when his left foot is making contact, it should be back a few pixels, its just when his right foot does it, it looks better by comparison.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: Sherman Gill on November 09, 2007, 06:54:53 am
(http://lorne.lastchancemedia.com/Images/TricksandCrits/EDITzynwalk.gif)(http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/8126/animationbv5.gif)
I think your image suffers from a lack of contrast. You're coloring it like the background is the darkest shade possible, which reduces the possible shades you can use, resulting in...
Reduced contrast. When you move the sprite onto a lighter background,
(http://lorne.lastchancemedia.com/Images/TricksandCrits/EDITzyn2.gif)(http://lorne.lastchancemedia.com/Images/TricksandCrits/EDITzyn1.gif)
It doesn't read so well anymore.
Title: Re: [WIP] start of animated sprite
Post by: zyndikate on November 09, 2007, 08:28:19 am
(http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3765/animationjk1.gif)
Yes, I should have gone for a more neutral value on the background. Not sure if it looks asgood as your edit though, but I met halfway I think on the contrast. I was thinking making darker outlines but I think this could work?
(legs are not done, no shading yet.)

UPDATE:
(http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7249/animationgs5.gif)
More or less finnished, any final suggestions?