GR#157 - Robot Character - Animations

[sevinkydink]

Looking for some guidance on improving my artwork.  Working on the main character for a mega-man esque style game.  Very new to pixel art so open to all suggestions.

Previous Incarnations:


Current Sprite:


Current Walk:

[jahasaja]

It looks cool. Mega man game with twin blades!

However, you have not decided where the light source is coming from. On the helmet the light seems to come from the top right while on the hands it seems to come from the left.

Decide where you have your light source and and make it more consistent. This will give your robot more depth.

[sevinkydink]

Good point - I updated the lighting a little, hopefully that works a little better.  I've also moved up his waist a pixel to fix some proportion issues.

[PixelPiledriver]

Some quick thoughts

[sevinkydink]

Wow - you really added a lot of depth to the character that wasn't there before...that's amazing thank you.

I tried to learn from what you had put together and give my take on it. 



Question - I noticed you removed the highlight from the center of the back blade? Was that to assist in the perspective to show that it's further?

[PixelPiledriver]

Lookin better.
The surfaces are much more interesting.
Try to push the clarity some more especially on the arms.
Then do a couple variations on him entirely to explore his design further.

I noticed you removed the highlight from the center of the back blade? Was that to assist in the perspective to show that it's further?

That is one way to rationalize it.
But really I erased that part while messing with the leg.
Then I drew it back in solid and thought it looked fine.
The contrast between the yellow and the almost white is rather light at that thickness so I figured it was fine to omit from part of it.

[sevinkydink]

Ok - quick edit on the front army to make it a little more clear and interesting.  Changed the helmet style to give it a little more pop.  As far as the rear arm - tried a new direction where the red armor plates are only covering the front.  Added an alternate as you suggested - definitely want to try to play around a bit more with the form.



Thanks again for the help and guidance!

[sevinkydink]

Ok - I've made a few different variants, as well as am playing with some alternate colors for the eyes/chest detail.  Any/all critiques would be awesome!



Also - does anyone have a thought of a good idle animation?  Would a full body bob look awkward on a robot?  Thanks!

[jahasaja]

Don't You know?

A robot is never idle

[cels]

Nice.

Or go the opposite route. Make a robot in terrible shape, who needs every bit of rest the player affords him.




But yeah, I would say that a body bob would make no sense and take away from the idea that it's a robot. A less silly version of jahasaja's animation would probably be better. Maybe include a tiny bit of torso rotation for the sake of making it dynamic and pretty.