[WIP] 1st Aura Animation

[HulioG]

The substance I'm working with is referred to as "reiatsu" in an anime called Bleach. This aura has been driving me crazy for the last week, I wanted to make this animation as close to the image as possible.
Ichigo Vs Byakuya 00:35


The Icon:
Mainly Phase 2 (when it explodes and turns blue), is whats pissing me off.


Earlier version:


I dont really know how I should color it either.


Full animation so far:


References:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9428/loadsofstuffif6.png
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8440/ishdasm2.png

(A previous animation I made).

[miscdude]

the full animation seems like its missing a transition from the contained spiraling aura to the bursting aura...

[HulioG]

I was going to make a big flash right there, depending on how i finish "Phase 2".
I just need to know if the Phase 2 animation (4 frames) is good and a proper technique of coloring it. 

[miscdude]

i think maybe a vertical flash like when he uses it on byukuya, with the whole dirt flying everywhere and whatnot...that would be a REAALY nice touch
also, in one frame, ichigo's shirt gets mirrored....
some sprite notes:i think you made ichigo's hair too bright, maybe if you tone that down more itll look more like him....

[tocky]

I think even just a completely blue frame world work for that transition.

[HulioG]

9 months later... I've learned the little things like how the hottest part of a fire is the brightest and usually located in the center.

I somehow regained the confidence to attempt this again. This time with a different approach. Before I might have been satisfied but my eyes are for some reason now seeing more detailed parts of the aura. So I figure I might as well go all the way. (The normal Ichigos hair is alot darker, it just gets bright when surrounded by the bright reaitsu.)
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/4594/picture7bw8.png


I want to know how I can make that aura look more like the paused frame in the video.

Reference (from different angles just incase) (starts alot earlier then the old link):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UF1ksEBc45E&feature=related

[dtek]

Hi, I took a look at this great example myself and took a screen video capture, and here's some files for reference in making yours like the video(it might have missed a couple but meh)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c37/deetech/New-1of2.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c37/deetech/New-2of2.jpg
Hope it helps! later

[HulioG]

Thanks, though I'm more concerned with if the actual aura (paused) matches that screenshot (paused). I'm handling different parts of the aura step by step, I figure theres no point in me animating something that  doesn't look right. I want to see if I can make it look any more like the blueish aura in the screenshot (which seems pretty difficult to interpret) before I make it start moving.

[dtek]

I think you missed my point, I read you saying you're having trouble making your version look exactly the same, then you need to copy it more precisely, right?

[HulioG]

I think you missed my point, I read you saying you're having trouble making your version look exactly the same, then you need to copy it more precisely, right?

(Just incase, I want to remind people I bumped this from 9 months ago, what I was asking for in the first post is different from now). Instead of just trying to do the whole animation at once, I'm now just trying to do this step by step. I already have references. What I'm trying to copy precisely is one of the clips of the reference. Once I finish copying one of the clips I can proceed to animate it.


I need crits on how to make my aura(left) look more like the one in the screenshot(right). Ie. I need this to match.