AuthorTopic: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)  (Read 12360 times)

Offline mobichan

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Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

on: January 25, 2008, 12:02:57 am


Hi All,

I read a slew of Oz books over the holiday break and found some time today to make the first of (hopefully) many character sprites.  I started with Dorothy (Toto is coming).  I've been struggling with the arms and dress anim.  The arms still seem pretty hard to read to me, but I've been staring at this for a while now.  Any C&C is appreciated.

Offline Xion

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #1 on: January 25, 2008, 05:57:41 am
This is wunnderrfull!
I can read the arms fine.
Maybe a little more torso rotation to match the rest of the lively character? Just a little? Around the shoulders and chest mainly.
Seriously though. This is real nice.

Hi.

Offline BG

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #2 on: January 25, 2008, 12:51:13 pm
This has nothing to do with the animation but...

Isn't she suposed to have red shoes? I've never read the book, and it's ages since last time I saw the movie, but I'm pretty sure that the shoes were red...

Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #3 on: January 25, 2008, 06:52:53 pm


Xion: Thanks for the kind words.

I've added a little more front/back positioning with the shoulders and made the arms swing another pixel out when they come to the front.  I also cleaned up some stuff on the apron so it hopefully looks more like it is flowing with her movements.  I also added a blink to break up the face (she looks kinda like a robot to me).  But if anyone has any suggetions for improving her face, I'm all ears.

As for the slippers, they are emerald slippers in the book.  You'd be surprised how the movie took liberties (most of which, I imagine, were to take advantage of the fancy new (at the time) technicolor technology) even though the books are very clear about how color represents things.

Offline thedaemon

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #4 on: January 25, 2008, 10:14:02 pm
The face is not very appealing to me. Very boyish. I suggest simplifying the face and lightening her skin tone. The tall eyes, while a style don't look right. I would also erase the 3 pixel eyebrows that just make her look dirty. The animation though, looks great.
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Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #5 on: January 26, 2008, 01:51:41 am


Adding a WIP tinman.  Sorry the bg color is hard to see him on.  Once I have some color in him, I think he will be easier to see.  I agree that Dorothy is a bit "boyish" but I don't know how much I want to change the facial structure.  I'll try to post some updates over the weekend.

Offline Larwick

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #6 on: January 26, 2008, 11:33:23 am
Dorothy's ears could be moved up slightly, at the moment i mistook them for very oddly misshapen cheeks. Her face is generally quite lumpy looking imo, she reminded me of those freaky cabbage-patch-kids. I don't actually think she looks boyish, just not exactly 'pretty'.
Nice animations, good luck on the rest!

Offline thedaemon

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #7 on: January 26, 2008, 11:17:58 pm
It would be cool if you would lean the body of the tin man as he runs. Would put more character in the jog. Right now he's a bit static.
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Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #8 on: January 28, 2008, 05:05:23 pm


updated dorothy's face.

(UPDATE) adjusted the tinman's animation to have more body movement. Anyone see anything strange in the anim now?  I don't want to get to detailed before correcting fundamental problems.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2008, 07:28:28 pm by mobichan »

Offline thedaemon

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #9 on: January 28, 2008, 11:58:36 pm
Besides the head of the axe looking like it scales in size, I think these are looking much improved! I'm ready to play the game.  ;D
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Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #10 on: January 29, 2008, 12:33:55 am


Adding the Cowardly Lion and fixed the tinman's axe head scaling (thanks for catching that thedaemon).  If anyone sees any issues with the current revs, C&C are welcome.  On to the Scarecrow!!   ;D

Offline Kazuya Mochu

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #11 on: January 29, 2008, 12:29:12 pm
what are these for?
 they look great
Image size doesn't matter! It's what you do with your pixels that counts!

Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #12 on: January 29, 2008, 08:33:43 pm


Adding the Scarecrow.  As for what these are for, I was just getting some animation practice, since I don't think it's my strong suit.  I'd love to make a game based on the Oz theme (and not in the Burtonized American McGee artistic direction).  But for now, I just want to have fun making little people move around.   :)  More to come...

As always, C&C is appreciated.

Offline Sherman Gill

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #13 on: January 29, 2008, 09:33:15 pm
Admirable use of subtle motion on the scarecrow's jacket! I think the main of the lion would benefit a LOT from that same type of movement (Meaning, visible, but still subtle. right now it's too subtle and has no bounce to it, yeh?)

Also, you've got good color separation, but there's little contrast in values on any of these. It's not so much of a problem now, but if you try to put them in an actual game environment, the lion especially could get lost in a similarly colored background.

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Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #14 on: January 30, 2008, 12:17:27 am


I've added more movement to the lion's mane and some hat movement to the scarecrow.  I also added some more dark tones to the scarecrow to try and up the contrast, but I don't know exactly how I would increase overall contrast in the sprites to make them stand out on a background.  Maybe I'll try to make a quick environment in the future.

Offline The B.O.B.

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #15 on: January 30, 2008, 12:57:42 am
The lions eyes are really bothering me. They are the brightest hue/color in the piece, therefore much more noticeable in the fact that when the impact hits it's front paws, the eyes do a strange bounce, that looks unnatural. I'd suggest using less movement in the eyes, to make it look less  random. Also, the mane to me doesn't seem to be giving the poofiness that most male lions have when they run. Maybe add 1 or 2 more brown hues to the mane to give it a little more realistic mane look, perhaps.

. . .

The Scarecrow's still eyes make him kinda' creepy. Also, I'd consider choosing another color other than green for him, as I mistook him for a Leprechaun at first, heh.
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Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #16 on: January 30, 2008, 01:25:21 am
So, the Scarecrow needs to wear green, because that is the color of his clothes (he was made to resemble the Munchkins, who are always dressed in green).  And his face is painted on, so the eyes would be pretty stationary (an creepy).  If you ever see the old illustrations of him, I think they are a bit creepy too.

As for the lion, I was trying to make his eyes droopy/sad looking, so the animation is supposed to feel like the extra skin around his eyes is sagging and flopping.  Any suggestions on how I might get that kind of effect?  I can lessen the highlight color from pure white to something more around 80% white.  Do you think that is going to fix the problem you see?  I'm not sure I see the eyes as a problem, really. 

The mane is turning out to be harder than I thought.  I didn't want to make it too over-the-top since he is bounding/trotting and not running.  Do you mean to add more tones to make it look smoother?  Or add in some different browns to add variety to the differnt hair areas of his head?

Thanks for the feedback. 

Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #17 on: January 30, 2008, 10:31:07 pm


Sorry if this is becoming more of an art dump thread.   :-[  But I'm adding Ozma (the princessof Oz), the Wonderful Wizard, and the Emerald City Gatekeeper.  I did the gatekeeper in 2 sizes, since he is supposed to be tall and lanky, but I wasn't really happy with him at 32x32 size.  I'm not sure if I want to animate them yet, so this might be where I run out of steam.

Any comments are appreciated.

Offline ptoing

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #18 on: January 31, 2008, 08:19:50 am
Nice stuff. I have a suggestion for the lion. At the moment his feet move all in unison, if you make it so that one foot in front and one in the back moves one frame of to the other one it will look much more lifelike and vivid.
There are no ugly colours, only ugly combinations of colours.

Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #19 on: February 07, 2008, 02:11:09 am


Ptoing - Thanks for the advice.  I think it does add something.  Any better?

Offline infinitegames

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #20 on: February 20, 2008, 12:20:53 am
These are great. The lion's coloring and animation are especially phenomenal. You should do the witch next, because she was my favorite character when I was a kid. Or maybe one of the monkeys.

Offline Ixis

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #21 on: February 20, 2008, 01:05:39 am
I'm loving these sprites!!

Umm, minor question, doesn't Dorothy have red ruby slippers? Or is it different in the books?

I'd add more vertical rotation to the lions face, like his snout getting higher and almost level with his eyes or somethnig. Right now it's very straight on. I'd also add some detail to the tin man's arms. His legs have black points where his joints are, so maybe his arms could follow suit?

Also, where's Toto? (lol)

Offline lilwing

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #22 on: February 20, 2008, 05:46:21 am
They look great, I have one suggestion.... Maybe change the color of the scarecrow? Because it looks more like a leprachaun with the green. Just a thought  :D

Offline ptoing

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #23 on: February 20, 2008, 07:08:34 pm
That looks much nicer, tho it kinda looks like the feet still wait for each other when on the ground. Make them completely offset by one frame throughout the whole animation.
There are no ugly colours, only ugly combinations of colours.

Offline Obelisk

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #24 on: February 21, 2008, 01:46:39 am
Living in Kansas myself, I've been forced to watch Wizard of Oz a few thousand times. I'll repeat what the others said and ask: shouldn't her slippers be red?

I really like the scarecrow sprite btw. :y:

Offline Sherman Gill

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #25 on: February 21, 2008, 02:59:23 am
In the book they're emerald. Pretty much everything is emerald actually.
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Offline mobichan

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Re: Wizard of Oz sprites (C&C welcome)

Reply #26 on: February 25, 2008, 06:35:28 am
Yeah, the slippers are emerald in the book.  I thought about doing the witch and toto next, but work started picking up again, so my pixelling has been reduced to weekends again.  Stay tuned.