AuthorTopic: Yep, Sword Slashing.  (Read 15469 times)

Offline .TakaM

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Yep, Sword Slashing.

on: December 07, 2008, 01:43:47 pm
As some of you are aware, Twinsen's scrapped and I'm starting a new game.
I've got a little bit more experience through twinsen, and it's a lot more interesting this time around.

Anywho, I still feel I don't have a good grasp on weight in animation, and I've been getting some mixed feedback on the new sword slash animation, so I'll just go ahead and throw it up for c+c:


I'd like to keep each slash below 10 frames (real time) for the sake of responsiveness
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Offline NaCl

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #1 on: December 07, 2008, 02:11:49 pm
I think both attacks look quite good!

The only thing I can see is that in each swing, the weapon feels like it has a different weight. In the side swipe, it feels light and agile, in the top down one, it feels heavy. I like the heavy look though, so if you do anything on this front, maybe make the side swipe a little weightier.

Also, I tried to edit the gif a bit, but it seems to be made of deltas or something, so it looked mangled.

Offline Jad

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #2 on: December 07, 2008, 03:32:05 pm


I CAN'T RESIST THIS STUFF

Your slash was awesome from the start, but regarding weight: in video game animation, relying on a lot of anticipation and release is a good thing. When you wanna create weight, especially with characters, think about when the character moves WITH the forces of gravity, and when it moves AGAINST it. With this guy, the first slice goes fast enough since he's just throwing the sword into the air and then letting it move in an arc around him. When he needs to stop that force though, speed goes down and framcount goes up. As you can see I painted > A< faces when he has to resist and reverse the force of motion : D

I kinda overdid it with the up-to-down slice, but that's how I like my animation also, exaggerated. He balances up there for a while, and then he thumps down with EXCESSIVE FORCE, emphasized by some overreach/bounce. Errr. I can't remember where I edited frame delay and where I redrew frames so you'll have to check a little for yourself (:

I'll answer whatever questions you may have (:
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Offline caimgenji

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #3 on: December 07, 2008, 06:54:14 pm
I apologize if this is not relevant, it's not really from artist's viewpoint.

I like the movement of his body on the side swing, his hip is turning nice and he's getting range from legs.

But then to me the sword does indeed look heavy, but it seems like the sword is swinging the guy and not vice versa so it looks like the person is pretty uncomfortable with the weapon.  After the first hit he's going to get hid to his right collarbone, after second either his leg is chopped off (if he kicks) or he's poked with a tip of opponent's blade.  After the last hit his head he is asking to get his head hit real hard unless he is absolutely sure the hit will smash opponent to pieces.

The sword actually seems to be too heavy for its size, unless the wielder is not very strong or it's made of something really heavy.

In addition, if the person needs two hands to swing the sword up and down, I doubt he could swing sideways with just one hand.

If person is a skilled with sword, (s)he should be able to maintain his balance pretty much no matter how (s)he swings and use his body while swinging.  Now it looks like he's losing balance in both latter strikes and is trying desperately to stop the sword when it is lifted up and swung downwards.

Offline .TakaM

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #4 on: December 08, 2008, 11:38:06 am
Thanks Jad, to me that looks as good as it can be, unless there's something I'm missing do you mind if I move onto the next stage with your edit?

caimgenji, it's a little hard to tell with the stick figure animation, but the sword is behind him on his left, coming up to his right on the second swing, so he wouldn't be chopping off his leg :P
And on the third slash he's got both arms going over the right side of his head, so it's not gonna collide there either, it will be much clearer when I get the proper form in.

thanks guys :)
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Offline Jad

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #5 on: December 08, 2008, 01:07:35 pm
I'd be honoured if you'd like to use my edit, my changes were so minute it'd be a waste for you to redo them if what I did what you wanted to achieve.

... I'd still recommend for you to go over your original yourself just to make sure that everything has your personal touch, though : D

Do as you wish, though, no big objections either way.
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Offline Ben2theEdge

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #6 on: December 08, 2008, 06:39:17 pm
Jad's edit is pretty much perfect - the trick to fluid animation is remembering where all the "joints" are - for example in his wrists. Anywhere there's a joint, it's going to bend a little bit when there's a dramatic shift in momentum. Keeping that in mind you could even bend his vertebrae a little after that upward swing, to give it even more fluidity.
I mild from suffer dislexia.

Offline Willows

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #7 on: December 08, 2008, 09:14:42 pm
If I'm not mistaken, Caimgenji was speaking in terms of "If he had an opponent, his opponent would chop off his leg at this stage or smash him in the head at this point" buut I don't think that's the case, so I'm not sure if that's a worry?

An' R.I.P Twinsen :/

Offline Ryumaru

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #8 on: December 09, 2008, 04:45:12 am
It feels like to me that in both versions the sword doesn't come down fast enough?

Offline .TakaM

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Re: Yep, Sword Slashing.

Reply #9 on: December 09, 2008, 06:08:34 am
just on the final slash ryu?
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