What are you working on Animators? 2017!

System · Jan 2017

This is a thread to share your latest animation work! Past threads: 2016, 2015.

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Sonny · Apr 2017

So I'm finally back to working on my Sword Attack Combo and I'm looking for some feedback on my polish pass. I'm starting to feel comfortable with calling this done, but I take that usually as a sign that I need a critique on my work.

Syncsketch here : https://syncsketch.com/sketch/139958#174953

Preview here :

Veech · Apr 2017

Hey guys so I wanted to share my current WIP. I hope you guys enjoy it and please feel free to leave feedback.

Sonny · Apr 2017

Hey @AtomicToyRobot, it seems like you're still very early in this animation and I was wondering if you'd consider changing the camera angle. Right now there's a lot of empty space on the left hand side which is being "filled in" with the right hand going all over the place. However I personally don't think it feels "right" to have what you currently have and personally would like to see the camera on the driver side window looking at the driver with the speaker box slightly in frame. Then you can lock your right hand on the steering wheel and have most of the body take up the frame along with the arm reaching into other parts of the frame as well.

I hope this made sense, and it's not necessarily critiquing the animation per se, but critiquing the composition.

Blond · Apr 2017

SpecterShadow said:

Hi there
Trying get into some game animation in Unreal Engine, there are random sounds which I found in the internet, which totally is a bit off.
All animation is handkey and made by me
https://vimeo.com/212074675

I realy enjoyed this somehow. The sounds are cliché and reminds me of the old DMC games on ps2.
I really like the sword plunge!

AnthonyAnimation · Apr 2017

@Sonny Left some notes for you. Good start, can't wait to see another pass!

Hito · Apr 2017

wanted to do something sharp and snappy.

LiamReynolds · Apr 2017

@Hito looks nice, i feel the inital air attacks wouldnt make her traverse forward, or atleast not that much. She jumps and stops, then begins to attack and move again. I'd like to see her gain height from the attacks if shes in the air that long, sort of like a propulsion. But that small section doesnt sit right for me but the whirlwind in the air looks awesome with the air distoration trails.

Hito · Apr 2017

LiamReynolds said:

@Hito looks nice, i feel the inital air attacks wouldnt make her traverse forward, or atleast not that much. She jumps and stops, then begins to attack and move again. I'd like to see her gain height from the attacks if shes in the air that long, sort of like a propulsion. But that small section doesnt sit right for me but the whirlwind in the air looks awesome with the air distoration trails.

Yeah, I'll revisit that mid air section soon as I finish up few newly urgent freelance. that part still doesn't feel fully right, what you pointed out is definitely part of it.

ConnorSwartwood · Apr 2017

Password is: mech

colbludedkila · Apr 2017

<p><a href="">Epic Battle WIP</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user28618228">Terrence Williamson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Veech · Apr 2017

@Sonny Hey thanks for the feed back. Yeah I've gotten a lot of comments about the composition of the shot I will try and fill the shot a bit better moving forward. Thank you

Sonny said:

Hey @AtomicToyRobot, it seems like you're still very early in this animation and I was wondering if you'd consider changing the camera angle. Right now there's a lot of empty space on the left hand side which is being "filled in" with the right hand going all over the place. However I personally don't think it feels "right" to have what you currently have and personally would like to see the camera on the driver side window looking at the driver with the speaker box slightly in frame. Then you can lock your right hand on the steering wheel and have most of the body take up the frame along with the arm reaching into other parts of the frame as well.

I hope this made sense, and it's not necessarily critiquing the animation per se, but critiquing the composition.

LloydHallam · May 2017

ConnorSwartwood · May 2017

Not convinced it was ready for a render but I want to move onto something else.

RKirtlink · May 2017

@LloydHallam some really strong poses in that blockout! Awesome work!

Green_Cheek_Conure · May 2017

@LloydHallam I would really love to see the reference you used for that shot. its sick!

Hito · May 2017

couple small things, little bit of catching up with couple challenges here.
"Happy Walk"

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/d5/q19um8hjdr3r.gif

"The Descent"

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/pr/m1scwk8228eo.gif

LloydHallam · May 2017

@RKirtlink Thank you so much! I'm actually very worried about where I go from here though. I'm used to doing all my block outs splined, because every time I try to do them stepped, when it gets to the splining phase, my animation becomes this horribly unrecognisable mess. I'm hoping that won't be the case here. But with all these spins and flips, I've lost track of the characters rotation and I fear it's going to look extremely messy later on

If anybody has any tips on how I can avoid this looking extremely messy during the splining phase, I would really appreciate it, I ALWAYS get stuck there.

@Green_Cheek_Conure Thanks! Unfortunately I've just been going ahead from what I came up with in my head. Combining that with various sources of reference (Such as video tutorials on how to do Air Flares) However, I have been watching a lot of Stephen Vyas' animations for inspiration. One of the poses for the kicks came from Naruto of all things!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/eb/hb0fi81n5ru1.jpg

_adamturnbull · May 2017

Just started blocking out a run cycle with the Kayla rig. Only 3 poses in so far but she looks pretty happy about it

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/1i/jjluqwhyzrvp.gif

Hito · May 2017

made some changes and refinements, and cut some sound for moar fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLl_PWFPHVk

_adamturnbull · May 2017

Managed to squeeze in another hour or so on this, just a bit pf polish to do and I'll call it done

isosmrt · May 2017

just thought I'd share a tricky shot I did on Fantastic Beasts!

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/3oKIP9CKKyR2aqT4OI/giphy.gif

Arturow · May 2017

@isosmrt woaaaah! I loved that movie and I'm excited about the other ones

the beasts were so cool

Sonny · May 2017

So I think I'm finally at a pretty good spot in auto to show this off. Pretty close to being done too, just need a little bit more feedback before it's really finished.

Syncsketch : https://syncsketch.com/sketch/139958#182872
High quality gif here : https://gfycat.com/DependableAlertAlabamamapturtle

isosmrt · May 2017

looking pretty cool!!

Danbee360 · May 2017

Elf Princess She is brave pricess and main character of the game project. Inspired by the wonder Elf princess Girl, Cgart make a the new chibi character unique in her own way. She is already quiet cute with the wings and new skills effect in Unity3D. It offers a lot of uncompromised fun! Please, feel free to visit https://www.artstation.com/artwork/5ERaA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL403f9xh2c

AGoodFella · May 2017

Sonny said:

So I think I'm finally at a pretty good spot in auto to show this off. Pretty close to being done too, just need a little bit more feedback before it's really finished.

Syncsketch : https://syncsketch.com/sketch/139958#182872
High quality gif here : https://gfycat.com/DependableAlertAlabamamapturtle

Looking cool. I'm not sure about the stretchy legs. Feels like we see it too clearly instead of feeling it.

_adamturnbull · May 2017

@Sonny Good job! I think I agree with @AGoodFella about the last move. The stretching seems a little overkill, smear frames are more there to be felt rather than seen so are usually only visible for 1 or 2 frames. You might be better holding his pose in the air for a few more frames and having his legs contact over 1 or 2 frames. The rest of it looks great!

Sonny · May 2017

Got a lot of wonderful feedback from you guys! Thank you so much, many things that my friend and I didn't really catch when we were brainstorming on how to fix certain things. I'll be working on this today and hopefully I'm able to get the changes in and working right.

You guys are the best

CodeNameTBW · May 2017

Wow I'm no where near as good as you guys but here is the first render video of a trailer working. Called 'The Launch Gate' (no sound yet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD5g8XaZl54

ConnorSwartwood · May 2017

here's an audio version-- I would appreciate some feedback

ConnorSwartwood · May 2017

Not yet done. You can tell from my last upload that I haven't put a ton of time into this yet, but I have given the amount of time between the two. A lot soon after my last post and then unfortunately it trailed off =/. Anyway, really, please let me know what you think.

NuttyART · May 2017

Some backflips

Image: https://zippy.gfycat.com/ReflectingEsteemedErmine.gif

better gif quality
https://gfycat.com/ReflectingEsteemedErmine

isosmrt · May 2017

heres a little anim test I've been working on and rendering in unity:

AGoodFella · May 2017

isosmrt said:

heres a little anim test I've been working on and rendering in unity:

https://vimeo.com/217325772

Nice! Only thing I would say is to maybe have some more motion on the nose since everything else is moving but that seems static. Maybe some squashing/stretching or just some slight movement.

isosmrt · May 2017

AGoodFella said:

isosmrt said:

heres a little anim test I've been working on and rendering in unity:

https://vimeo.com/217325772

Nice! Only thing I would say is to maybe have some more motion on the nose since everything else is moving but that seems static. Maybe some squashing/stretching or just some slight movement.

Great suggestion! I will rig it up

ConnorSwartwood · May 2017

dannyannymation · May 2017

Been a long time since I posted anything here. Finally finished my latest reel!

isosmrt · May 2017

great stuff in there man! love it!

dannyannymation · May 2017

Thank you, its been a blast to work on and my first big game project!

joarwho · May 2017

Started doing some first-person animations (Very WIP):

LiamReynolds · May 2017

Something i've been working on. WIP currently still lots to do. - No clue how to do a gif so fingers crossed

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/xUPGcnfbvEI7rJSc9y/giphy.gif

NuttyART · May 2017

Damn Liam, this already looks awesome

Looking Forward to final effect.

btw.. I would really like to see that current animation without changes, expect switching frames on the run and make it on 2's. and then render it in good NPR. I know it's probably not gonna happen, but damn, I think that the current spacing would work great in imitating anime style.

kee · May 2017

@LiamReynolds hey Liam, sorry if this is a silly question, how did you create the smear effects on the staff? it looks neat!

currently working on a run cycle!

apparently i suck at gifs.. it's coming out in slow-mo so here's a direct link:
https://gfycat.com/RespectfulTightAmurstarfish

LiamReynolds · May 2017

Hello @NuttyART & @kee - Yeah the Stepped > Spline workflow is a nightmare haha I have tried so hard to keep the same feeling im hoping its close. I am struggling with it though.

Regarding the smears - I learnt this from Warren Goff (one of jason shums animbreak interviews) He draws examples in the interview so my words wont do it justice. But in short its geometry shapes with the visibility turnt on and off.

Also nice run. I like the tracker at the bottom to maintain a uniform speed. Its hard to see, but a subtle arc on the foot swing would be nice as it goes back and forth and the Gun Hand has a noticeable IK movement as it comes forward (the wrist bends up?) it might be a shape thing with the elbow.

AGoodFella · May 2017

Just finished a couple of walks. Going to tackle a combat shot next.

https://youtu.be/_alYwX0UMOM

https://youtu.be/3s9zeaJiQRU

kee · May 2017

@LiamReynolds I'll definitely check out that interview. I've been using maya for a couple of years now and I didn't even know it was possible to make those kind of smears.

I actually animated the arm in FK, but I think I made her gun hand drag motion too subtle so I tried pushing it just a little bit more.

here's a front view: https://gfycat.com/PowerfulUnfortunateHomalocephale

AGoodFella · May 2017

Cool, a couple of notes:

Side view:

The legs always have a bend in them.This might have been in your ref. If not, try stretching them so we get a straight leg before the contacts. It will add some squash and stretch to the leg and will help with weight.

The gun arm hits a wall as it travels back.

Head seems to be popping back and forth. This might be fine if you translate the run across screen. Worth checking out to see if you can reduce the back and forth action.

Front view:

Character's left arm feel like it has a pause as it travels back. It's at the passing pose where the characters left leg is travelling forward.

Hip tilt feels a bit distracting. Save the most extreme tilt for when the leg takes the weight. Before the contact, have the tilt more or less even or even favour the trailing leg. Just feels a bit out of sync.

Everything else feels great. Nice work.