[Challenge] The Descent

_adamturnbull

Hi Guys,

I thought it was about time to start a new challenge! This one is based on something I made recently and as I'm in the middle of moving house at the moment I won't have a lot of time to take part in it so HERE'S ONE I MADE EARLIER: 



This challenge is about getting something from a high point to a low point and should focus on landing, falling, jumping, climbing or all of the above. It can be as simple or complex as you like, for example..

- Climbing down a ladder
- Superhero landing
- Sliding down a mountain
- Falling off a building
- Rapell off a cliff (like Aloy in Horizon)
- A dragon descending from the sky
- An assassin attacking from above
- etc..

This one is all about body mechanics so think about creative ways to show weight, timing, squash and stretch.. etc. It would be great to see everyone's processes for this, for example, I started with a cube to work out the timing and motion before adding my key poses (LINK HERE)

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with!

slipsius

I've been trying to motivate myself to do some more personal stuff lately. This sounds fun. I'm in! 

WeatherMan

I think I'm gonna jump in on this. I have a cool idea!

lucianomunoz_

great idea, if i only had some time, well i'll try to figure something out!

jibañez

Cool really like it..I am casually doing some animation for practicing locomotion sort style..I´ll like to join too..   until when is dead line..?by the way great animation there! heres a quick render test of the 1rst shot still in blocking stage..

_adamturnbull

Hey @jibañez, there isn't a deadline as such, the challenges always stay open but I normally start a new one every few weeks looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

jibañez

thanks I will update soon!

fcenkci

Hey @_adamturnbull I  inspired from your video it is great!!! and I did an animation for this challange here is my first timing pass any word is welcome

Pooja_K

Hey everyone, first post here. I've been lurking around these threads for quite awhile, but finally decided to post

 Here's a shot I've been working on for the past couple of days, which kinda matches the theme. Critiques appreciated. 

Here's a syncsketch video too : https://www.syncsketch.com/playground/30a8bb2ea72343e4ab13abc5eb53b162#175272


Any thoughts/comments/(harsh) critiques are always welcome ^_^

_adamturnbull

Great stuff @Pooja_K, the swinging and the roll is awesome. The only thing I'd say is the run at the beginning feels a little slow leading to the velocity of the jump looking like it comes from nowhere. Also, watch out for your poses and movement looking too linear. Some of them could benefit a little from giving the body more of a curved shape.

I've left some nit-picky notes on syncsketch looking forward to seeing your other stuff too!

JonathanAnimates

WIcked Adam. Absolutely loovinng it man! I'll cook something up on my end when I get a chance!

Pooja_K

Awesome notes Adam! thanks a ton. I'll fix those up. 

Look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with. 

jibañez

Really Cool @Pooja_K that swing is awesome!

Pooja_K

Thanks @jibañez


and thanks @WarrenG fr the drawovers! fixing it now!

SpecterShadow

Hi everyone, I have prepared some animation to this challenge and as for me it was a real challenge

So far i haven't polished it like super polished, but got what i got

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YihlhcnDDvQ
it suppose to be looped so don't forget to check on youtube "loop on" or something like that

critique are welcome
https://syncsketch.com/sketch/119332#178265

Hito

blocking something out. making it loop is HARD! cricky.

AGoodFella

Haha, cool. Damn, want to get in on this. Maybe, I will have some time...

_adamturnbull

@fcenkci Looking good! It will be cool to see how you progress from your cube to an actual rig. Make sure you are happy with the flow and timing of everything before you commit. Maybe check out @jasonshum's tutorial on workflow too as he explains this technique really well (https://youtu.be/3vChNK12nTU?t=9m1s)

@SpecterShadow Great start man! I think a lot of the movement is there, I'd just focus a little more on timing and really push those leaps and landings so there's a much bigger contrast in speed. I'd really push the stretching and compression when she is jumping between each wall. Will leave some notes in syncsketch when I get a few minutes Looking good so far though!

@Hito Haha nice! This is looking fun! Obviously its just a block out so far but once you get into it I'd really exaggerate the compression when he hits each platform so he really looks like hes ragdolling and the hits look super heavy. Looking forward to seeing this progress!

Hito

Little more work, improved the loop point a bit, and working on giving Deadpool some more life. Still getting accustomed to the rig and pushing to see what I can do with it.

_adamturnbull

I finally got round to finishing off my breakdown video so might as well post it in here too!

Chris Rohlfing

  Still want to fix a few things with this. I want to improve the heavy breathing in addition to him fighting to stay up at the end. I feel like I can push it further. 

Hito

@Chris Rohlfing cool man!

got a few more hours into this... so... many... bits... and... bobs... gawd.


A few more passes on the bits and bobs. and upped the gag.

SpecterShadow

add some details
https://youtu.be/pwFKlf6bQ5Q
and syncsketch for critique
https://syncsketch.com/sketch/119332#181473

fcenkci

heeey @_adamturnbull thanks so much for sharing these techniques. These are so helpful for animating my descent And here it is last version of my work

Endless Descent Cycle from Fırat Cenkci on Vimeo.

fcenkci

Great work @SpecterShadow I love your poses and left some notes your sycnsketch hope it will helpfull )

SpecterShadow

@_adamturnbull, @fcenkci Thanks for advice, indeed was helpful
I add some visual effect, particles, even though don't know much about it, just wanted to make it look prettier then usual playblast and I think I can call it finished.
So here it is

_adamturnbull

@SpecterShadow Great stuff man! That turned out nice

Sonny

This is my take on The Descent challange. Still W.I.P tho

croasan

Hi everyone! I'm seeing great animation stuff here so I've decided to make a first blocking with the same process @_adamturnbull did: animation idea with a cube and then first blocking part with the real rig.



I'm struggling with that geometry knees glitch

_adamturnbull

@croasan Awesome! I love all the squash and stretch on the cube, would love to see more of that on the character (does the rig have stretchy limbs?) but it looks great so far without it too! Looking forward to seeing more.

@Sonny Cool idea! Would be great to see this as a looping gif with her descending down a few variations of the platform.

croasan

@_adamturnbull I think that more squash & stretch is a great idea! The rig is prepared for that. Actually I sent an email to the author and he fix the error with knees geometry.

jibañez

Wow!!So many Cool animations for this contest its ending great..it´s been lot of fun animating it and learn lot too..hope is not too late to post mine  any crits are wellcome.. cheers!