stealth kill

shadowz

at very rough stage.. trying to figure out character and camera movement..
feel free to give some suggestion or feedback so that i can improve this scene 


https://youtu.be/EEfLnfwNujU

Thanks

AnthonyAnimation

Thanks for sharing! I would recommend uploading to syncsketch, that way people can leave more detailed feedback. 

I feel like the camera is too low. I'd like it angled up a bit further to see the target more clearly. The knife equip is a bit quick, try having him take it out sooner and hold it out so the audience has a bit of anticipation.

Perhaps the knife can be aimed more at the base of his neck- stabbing directly into someones skull would require a lot of force. At the end I think he should either let the body down more gently or kick it away as if he's discarding it. Right now the action is in the middle and I think having it as an extreme on way or the other will help add some character.

Good start. I'd say act it out or look at some reference if you're getting stuck. You'll want a nice balance of weight if he's being sneaky as well as a strong silhouette.

shadowz

thanks for the suggestion @AnthonyAnimation .
will upload on syncsketch next time.

tholmes3d

For visual interest I would try to make sure all your movement isn't on the same plane. Right now he walks up in a straight line perfectly behind the guy, then stabs in perfectly in the back of the head, then the guy falls directly forward. It will look more interesting if you break out of that line, or even add some twisting.

shadowz

yes. this thing is in my mind. will definitely try to  break that straight line.

thanks:) 

tiagosol

hey shadow! I agree with the walk on a straight path. Also I think since the beginning he should be grabing the knife on his hand or take it out in the midle of the walk, show him thinking on the action (killing) before doing it. Would be awesome if the guy who gets kill falls down from the rooftop hehe just an idea. 

shadowz

@tiagosol
 thanks for the suggestion . 
yes i agree with you about falling down from roof. but let me see if this works out.

shadowz

another blocking update .... still  long way to go 

feel free to give some suggestion or feedback so that i can improve this scene 

https://syncsketch.com/playground/459d61e437144e78b6ea6975826d340c#236438

here is the you tube link:

https://youtu.be/tRVaEpdqQ5A

thanks

AGoodFella

It's still all in one axis, I feel.

Also, when he stabs the guy, even though, it's a quick kill, I feel like we would get some fightback from the guy. Even just lifting his arms up to try to grab the killer's hand. Something, right now, his arms are just by his side and there isn;t much of a reaction. 

You could put it in at f101, after the first stab. The second stab will then be the one that actually kills him.

shadowz

@AGoodFella
thanks for the feedback.

will you be able to tell me how can i break that straight line? actually i am bit confused .

thanks

AGoodFella

@shadowz

The guy walking up is walking in a straight line. hi isn't so bad.

When he kills the guy, he falls on the ledge in one axis. Think about it, your body would not fall completely straight on, it would go over to one side. In this case, probably to the left side.

Zimuus

The beginning is boring, maybe add some camera movement of looking at the target, sort of like a focus cam in videogames (as thats what this animation feels like, a replication of a videogame). Otherwise it is looking pretty good, excited to see it progress.

shadowz

@Zimuus thanks for the suggestion.:)

is it possible for you to show me some reference . so that it will be easy for me to understand.

thanks  

_adamturnbull

Hey man, have a look at games like Tomb Raider / The Last of Us / Metal Gear Solid for how they do stealth kills. Check out this TR video and see how much power she puts into the execution. I feel it generally works better as one strike too rather than stabbing him in the back and then the head.

https://youtu.be/MXYD3z2tySI?t=2m24s

I agree with what others have said about it all happening in one axis too. Maybe try having him drag the guy back and to the left before stabbing. Or have a bit of a struggle. Or he could throw him off the ledge afterwards. Something to add a bit of variety to the shot.

Keep at it! Looking forward to seeing the progress

shadowz

thanks @_adamturnbull .
 agree with you. i did some changes 

will share my update soon.

shadowz

another update. still long way to go... lots of refinement needed


https://syncsketch.com/playground/41dc41544fcb47218813ca4ad090a272#240576

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFOv6Mphs0E&feature=youtu.be

LloydHallam

The character being killed feels like he has no weight at all. When he gets stabbed in the back, both of his legs come up at the same time, but his entire body stays in pretty much the same place in the Y-Axis regardless. Have the killer bring the victim down by kneeling down while he stabs him in the back. Not only would this look better acting and animation wise, but it would make sense that the killer wouldn't want anybody to see him, kneeling down would help conceal his presence. 

I'd go back and rethink the acting choices in this as well, I've never seen a stealth kill in a game or movie where the killer goes for the back of the skull, it's probably inefficient and if not, it looks pretty unappealing. You have to consider staging, if this is a stealth kill, why is the killer leaving the victims body dangling loosely over the edge of the roof where anybody could see him? It'd be better if after the killing blow, the victim is dragged backwards onto the roof.

shadowz

LloydHallam thanks for the suggestion .

i know there are weight issues.  i didn't work on that character. just focusing on idea right now.
just want to share the update to the community .

about the acting choice. let me see what i can do.

thanks

shadowz

another update.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5RdAYxHgr4&feature=youtu.be