Hi all, I am brand new here, and fresh from GDC. One of the main things I was told was to use polycount to network and get critiques. So, if any and all interested would check out my animation demo reel at
http://jordansdemoreel.blogspot.com/
that would be fantastic. I am looking for critiques on my reel, not on the site or anything. Just the content. Which is animation.
Thanks again. FYI, I am graduating from Utah Valley University come April.
Replies
For your reel, here's my critique:
-The first scene looks nice! A little far away from the camera to really scrutinize, but it looks fluid and well-timed.
-The walk cycle looks pretty good, though I find it a little awkwardly slow. It feels weighted, but it seems as if he's on his last legs, like he's incredibly exhausted and will fall over at any moment. I'm not sure if that was your intention or not, but if not, consider making it speedier.
-The fight scene, once again, that monster guy feels just too heavy. The hit of the human looks good, and so does the animation overall on him. Consider doing more with the guy when he settles after dragging across the floor, though.
-The scene with the lizard looks nicely animated overall. My biggest problem with it is essentially the acting. The timing of it feels a bit off and some of the actions don't feel properly motivated. My suggestion would be to watch some really good animation that covered similar content as this scene. Live action would be good too.
-The scene where we return to the fight is fine, although, I didn't notice he was using a laser weapon until the second time I watched it. You might want to consider changing the colour of the laser to make it more obvious.
-Final scene with the bird is cute! No real crit here
Hopefully you found this helpful. Sorry if it sounded harsh, but this is Polycount, and that's what we're all about
Thanks for the critique. I love harshness. You can't hurt my feelings . I really appreciate it. I will apply what you said. I see those issues too. Thanks again, it was extremely helpful!
walk cycle using the norman rig. Let me know what you guys think. I may throw it in the reel.
Thanks for the advice. I am working on a walk with more character in it. So you and I are thinking alike.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR-m7M4KZBk"]walk.mov - YouTube[/ame]
That first piece you have, the red guy climbs up. The animation is pretty good. the look when he puts his hand up, from that distance it's kind of still and motionless. I see SOME, but you cna push it much more. But the piece feels unfinished. I was expecting him to jump down or something, instead it just cut to a different scene.
I'd honestly ditch the entire lizard scene. all of it. Just focus on the big guy fighting and perfect that. Also, as is, cutting up that scene is a little strange. Keep it all together.
You've got a good starting base though. You just need to keep at it and really push what you already have. Hope that helps.
Cheers
Thanks for the hard critique. I think you hit on a good point. I am working on trying to get my reel to be more catchy, and shortening it is definitely the way to go. Thanks!
http://youtu.be/v8Fhvq-Soo0
@RAWTalent- Thanks! The knees have been giving me trouble, but i am glad that the feeling of weight is better.
http://youtu.be/jEZrdWKIun4
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XTWwH2J2qI"]sentryTest.mov - YouTube[/ame]
Im not a fan of the two guys side by side though. It's distracting, and had to replay it just to see what was going on with the fall. Only show what you want people to crit when its a WIP. For a final animation, if you want both of them there (at this point, i dont know why you would. Its the same walk, just offset), make sure to change one of their colors. Right now it just seems like you duplicated them side by side for some unknown reason.
Good progress!
Let me know what you guys think!
Blog - Demo Reel
Blog - Demo Reel
sentry walk
it can be seen in my reel, link in the post above.
on your main demo reel, shown here: http://youtu.be/QFJLA3ikbcY?t=42s at 0:42-0:44 you have a weird "flip" in my understanding of who the badguy is... its like an equal 1:1 horizontal flip of the camera work... and its extremely jarring. Mind you, this is just a critique of the cut and the camera work.
http://youtu.be/HVyc84gkXUY
All comments welcome. I am working on some more stuff with them, and I am having a blast.
Demo Reel
I know! Haha, I am just not sure what you all have released or made public yet, so I thought I would wait a bit. How's it going, by the way?