Random character design + animation

[darkshark]

I made a robot and rigged it for animation over the last two days.
The animation was quick and unrefined, but there will definitely be more to come now that it's fully rigged (as seen in the comments for the video, this is actually the first thing I've ever fully rigged).

Yep.

http://vimeo.com/19015943

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Spenner]

Re: Random character design + animation

It's alright, but it needs to be quicker and with less ease to all of the actions. The way it gradually ends every movement is really unnatural looking-- if it could be more aggressive, in a way, or just with less flow in the movements, it would look much more natural and nicer looking.

Good stuff though

[who_cares973]

Re: Random character design + animation

that didnt look like a wave. looked more like a open ended fist pumps

[darkshark]

Re: Random character design + animation

Agreed. Auto ease never tends to look realistic, haven't had a chance to really go through the curves editor yet, so I'll post up a more refined version tomorrow.
And wtf... Why does everyone think the wave looks awkward?

I'll find my camera so I can record own actions for animation reference. Does ANYONE here do any sort of animation at all?

[aperson]

Re: Random character design + animation

Damn that looks good. I agree w/ the easing, almost all of them need to be much more logarithmic.

[Spenner]

Re: Random character design + animation

The wave looks awkward because there's too much up the upper arm moving with the lower arm-- it should just be the lower arm pivoting on the elbow, with a little bit of upper arm movement to compensate, but it still looks too rigid because the hand doesn't move from side to side. Whether or not you can do that just depends on the architecture of the robot I suppose. So yeah, in addition to that stuff, the hand usually falls slightly in the direction the arm has swayed, after the movement.

Instead of rotating on just one axis per joint, maybe have subtle rotations in other directions. I dunno, just wave naturally and study your arm for awhile, you'll see what I mean I guess :P

[darkshark]

Re: Random character design + animation

I'll fix the wave then xD



Does anything look off/should I add anything as far as the character design itself goes?

[who_cares973]

Re: Random character design + animation

i do stop motion and your typical gif animations. nothing overly complex

[makdaddy]

Re: Random character design + animation

i was going to compliment your character design solely, he's trim, clean, crisp and simple something that would be good to use in all your other animation tests too.

i have very little animation experience so i can't really comment safely on his actions.

but nice robot haha

[Spenner]

Re: Random character design + animation

Black, to me, looks the best because the eyes are so distinguished. I dunno what white would look like with white eyes, but it would certainly bring them out more (though at that point the colour of the body plates might have to darken to bring the eyes out more).

Black looks really cool, but it would depend on the environment it's placed in that would decide whether it would bring out more or contrast too little...

Maybe, even, eyes that look more lens like or something. Or like a car headlight with those scanlines over the front of the glass, with maybe a dimmer light emitting from them... not sure D:

Regardless, it looks good. I only really question the lower ribcage, it would restrict the possibility of leaning side to side.

[rushyrulz]

Re: Random character design + animation

The shape of the head looks a little odd to me. Maybe a little smaller and a little more rounded on the sides instead of being curve..... then FLAT.

[darkshark]

Re: Random character design + animation

Well Vimeo takes forever to convert these things, so I'll just post the link and you can watch it whenever it finishes.

http://vimeo.com/19054502

I think I want to do some super awesome fight scenes between the black and white versions of the robots. Need awesome ideas xD

[Spenner]

Re: Random character design + animation

That's looking pretty awesome

[darkshark]

Re: Random character design + animation

Got a pretty good storyboard drawn up. I'm leaning HEAVILY towards the animation style seen in the "Shock" series of stick figure flash animations, minus all the clones...or hell maybe clones included. I just know I want an extreme sense of speed and a ton of weight put into each hit.

If you haven't seen Shock 1, 2, or 3, I recommend you watch it immediately lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sMgvO8It8Y

[Mythix]

Re: Random character design + animation

Nothing to add really, it's good but it'd be foolish to think it's complete yet..
I like the design, and lol how can white eyes on black be more distinct than black eyes on white?

How'd you rig the cable from his neck though?