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learning animation - exercises and experiments

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learning animation - exercises and experiments

This one is a head turn based on an assignment from Tony White's The Animator's Workbook. Just thought I'd throw it out here before attempting a cleanup. (And yes I have yet to get the hang of keeping things from morphing! I'll probably draw/paste in perfect circles on another layer and trace over those in cleanup)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8aufa26CN0

Another Thing.

Hello.

Great info ...you might try leading with the eyes- so the pupils shft in the direction of the head turn and then the head follows.

Keep going!

****************************8

Tony,

Just bought your newest book - love it- a fine addition to my library.

Did you receive my email about the "2D or not 2D festival"?

I would love to help out.

Thanks!

Very nice turn! At some point the comments start to become personal preference, and this may fall into that category :D Still...

Try varying your speed a little bit in different sections of the turn. For example, the take and turn at the end would have a bit more "snap" if it were quicker - as it is, it's pretty close to the pace of the earlier turns. Timing is tricky, but varying it a bit adds more interest to the proceedings.

And this is probably totally personal preference... the blinks seem a bit lethargic. Unless someone is sleepy or depressed, a blink is usually much quicker.

These are nitpicks though; the turn itself is really terrific, and the improvement between your first and second is dramatic. Very nice work!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57uonyCU62o

Just about redrawn the whole thing, which was easier than trying to fix little bits and pieces. And of course once you've changed something you've got to go back and fix everything else :) It's not perfect yet, but it's not the last head turn I'll ever do, so I'll keep any further comments in mind for next time.

(Thanks Tony and Larry! And it's not everyday you get feedback from the author of your reference book :) )

That's an awesome second attempt!

The only thing I would suggest is to really try to really milk and exaggerate those fast movements. In animation the brain tends to find it more pleasing and realistic if the movements are much more exaggurated. Plus, you can never go to far, the sky is the limit so don't feel afraid to try something really outragous.

It's also much more fun that way =)

Lindsey Keess
Animator

opened up a can of worms....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57uonyCU62o

Just about redrawn the whole thing, which was easier than trying to fix little bits and pieces. And of course once you've changed something you've got to go back and fix everything else :) It's not perfect yet, but it's not the last head turn I'll ever do, so I'll keep any further comments in mind for next time.

(Thanks Tony and Larry! And it's not everyday you get feedback from the author of your reference book :) )

love the head turn! im currently learning head turns as well

also larry love your tutorials!!! and what book of tonys do you speak of? :cool:

*UPDATE* lol i didn't even realize but i own one of his books the animators workbook! and i'm posting with the author that is so awesome :D

Good Job!

Good job with the head turn.

You used your arcs and timing well.

I always try to avoid the straight on position of the head- because it flattens everything out.

Well done.

Hi Rach3.

I agree with Larry about the final head position. I also agree you did a nice head turn.

Now try one more thing...

Before your initial turn, add a little 'anticipation' to it. This means you actually moving the head in the opposite direction a little way before it moving in the direction you want it. So, draw an extra head key position a little way away from the intended direction, then do a couple of 'slow-in' inbetweens to it. (See book for definitions.) Then maybe use the new 'breakdown' inbetween to hook-up to the existing head turn action. (You might just reverse the slow-in inbetweens to do that but I find that it is better to move our faster from the anticipation than it is to move into it.) Anyway, try this. I think you will find it will give you a better start to your action.

Then, if you like that, add another to the turn back at the end.

If you're really enthusiastic... try animating your second head turn just a little beyond your final 'hold' position and slow-in back from that extreme position to it.

Just a few tricks to make your action more natural-looking and easy on the eye! :)

Good luck!

Tony. :^{)}=-

Personal Blogsite:
http://blog.animaticus.com

"The Animaticus Foundation"
http://www.animaticus.com

jason ryan skipping girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQl-jvuAvG8

(first exercise I've done in FlipBook...and I've lost the line that was my ground plane. sort of works anyway)

It works, but here's my take on how it could work even better.

1.) The whole body action should come from the leg and hip. They lead while the head, spine and feet follow through with some delay. I see some of that in the action but you could exaggerate it more so it reads better and adds flexibility and force. The feet don't read too well on the up position to me, try adding an inbetween or two on 1's, always favouring the 'up'.

2.) Bend the spine the other way on the highest position. In combination with the aforementioned delay it will give the impression of the thrust travelling from the hip all the way up to the head.

3.) Also, whether in a walk or a jump, I find it works best to let the heels of the falling feet contact first and then go straight to a full contact pose of the whole foot. This will give the landing some snap.

4.) Give the jump an antic and let the head and body overshoot down after the landing, meaning add positions going past the now lowest point with both feet firmly on the ground. It will give the landing more force and also more bounce to the whole action.

Hi Jabberwocky

Thanks for the crit, I really appreciate you taking the time :) The next tutorial I'm working on will be a jump with antic, so I'm probably going to do the next exercise and then revisit this one. (Promises, promises :D)

Really nice! The head moves

Really nice! The head moves smoothly through the arcs. I hope I can do this good someday when I attempt that exercise. Thanks for sharing it.

Animaster Academy - Best

Animaster Academy - Best Animation College

www.animaster.com

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