Bitmap Rig

[TheMinahBird]

First off, I've been expirimenting with Toon Boom which I feel is more advanced than Anime Studio because of the drawing tools and image deformers, BUT AS is the only thing I know I can't get into Toon Boom's interface :/

AS has very stiff "flash"-like movement but it's very simple to use and straight forward.

I just can't get into AS's vectors, I feel they limit me from creating very complex characters who don't have basic shapes to their design. So I'm torn between Toon Boom's drawing tools and complexity BUT I am more into AS's interface.

So before anyone says the vectors are more useful or powerful than what I'm trying to do, I completely understand I just like to have complete artistic control over what my characters look like without it looking too much like cut out animation or vector.


I've been studying this video and I want to animate like this? I know anime studio has a stop motion keyframe option as well.

What I really want to do is make an all around model than does a body turn and maybe have a few vector elements. Would this come out right with anime studio?

Like it's puppet animaton BUT with a traditional feel? NO tweening and full control of everything?



My characters seem a bit too complex.

(P.S. it's ok to recommend Toon Boom instead if you're fed up with me XD)

[Víctor Paredes]

I'm watching some parts of the video and to me it seems to be what you are telling is not about a software, it's about animation.
You can get exactly the same result in AS (and I think you can make it even faster). It's about how you use advantageously the automatic tweens and how you discard them in case you are looking for something else.
You are in charge to give the "illusion of life" to your character. Of course the software helps to make things easier and faster, but a good animation depends of the animator. AS gives you a set of great tools (awesome tools, in my opinion), but everything it's about you how to use them.
Try using different intervals for your keys, try using different framerate, if you want to (I have been working with 12 frames per second in some last projects and I really like how it looks). If a movement needs to happen from one frame to the next one, just do it. Don't be afraid to fast movements. But more important than that is to apply some animation theory to your animations. Richard Williams' book has been recommended a lot in this forum (and everywhere), but I recommend it here again.

[TheMinahBird]

Haha, I just updated the post with my characters because I thought no one would answer right away.
However the thing with AS is that I'd have trouble with little details like strands of hair with how limited everything is, or streaks in someones hair.

I don't know I just like my characters looking a certain way. I've tried using bones as nobs to get what I want but I always seem to screw it up

I screw up alot with complex characters, lol.

[EHEBrandon]

No character is to complex.... The only thing is.. It only depends on how well your animating skills are... It also goes by how well you are with the drawing tools and layers.... I say go with Anime Studio Pro... I have both and I even have flash... But Anime Studio Pro is the best animating software ever.... My opinion of course... You could draw anything like you could in any other program... You can animate anything has long as you take the time... You could basically do anything... Its just getting to know how Anime Studio Pro works...