Tips and Tricks for making throw Objects and Particles Look Like they have weight

[NanotechBeasts]

So my wolflike character can break apart metal, nanotech, and gears from on and within its body to use as weapons, tools, and such. I am trying to use particles and layers to create the look that the metal plates from her back are being throw at the cage bars and the particles of nanotech and gears are coming from inside her.
Any tips and tricks to help make it look like the plates are hitting the bars and ricocheting off of them?
I know I am not quite there yet. Also I am just looking for the simplest solution. I am not needing to make a masterpiece, just something good enough that the viewer can tell what is happening. Anyway here are my links:
https://youtu.be/DQks-z-e3xE
https://youtu.be/itynB153m4s
https://youtu.be/zVB4gtHLGJc

[Maestral]

The plates in your examples look like they're in slow motion?
Perhaps to add some anticipation? Different shapes of 8 are pretty good looking paths for floating objects.

For particles, perhaps to cut it in 2 parts
1st part, where particles "bloom" rapidly and then, when there's enough of them...
2nd one, cut to those gadgets near the bars (on/off layers and staggering k.frames for position // maybe for rotation as well). For continuity with particles, some scaling up to full size.

All in all, several cuts in the scene would make it even easier.

Total as is, anticipation. and then...
a close up of the plates, before launching and them flying off the screen/shot (though, this one would look better if shot from behind her)
cut to them bouncing off from the bars

close up of particles starting to "bloom" (really close close up, so particles could fill it easier)
cut to the gadgets and "continuity scaling up" and staggering...

Break it apart - it could be more interesting and less demanding for you than to make it in just one shot

[NanotechBeasts]

Opps I posted this in the wrong section! It is far from a completed work.

[NanotechBeasts]

The plates in your examples look like they're in slow motion?
Perhaps to add some anticipation? Different shapes of 8 are pretty good looking paths for floating objects.

For particles, perhaps to cut it in 2 parts
1st part, where particles "bloom" rapidly and then, when there's enough of them...
2nd one, cut to those gadgets near the bars (on/off layers and staggering k.frames for position // maybe for rotation as well). For continuity with particles, some scaling up to full size.

All in all, several cuts in the scene would make it even easier.

Total as is, anticipation. and then...
a close up of the plates, before launching and them flying off the screen/shot (though, this one would look better if shot from behind her)
cut to them bouncing off from the bars

close up of particles starting to "bloom" (really close close up, so particles could fill it easier)
cut to the gadgets and "continuity scaling up" and staggering...

Break it apart - it could be more interesting and less demanding for you than to make it in just one shot

Thank you so much for the advice! While I can't really break apart the scene for the trailer as there are 4 similar shots for the edit that are paced to feel like a push and shove between them, I can not get over how helpful your suggestion will be for the actual series! : D! Like any good cartoon with powers (ex: Digimon, Transformers, etc) I should break it down to add to the build up and suspense!!! It is a very smart suggestion and one I will definitely be using in the series. It had me smiling with excitement! This is exactly the type of workaround for cheap production value that I am looking for, will look awesome!

The plates- I am definitely having a hard time pacing my scenes as I don't mean for them to look like they are in slow motion in this shot. It could add in the excitement/anticipation in a break down scene like you suggested but for this particular scene I will to try to make them look like its real time.

'Different shapes of 8 are pretty good looking paths for floating objects.'- I never thought of it but you are completely right! Usually objects float in a pattern but I am finding paths difficult to create.

'For particles, perhaps to cut it in 2 parts
1st part, where particles "bloom" rapidly and then, when there's enough of them...
2nd one, cut to those gadgets near the bars (on/off layers and staggering k.frames for position // maybe for rotation as well). For continuity with particles, some scaling up to full size.' -Maybe I should add more layers of particles....?

[Maestral]

-Maybe I should add more layers of particles....?

If you make them fit the continuity (through gradation of size, scale, number and density i.e.) - I believe that would work just fine.

1st layer to bloom/explode
2nd to disperse or aim/attack towards the target
3rd to land on bars

perhaps the 4th bounces back and fades out.

Once separated, each of these particles would be easier to tame instead of making all this into a single one. Especially due to the duration for each - just a few frames till the next layer is on.

[NanotechBeasts]

I am finding it rather tricky to get my files to follow a path... I think I am going post another simpler file from another scene and see what is going on in the correct section. I am making progress, I promise. : ) It is just taking me a long time on all my scenes.

[Little Yamori]

You might want to try just cycling one animated layer of the moving vector object as a practice technique to see if it has the look you want, and if you can get it close, duplicate that layer and stagger the sequence or keyframes so they move at different intervals

[NanotechBeasts]

You might want to try just cycling one animated layer of the moving vector object as a practice technique to see if it has the look you want, and if you can get it close, duplicate that layer and stagger the sequence or keyframes so they move at different intervals

Thank you for the support and tips. I am coming back to this scene soon. I may have bit off a little more than I could chew with it. I have been backtracking a little an working on a few simpler scenes with both path following or particles. At the time I thought I could learn it all with one scene but I was a bit over my head. I really need to update on some of my threads to show I made progress. This will never be an amazingly professional looking animation series since it isn't what is needed for the target audience. { Your animation is so smooth and amazing. You have come so far!}. But for me I am just aiming for something I can do cheap and quick in the future and the viewer can tell what is happening. Hopefully I get enough time to put together a concept trailer by this Winter Break, Summer at the latest

[Little Yamori]

I think you'll figure it out soon. You stuff is looking good.
thanks for the kind complement again, I started off knowing nothing so this software has a lot of potential.

Cycling it pretty simple, I'd start with a blank file and just make a basic shape like a filled circle and bounce it off another filled shape like a rectangle and create a cycle so it keeps looping.

I sometimes make files like this as a reference for techniques and timing speed. It saves time on the tedious detail of trying to incorporate it right into my animation on the first attempt, and then when I get things looking how I think it should, I apply the same technique to my work and have the file as a reference when I get brain dead and forget how I did something

[NanotechBeasts]

I am finally getting around to an update. It's not perfect but I broke the particle layer into two parts. Created individual layers for the gears. I think its mostly my movement and pacing that is off more than anything else right now. Not sure if there is an easier way to adjust the pacing.

Old- [youtube]https://youtu.be/JVlxJcP7dzI[/youtube]
and
New- [youtube]https://youtu.be/ous7AK6KoD0[/youtube]

Hopefully it looks good enough for the viewer to understand the concept.