A dumb question

[Viv]

I'm new to animation and anime 5 and this probably sounds really dumb. I'm not sure how the blue stretchy line works when moving an object. Are you supposed to drag the object to be animated to the end frame first then go back to the start frame and add keyframes on the timeline from there? Or do you just add keyframes as you go along. Confused! Can anyone explain?

[heyvern]

You can do it either way.
Sometimes I put an object in the position it should stop at first on a specific frame and then go back and add keys as needed. Other times I just animate from one key to the next.

-vern

[areyouguystwins]

You can do it either way.
Sometimes I put an object in the position it should stop at first on a specific frame and then go back and add keys as needed. Other times I just animate from one key to the next.

-vern

I agree with vern. You can do it either way.

Our procedure for animating (movement) in Anime (which probably isn't the correct way to do it) goes as follows:

1. Move the character across the screen from the start to end point using Translate Layer and Scale Layer (add a key frame at start point and end point). Then go back and add any key frames in between those points on the timeline when needed.

2. Back track on the timeline to the first key frame added in step one and add bone key frames one by one for movement until we reach the last key frame in step one.

3. Back track on the timeline to the first key frame added in step one and add Point Motion key frames (including fill colors, etc.) one by one until we reach the last key frame in step one. Point Motion key frames are used to clean up bends, eye and mouth movement.

So yeah, we constantly going back and forth on the timeline adding key frames where needed. That is why I said for long files (over 2500 frames) scrolling on the timeline gets tedious. Of course even I don't even listen to my own advice, I am currently animating a 3200 frame file which should take me about a week.

Told you we probably don't animate "correctly" but it gets the job done.

[Viv]

Thanks for that!

[dueyftw]

Controlling no motion is just as important. Some times you will just add a keframe that is a starting point. Example: An arm and hand movement to the chin at frame 48. If you just put in the movement at 48, it will start at frame 1 and go to 48. Place a keyfarme at 24 first and from 24 to 48 will be the movement. By the way this will still look slow. Timing is something that you have to learn. Also, it is not normal for just one body part to move at one time. the head will turn to meet the hand. Now you have some one who is deep in thought.

Dale