Easter Island animation project

[bakenius]

Hello guys!

I know, it's been ages since I've been active here... but my new animation project - a 22 minute tv special about Easter Island - is hitting the production stage after 9 months of pre-production preparation, and I do like to share the Anime Studio animation I'm doing for it. (backgrounds are done in ArtRage, compositing in After Effects)

So, here's a first test I've been working this week on, as you can probably see, I haven't animated in over a year so I've become a bit rusty: any tips and comments on how to improve on it are more then welcome!

http://vimeo.com/1891718

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

[slowtiger]

Yes, the animation needs some improvement ... the chief isn't really shifting his weight from one leg to the other, but merely goes up and down. And perhaps you try to avoid this overly fluid look where everything movers at the same pace - get some dynamic into the timing.

But the designs are OK, kind of International Children's Television Style ... a bit too little contrast for my taste. Remember, it's a windy island without forests, and although there may be not much sunny weather, it shoulkd reflect the brightness of a rock over the sea.

BTW I have seen "Marin" in Stuttgart on a big screen, and it was a very nice experience. Worked with the audience, but came out a bit tame, especially in contrast to the more action-oriented student work.

[bakenius]

Yay! Slowtiger! I was hoping you still browsed these forums!

Yes, the animation needs some improvement ... the chief isn't really shifting his weight from one leg to the other, but merely goes up and down. And perhaps you try to avoid this overly fluid look where everything movers at the same pace - get some dynamic into the timing.

Yes, it needs more snap. That's always a fight with the tendency of AS to smoothly tween everything into one big paste. I definitively need to work on that.

But the designs are OK, kind of International Children's Television Style

Yeah, it's a bit generic... but this time it needs to sell for television, mostly in the 5-9 year old demographic. Our tiny team agreed on this look in the end.

... a bit too little contrast for my taste. Remember, it's a windy island without forests, and although there may be not much sunny weather, it shoulkd reflect the brightness of a rock over the sea.

Ah, but this is a scene in the late afternoon, the day-time stuff jumps of your screen I guarantee you. Secondly I used a Sorensen codec that mutes all colours down considerbly as well.

BTW I have seen "Marin" in Stuttgart on a big screen, and it was a very nice experience. Worked with the audience, but came out a bit tame, especially in contrast to the more action-oriented student work.

Yeah, I was present in Stuttgart and you're right, it was a bit tame compared to other student stuff. Esp. that insane French caffeine-song that came right after my film was unfortunate.

[slowtiger]

So why didn't we meet in Stuttgart? OK, next time I'll be wearing badges of all the software I use and all forums I attend ...

To avoid the mushy everything-moves-the-same-speed-look I make it a habit of always setting keys before I start a movement. This way I get a sequence of pause - movement - pause which is a lot more satisfying. A good body pose will last easily for 10 seconds, in which you could have lots of dialogue and some small head movements. Think of a hierarchy in motion: the smallest parts (the mouth and eye) move the most, the head will move not so often, the hands only stress certain phrases, and the whole body changes pose only to make a strong statement. (Something like a continuous walk will count as one pose.)

[PARKER]

Your backgrounds got a lot of details, they are really nice.
I liked it.Characters design are good too.
Good job!