Finding a balance between "realistic" and "usable" is very tough. I've been struggling with that for ages... making breakthroughs though.
The trick is... even the most basic simple plain ordinary cartoony to the max character can have a bone rig that produces amazing and versatile animation. (I assume you want bone animation for this since that is AS's strength in my opinion and is so much faster to animate.)
Is the plan to have one character and people use it the same way? Or have one character that people change to suit their needs? Like bone vs. point animation. there are those who hate bones and those who love them.
If this is for beginners and people learning I would like to see something plain dead simple with a great bone rig so anyone can animate it right out of the box or study for techniques.
Maybe it would be both... point motion version and bone version.
I gather that the idea is to have one recognizable character that can be mimiced in various styles for demonstration and tutorial purposes. In this case each would be original, but trying to keep with a character theme.
Tony White used the idea of "one character in different styles" for the examples in his books. It was just a fleshed out stick figure, but good enough to demonstrate all concepts of animation.
I was more thinking of just a cool looking character which can capture the viewers imagination and prove entertaining and challenging enough to demonstrate various techniques in Anime while entertainingly representing the brand.
Something fun to play with and look at, for both those old hands and us noobs alike.
I am redrawing the A-man but I have to go and look at Synth's masking tute.
I say forget representing the brand. If Smith Micro aren't going to bother why should we.
Chuckys right. (Love you too Chuckster)... we need a character thats fun and cool. The only thing it should represent, or celebrate, is this fine forum and the spirit of its members.
Haha well knunk you'll probably hate my guts ,when you see my vulgar attempt to rip off your style.
Well you know what they say about imitation and flattery.
Heres a doodle from this morning. Yes its a Pug. Kind of a pug. As close as I can get anyway. I thought a pug because he has natural in built anime style eyes. He may well have some marbles in his pocket or maybe he lost them.
Wicked, a wittle puggy wuggy.
It's so cute I think it's perfect for testing all sorts of stuff,like how to animate heavy objects squashing furry stuff, how sligshots work when loaded up with small furry critters and what happens to pugs when they tumble off very high cliffs.
Hang on a mo', so what's a pug anyway if it's not just a fat chihuahua?
I knew a pug once , it used to chase doors,( like they were going somewhere). Hence the refined features I guess
Well Mo's the best so far IMO.
I like the Pug, but he has good points and bad points for the purpose of a multiuse AS mascot...
His thin arms could be stroked shapes on a single line making rigging and animation simple and easy.
But about the face... it is really "free form". Very expressive but not very "bone friendly". Probably point animation which could be tricky for those without the experience or talent to change it or animate it.
I suppose a bunch of switch layers would work. People could create new ones to add to it. Maybe it could be animated with bones in a simple fashion but it wouldn't be a standard "head" setup.
This is a wonderful creation but... it isn't going to be easy to animate. It could be easy to animate but then it would be "canned" poses.
I really don't think we should completely limit the possibilities to bones only Vern.
I think Mo's still usable for bones though, but he as you you say does provoke a temptation to go sick with points and switches.
What would you like to see?
I kind of agree with Vern. That character would only be of limited use in demonstrating advanced techniques. Although I guess a version of him (completely different style) could be made that would follow a more 'standard' approach in AS.
Basically this the kind of style that just switches between poses. So aside from leaving out more advanced bone techniques, it would also limit stuff like action head turns. It could be done, but his expressions and lip-sync looks like it would have to involve his whole head.
Well pluck me , I never saw a Moho B4, its purdy.
I wonder if they ate Geckos?
Anyway Synth, you and Vern got me a think'n.
So did Knunk's Mo (good name BTW).....
