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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:00 am
by Mikdog
Thanks.

I'm tearing my hair out trying to get this right.

Any idea where I can get any resources on animating this kind of thing? Not so sure how I'm going to figure this out myself.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:04 am
by Mikdog
Another angle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUoBQrwTzf0

Working? Not working? I simply do not know.

Another method:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3y5ZLYt7J4

Bit too fast I reckon. I kind of like the first spinning disc thing.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:25 am
by Genete
For this specific scene I think it would be better that the sun stay there from the beginning (no appear). If you look to the purple char he prognostics sun's coming what is something rare. I think it is better that the sun simply stay there and the purple char look up and stop.

For other scenes (where the sun was not there and he want to talk into the conversation) then is justified that the sun appears suddenly...

That's my taste. Choose what you want and don't forget that this is supposed to be for children and not for super maniac brains like ours... :wink:

-G

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:56 am
by slowtiger
By any means avoid the spinning disk - it completely destroys the illusion you have established so far.

Since I just use any excuse to not start my actual work, I gave it a try myself this morning. Have a look, this is roughly what I had in mind:

http://www.slowtiger.de/examples/happysuntest.mov

The AS file is here:
http://www.slowtiger.de/examples/happysuntest.zip

The sun roughly follows a parable. As you'll see, it's not really smooth, but that doesn't matter since the increments are much smaller than the sun's diameter. When it hits the "ground" (I used an auxiliary layer for that) it squashes a bit. I used the Layer Scale tool with the alt-key, then adjusted sun's position so the circle touches the ground again. It doesn't need to bounce this often, I just wanted to show off ...

You should save the tilting of the sun (rotation) for dialogue, thus giving it a direction to speak to.

This is sunset/sundown, but the same principle could be used for sun's movement on the sky. The parable just needs to be much flatter and the squash will go more sideways instead of downwards.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:13 pm
by Mikdog
Ooh, thankyou slow!

Never knew about scaling with the ALT key. That'll save me a load of trouble!

Shot a lot for the sample file. Very very useful. I like it. I like it a lot.

After reflecting on it I agree with you about the rotating disc. Looks cheap and nasty.

Genete, not a bad idea. Not a bad idea. Funnily enough, I never tried just leaving the sun alone. Although, at times, it does need to enter and exit to clear the scene. Yep, it's for kids, but primarily it's for myself

:D

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:14 pm
by Mikdog
Took slowtiger's advice. I think this may work. Still need to clean it up. Don't know if I'm position the sun too high? Trying to use the rule of thirds in my shots.

Slowtiger, you are a legend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrqUMPoAsjs

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:18 pm
by slowtiger
I like it!

(Could you possibly convince my current client of my "legend" status so I get a raise? *ggg*)

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:52 pm
by Mikdog
He he. I'll do my best! You should be getting payed spam dosh, I remember reading all the films you've worked on you posted contained within a reply in another thread...Asterix and such. Schweet!

Another idea, maybe to have the sun zoom into and out of the background. Not sure if this works well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r_RUe2CKLA

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:36 pm
by slowtiger
Hm, no, I don't think so. All characters should stay at the same distance to the camera. This is your chosen style, 2D, so stick to it. Consequently stick to your initial choices is what makes a good film.

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:26 am
by Mikdog

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:17 am
by slowtiger
Yes!

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:27 am
by Genete
slowtiger wrote:Yes!
Mikdog, you should credit him at final work... :wink:

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:36 am
by Mikdog
Absolutely, that goes without saying :)

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:23 pm
by sour_jax
Mike you the dog!!!! I can't wait to see the finished project, man I wish I had half the talent you guys have!!!

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:29 pm
by Mikdog
Thinking about this for the sun's involvement in the song.

Not sure if it's distracting. Thinking the whole song-scene has to be a long shot to include everyone, though I don't want to lose audience involvement with a bland shot. Mehskis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvWTjlwPL_c