Full Version: My version of the side step...
Hash, Inc. Forums > The A:M Exchange / Resources / User Groups > User Groups / Projects > Animation Boot Camp
!!!!!!!!!Improved version below!!!!!!!!!
Hey...not bad for a first timer...here are the main things I saw:
*No anticipation for the action: this means that there wasn't an "sub-action" that gave energy in order to do the side step. For example, when you punch, you don't get very much power if you just whack your hand straight forward...you get more engery if you pull your arm back and then punch...that's called anticipation. In this case, he would have to first lean to the other side, shifting all of his weight, and then going to the action by shifting back....
*The IK snap in the arm: you probably saw this..."IK snap" is something that happens when you move a chain of IK bones (a chain of bones controlled by one bone) to a certain extent so you get that pop...
*the feet slip a bit, especially the last one that lands.
*The timing is quite robotic...it would seem you have the main poses every 10 frames...vary the timing a bit (also speed it up a sinch). Maybe make the anticipation about 4 frames, then have him hold it for about 5 frames (hold means he stays in his last pose/position as he was) and then have him do the action...this will take away from the linear look...
*Poses are a bit unnatural- all the positions in this animation are very unnatural. Look in the mirror when you side step..you don't really squat down that low and spread your legs apart like that...
That's a good amount of stuff to start with...
*No anticipation for the action: this means that there wasn't an "sub-action" that gave energy in order to do the side step. For example, when you punch, you don't get very much power if you just whack your hand straight forward...you get more engery if you pull your arm back and then punch...that's called anticipation. In this case, he would have to first lean to the other side, shifting all of his weight, and then going to the action by shifting back....
*The IK snap in the arm: you probably saw this..."IK snap" is something that happens when you move a chain of IK bones (a chain of bones controlled by one bone) to a certain extent so you get that pop...
*the feet slip a bit, especially the last one that lands.
*The timing is quite robotic...it would seem you have the main poses every 10 frames...vary the timing a bit (also speed it up a sinch). Maybe make the anticipation about 4 frames, then have him hold it for about 5 frames (hold means he stays in his last pose/position as he was) and then have him do the action...this will take away from the linear look...
*Poses are a bit unnatural- all the positions in this animation are very unnatural. Look in the mirror when you side step..you don't really squat down that low and spread your legs apart like that...
That's a good amount of stuff to start with...
Hey thanks a lot Jamagica for the comments and tips. You're right about me doing every 10 seconds or so per frame, I'll try varying it up. Also thanks for explaining anticipation, i didn't really know what it meant in animation terms. Thanks again for the comments, i'll improve on it right away. 
Hey cwazykid, I have some more suggestions that might help you out, in addition to the great advice from jamagica.
First off, act this out yourself. Exactly as if you were really dancing. Don't slow down to see it better. Actually do the dance.
You'll find that what you do is much much faster than what you've animated. This is a very common mistake for beginner's. I'm letting you know so you can nip it in the butt early on. Everything you animate, try making it much much faster than you think it should be. You might be surprised by what you find. And if you really end up with too zippy animation, you can always slow it down.
As for the poses, pay attention to what you really do when you act it out. Does your body really go that low to the ground? Are your legs really that spread apart?
This character is off balance most of the time. Pay some attention to weight shift. When you lift up your right leg, you actually have to shift your weight over your left leg first, in order to lift the right one. Like jamagica says, he needs to shift in anticipation so that right leg can come up and step at the beginning.
There are a number of animation techniques that can help you improve as an animator. For starters, this Link offers a great free introduction to the principles of animation.
Good luck.
~Cristin
First off, act this out yourself. Exactly as if you were really dancing. Don't slow down to see it better. Actually do the dance.
You'll find that what you do is much much faster than what you've animated. This is a very common mistake for beginner's. I'm letting you know so you can nip it in the butt early on. Everything you animate, try making it much much faster than you think it should be. You might be surprised by what you find. And if you really end up with too zippy animation, you can always slow it down.
As for the poses, pay attention to what you really do when you act it out. Does your body really go that low to the ground? Are your legs really that spread apart?
This character is off balance most of the time. Pay some attention to weight shift. When you lift up your right leg, you actually have to shift your weight over your left leg first, in order to lift the right one. Like jamagica says, he needs to shift in anticipation so that right leg can come up and step at the beginning.
There are a number of animation techniques that can help you improve as an animator. For starters, this Link offers a great free introduction to the principles of animation.
Good luck.
~Cristin
Another thing to keep in mind is weight. Right now Joe's right foot is coming off the ground but his center of gravity is partially over it. If you think about it, if he has any weight over his foot he won't be able to pick up the foot, it's pinned down, to lift the foot he has to move the weight, either over his other leg, or at least throw it up in the air so it's not holding the foot down (in other words hop).
Check the bottom of this page for a better discussion of weight, with pictures.
http://www.hash.com/amtutes/Bootcamp/mytwelve.html
Keep going its a good start.
-Alonso
Check the bottom of this page for a better discussion of weight, with pictures.
http://www.hash.com/amtutes/Bootcamp/mytwelve.html
Keep going its a good start.
-Alonso
One major rule on jumps is to make the legs fully extended on the last frame before he leaves the ground. Try jumping with your legs staying bent... almost impossible.
Likewise, you'll probably want his arms to be fully stretched out in front of him at that point also.
Think "Superman"
Likewise, you'll probably want his arms to be fully stretched out in front of him at that point also.
Think "Superman"
Don't forget arcs and offsetting. Right now in the sidestep the pelvis and feet both start and stop at exactly the same time, try offsetting that, make the feet start moving then the pelvis moves then the feet stop then the pelvis stops. The pelvis moving in such a straight horizontal line stands out as computery to me. Good bending of the torso now, don't be afraid to counter bend in the waist also.
Check out http://www.KeithLango.com/ 's tutorial on "the zen of lead and follow" he breaks down a jump well near the bottom discussing the forces of it. Robert's right about your jump, when we jump we are pushing off the earth against gravity, so we use all of our muscle energy pushing as long as we can, which winds up with us all stretched out as we extend our leg muscles. In landing also we usually reach out with our legs and cushion our landing by letting them fold up. You are doing that some here but you can push it further with more extended legs. Another trick to show impact is to have the back arched right up until the legs contact the ground, and then the next frame curl the back over, contrasting frames like that can be really powerful. You might try hiding his arms and just concentrating on the legs and torso for now. This is a good start though, I love his little flailing feet.
-Alonso
Check out http://www.KeithLango.com/ 's tutorial on "the zen of lead and follow" he breaks down a jump well near the bottom discussing the forces of it. Robert's right about your jump, when we jump we are pushing off the earth against gravity, so we use all of our muscle energy pushing as long as we can, which winds up with us all stretched out as we extend our leg muscles. In landing also we usually reach out with our legs and cushion our landing by letting them fold up. You are doing that some here but you can push it further with more extended legs. Another trick to show impact is to have the back arched right up until the legs contact the ground, and then the next frame curl the back over, contrasting frames like that can be really powerful. You might try hiding his arms and just concentrating on the legs and torso for now. This is a good start though, I love his little flailing feet.
-Alonso
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.