Singular Limb Movements

[Monsieur Rat]

Alrighty, basically what I'm doing here is opening up a thread for people to post early, and/or, finished movements of limbs. This includes a whole body thing, or just an arm or a leg. Just whip up, let's say, a punchin animation, and share with other, so they may learn.

I, personsally, am really rather terrible at the animation thing, but none the less I had a go and aniamting a punching arms, tips and the like are what we're looking for here. After all, you start small and work up.

http://img513.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fistanim5ly.swf Follow to find my animation. This being my first post... I havn't worked out how to have an .swf right here on the post.

[NOOB!]

hi and welcome! merry xmas

i must say good attempt,but its not looking a like a punch,it looks like a rap star doin sum kinda hand move.

how about doing another attempt,except do it side view this time??

:) its all about timing

[robber3000]

i was bored so i made one.. http://www.fabrica.it/flipbook/flipbook_player.php?id=1135549349-195932173&r=index.php&keyword=&p=1&type= hope its excepteble NOOB! :p

[NOOB!]

i think u where going for a walk there,things like successfull walks are hard to achieve in programs like flip book,but i know u don't have flash :Xead: hmmm

this isn't the best tutorial i could find,but it shud help u see what the leg looks like in a walk cycle

http://www.anticz.com/Walks.htm

[Monsieur Rat]

I took your advice Noob, and I rather like the result. I'm actually not feeling so rubbish anymore. Though i do think I went rather overboard with the flames/speed-blur effect. And the should muscle seems to grow near the end, but that sort always happens with my sketches. Not sure why I made him point, i just guess so that you can ge teh punch into perspective... more time to digest it.

Anyway, here's the link. If you have anything I missed, please tell.
http://img382.imageshack.us/my.php?image=punchprofilepractice5jv.swf

[NOOB!]

ah already much better,in order to get more force, u need to do something called *anticipation*, before the arm actually goes foward it will go back slightly.

just like before u get up off a seat u go down first then up,try it now.

it looks like u anticipate,but its not exaggerated enough.

before you go any further,do you know the difference between pose to pose and straight ahead animation?

heres a little example i did in like 5 mins hope u follow what i'm sayin.

only 5 frames at 24fps

http://www.animationforum.net/users/noob/files/punch.swf

[NOOB!]

oops double postage

[robber3000]

oooooooh i really want flash cos that stupid flipbook runs out of ink! *crys* :( but anyway wow NOOB! thanks those are really usefull i really like the arm movements but the walk cycle was hard to to get a hang of :blink: so if you can can you get me one thats abit better? :D ok thanks

[NOOB!]

oooooooh i really want flash cos that stupid flipbook runs out of ink! *crys* :( but anyway wow NOOB! thanks those are really usefull i really like the arm movements but the walk cycle was hard to to get a hang of :blink: so if you can can you get me one thats abit better? :D

hey robber i'll try yo get u a better link,but if i can't, i'll have to do my own example i guess,i'm kinda behind schedule with my own projects now,so it could be a while yet..

[Monsieur Rat]

Thanks once more Noob. I have yet another bit of the bit, but it includes what I deem a rather failed attempt at an uppercut. Wow, impressive that without the guidence right there, I seem to fail.

Oh well. Here is the link.
http://img343.imageshack.us/my.php?image=punch24de.swf

[NOOB!]

:D your getting there man,glad ur listening,see how just a little knowledge can boost ur skill?

ur latest attempt is not so much an uppercut,rather just punching upwards,go to a mirror and do an upper cut,u'll see what i mean.

keep at it man,i'm proud hehe.

jeez i gotta get back to my own work now...gotta do 50 secs of rough animation by the 31st :eek: at 30fps

[KOTK]

Is'nt it so relaxing working with 30fps just to pull out a nice and clean 50 second animation and not getting stressed or frustrated

Nice improved from your first limb anim man.

EDIT: Hey Rat, add a twist in the arm, the end position of the fist should be on it's side. If you don't understand I will sketch up an an anim for you. :cool:

[nuclear1]

Right now your arm has a little bit of anticipation but if you want to make the punch look more powerful add a couple frames when the arm is pulled back.

[Monsieur Rat]

And here it is. Rat's new and improved Uppercut. Wow, this is more actualy animation than I usually do for a whole producion. I'm usually a tween whore.

I am aware the muscle structure is off, I just whipped this one together hastily.

http://img447.imageshack.us/my.php?image=uppetcut7ow.swf

[NOOB!]

i'm usually a tween whore.



daaah!! tweening is illegal on this forum!! :p

glad ur getting into it,thats what this forum is here for after all,its looks waay better that ur previous attempt.but yeh the anatomy is throwing it off a bit,i hope u will also post some art in the art section so we can see ur drawing skills..

i did a rough uppercut in 2mins lol

http://www.animationforum.net/users/noob/files/wack.swf

the forearm in my uppercut shud go way back in the last frame as if he is flexing his biceps,but i can't be bothered :Xead:

[Monsieur Rat]

Thanks, here, one last try. I made a little effort to make the forearm less dodgy. I think your guy packs a little more wallop to his punch than mine.

http://img306.imageshack.us/my.php?image=uppercutbest3ml.swf

[NOOB!]

i watched urs frame by frame,and theres no anticipation :Blahblahb lol,right click on mine and watch mine frame by frame *untick play and press foward if ya dunno how to do it*

u'll notice even that arm goes back before it goes up.

don't rush things,animation is all about thinking and timing,spacing and curves.

this is what the bouncing ball teaches you,please visit that thread.

Bouncing Ball Thread (http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=385)

and remember don't give up.

[Monsieur Rat]

Thanks once more. And I acutally read the Ball thread before posting here at all. I redid it, and it looks better, but rather then get hung up on that, I decided to try something new... but don't worry, I havn't forgotten the uppercut.

Here is my first attempt at a kick. Left leg facing forward.

http://img437.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kick2fv.swf

[NOOB!]

:blink: i think thats ur first success man,i think it works,its very quick,but i wouldn't expect a kick to be slow anyway.

my only suggestion would be stretching the leg near the end similar to what we did with the arm.

:D *proudness*

[Monsieur Rat]

W00T!!! Well it's great to know your guidance has lead me to this. And being the nerd that I am, I couldn't resist posting the uppercut. I think my IP is going to get banned from ImageShack.

http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=finaluppercut3zy.swf

Hope this one is better. I put in some good ol' anitcipation.

[elephant]

Oui, looking good, monsieur! :D

Here's something about punching/kicking. I don't know if it might help, but give it a try - http://polykarbon.com/tutorials/fighting/fight.htm

Also, I noticed that your lines are quite... 'hairy' :confused: But I guess it doesn't matter right now.

Keep up the good work!

[Monsieur Rat]

Thanks a bunch, elephant. The only issue with that is not all punches/kicks are designed as a blow, but rather a tactical build up. I'm actually a black-belt in eagle claw (a form of 100% Kung Fu) and we've been taught to always deliver jabs without defined force, as a distraction of sorts, then let fly with a hook or a low round-house.

Great now I sound like a pretentious nerd. Sorry, heh, i liek to spurt random bouts of rubbish. But still thanks, it' s a great little blurb about hits that are truly intended to be forceful.

I'll probably be back later today with a couple more clips to be torn apart. Thanks for all the great hospitality folks.

[Monsieur Rat]

Bringing this thread back to life with a culmination of sorts. This is a guy (red) throwing a punch from a profile view. Then a guy blocks the punch (blue). He is first with his back to us, then as the punch comes, he yanks his arm back, then turns to a profile facing the left (he's using his right arm) and swings across to block, pushing red's arm back.

This one is going to need some serious aid, because I'm confident I assed it up. Please assist.

Link -> http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=punchblock1qj.swf

[KiWi]

You've improved a lot, nice anatomy. Try to work on cleaner lines. Lets see a final for some of these things!

[KOTK]

Rat, try starting the punch in a fighting stance rather than boom... I bet you did'nt know I was gonna hit ya type thing.

[Monsieur Rat]

Thanks for the kind words on the anatomy, KiWi. And as for fighting stance, here you all go. I tried doing this with some bodies, now, to see how it looks, and i rather like the effect, though the random lines due to it being not cleaned up are a bit confusing. Wow, i just noticed it looks like teal head-butts red, i should have done something with that...
Anyway, here you are, c&c very welcome, as always.

Link -> http://img445.imageshack.us/my.php?image=punchnouveau3au.swf

[Monsieur Rat]

Hmm, sorry to double post, but I've got yet another little clip to throw on the grill. This is a guy pulling off a little spinning kick. Nothing spectacular, but im trying to get basic moves down whilst still using bodies. Later I'll post up bodied animations with real anatomy and the like, but i want to make sure I'm doing this properly first.

Link -> http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kicker9ie.swf

[NOOB!]

before you go any further,do you know the difference between pose to pose and straight ahead animation?


i don't think u answered my question rat...

[robber3000]

hey noob i hope you havent forgot about getting me a tutorial :D :p

[NOOB!]

best i could find robber http://www.idleworm.com/how/anm/02w/walk1.shtml

[Monsieur Rat]

Sorry NOOB!, i totally missed that. I wouldn't say for sure that I know, but i would assume pose to pose would be like laying out the keyframes for the definite or more solid positions, then filling in the spaces inbetweening style, and straight ahead would be like you just start and animate frame by frame until the movement is done.

[NOOB!]

exactly,and it seems like you are doing it straight ahead,which should only be used for fast paced stuff.

i don't know exactly what your doing,but your characters *from your fight thread* aren't looking too consistant,your characters size/shapes changes allot which makes the animation look off.

what i would do is just take your time,set out ur keyframes *main poses* and use the onion skinning in flash to make sure your character keeps a consistant size.Then go back and inbetween.

Its also quite difficult for me to help you out because i know you working with a mouse,which is the equivalent of drawing on paper with a bar of soap.

try and get a wacom,its a good investment.

keep at it though,nelson is king of using mouse and a tablet.

[Monsieur Rat]

So then, how's this one. I think this fellow is a lot les gelatinous that the other; retains his form much better. But please, you be the judges, because I'm auto-biased.

[KOTK]

I think you forgot to give the link, Rat. ;)

[Monsieur Rat]

haha im smooth

http://img351.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spinkick6up.swf

there u go lol... wow, stayed up too alte blowing up germany last night methinks.

[NOOB!]

rat your not understanding me right,yes keep him the same size,but he is still changing shape,keep everything consistant.

and also keep in mind the curves,nothing is really following a steady curved motion *this is what the bouncing ball thread is for,but you said you already read that*

keep at it! take your time,and save up for that graphire. ;)

[KOTK]

wow, stayed up too alte blowing up germany last night methinks.
What game was you playing?

Oh, and what Greene said. ;)

[Monsieur Rat]

Right then, I'll just have to work on that, because i was hearing right. And I was trying, I guess just not doing. But I'll work harder on keeping form then, I'll maybe try it with some walking cycles first, just because those tend to require form, but are also faily easy to keep form on.

And to Kave, no game, I live in Germany, heh, and last night was new years, so obviously I was gunna start WWIII with my wannabe Nazi neighbors.

[Lion_O]

Hey MsRat glad to hear ur a fellow martial Artist. cool I"m Sansoo Karate Kung Fu yah its a basterd style of the 2 but hey i'm tryingt to get back in shape :D .

The cool thing about martial arts that helps an animator in my mind is that u know have a bg of knowelege on how u coreograph a fight sc and u know what the puches and kics r for.

One thing i must say tho is the remember when u first started and they started to break down the movements in class for u so u can learn them. Right just think along the same whay when u animate ur fight movements. Break down the action. Also remember that in animation we have to exaggerate the movement so that the audiance can see it. There is no point point in doing or spending time on movements that the audiance will not understand or see if they r too slight. So exagerate exagerate exagerate but always keeping in mind the proportions of the character and using squash and stretch where u can. :Blahblahb

Ok i'm done :)