Animation Challenges

Scrapbook

I was going to finish my last animation challenge this week and post all three but I have to make a short trip away. Instead, I thought I'd compile and share all my odd pieces of test animation and unfinished pieces. Sometimes I have the urge to just animate something, this is often the result.
Challenge post coming soon..

Animation Challenges 2 - Where are we?

Hey fellow Animation Challengers!

I decided to work backwards and start with the advanced challenge first. In this test, I wanted to have the character move around while delivering the dialogue, as in my previous lip sync tests, my characters were glued to one spot.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Walk Cycles during Spin Cycles

Not an animation challenge, but just a couple of quick experiments while waiting for my washing machine to finish.

Animation Challenges: 2

Thanks to everyone that took the time to post for our previous set of challenges, its a positive start!

It seems the beginner challenge was the most popular so I have taken the difficultly of these challenges down a notch and focused on some less ambitious challenges.

I hope you all have a chance to join in again this new year and enjoy these new ones.

Beginner: WALK

(the technical challenge)

Whenever we animate a walk it is almost always from a profile view. Animate a character, human or animal, walking toward or away from the camera.

Walks are a vital skill for character animators. It should not be something you lack confidents with so it's always good to practice.

Intermediate: EMOTION CHANGE

(the performance challenge)

Some of the most interesting scenes in film occur due to emotion change. Animate a character changing from one emotion to another. You could choose anything from a close up showing just the face or a broader action with the whole body. Remember to check your animators survival kit, avoid moving directly from one emotion to another. Think about the reasons they are changing their emotion. An unexpected surprise, a slow realisation? 

There is no one way of doing this so have fun and try a couple of variations if you can.

Advanced : DIALOGUE SCENE

(the acting to audio challenge)

Same as last time. Animate to this short audio clip.

Male character; "Guys.... where are we?"

MP3 is recommend for best quality.

Right click and download here

If you have any questions or technical problems just comment to this post.
Any form of animation is fine.

The next challenges starts 1st April.

... And remember you can still post any animation you have unrelated to the challenges.

I finished it :)

So here is my contribution to the rowing assignment. After doing my grad film in ToonBoom, I wanted to try to animate the whole thing without linetesting it to challenge me to think more while animating and have more of a purpose with my poses (and no changing after linetesting—what will be, will be).

There are some quite obvious mistakes with the timing and spacing of the oars. It feels a bit like he is rowing in mud or something and then moving super fast back in the air. There is also some ugly mistakes with the arcs of them both right before it goes down into the water and in the water. The hands also goes out of their arcs as he reaches forward.

Oh well, hehe.. it was good fun to do. I want to do more of this in the future, and hopefully the next one will get better :)

Rowing through polygons...

First post here! Found time amongst film work to work on this. Feedback really welcome. Looking forward to doing more of these short tests, they really help to keep me on my toes!



Rowing Test Animation from Kat Seale on Vimeo.