From Base Frame To Full Animation - Revision history

Artisticdude: Formatting, clarifications, rewording, & typo fixes

2012-01-30T19:22:36Z

Formatting, clarifications, rewording, & typo fixes

Stern at 03:38, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T03:38:08Z

Stern at 03:36, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T03:36:33Z

Stern at 03:33, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T03:33:36Z

Stern at 03:32, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T03:32:08Z

Stern at 02:41, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T02:41:14Z

Stern at 00:59, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T00:59:44Z

Stern at 00:55, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T00:55:22Z

Stern at 00:43, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T00:43:42Z

Stern at 00:41, 15 December 2010

2010-12-15T00:41:37Z

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 by Stern
 ==Introduction==
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 ==The Network==
-One of the most important concepts of animation is that of the "network." Your character is comprised of a "network" of many parts which are all hooked together. In theory, when your character swings a sword, the entire rest of the character must move in response. (For more information upon the "network" idea and other powerful concepts, check out Jetrel's Basic Animation Tutorial: http://wiki.wesnoth.org/Basic_Animation_Tutorial).
+One of the most important concepts of animation is that of the "network." Your character is comprised of a "network" of many parts which are all hooked together. In theory, when your character swings a sword, the entire rest of the character must move in response. Why? Well, for a variety of reasonsbut principally to keep the character balanced, and/or  to maintain/increase the force behind the movement.
 ====Example====
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 * Green: Core
 * Red: Joints
 It is valuable to understand the linkages within the anatomy of your character. The position of each of the Goblin Trumpeter's joints are dependent upon the character's core. By animating the core and head of the Goblin Trumpeter first, it was simple to imagine where the feet and knee joints would be placed to support him throughout his attack. Also, determining the swing of the Goblin Trumpeter's spear early on simplified the placing of his elbows and hands. In conclusion, by utilizing the "network" concept we can bring our creations to life.
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 '''To make an animated character, you will need:'''
-A base frame of the character -> (http://wiki.wesnoth.org/Creating_a_scratch_built_sprite)
+A base frame of the character -> [[Creating a scratch built sprite]]
-A graphics editing program -> http://www.gimp.org/
+A graphics editing program -> [[Art Programs]]
 ===Blocking===
-"Blocking" is a method of pre-animation which allows you to quickly draw your character's motions with minimal rework. By dividing the character's moving parts into distinguishable colors, you can simulate and adjust the full movement of your character without spending time re-doing tiny details. For example, I have modified the Goblin Trumpeter's base frame into distinguishable colors based on the character's different limbs.
+Some artists try to create their animation by outlining and then fully shading each frame one at a time. Generally speaking, this is a very bad idea. You may realize when you have completed your fifth frame that the animation that the movement of the character is too jerky in places, or that the character ends up facing in an incorrect angle for him to be able to actually hit whatever he's attacking, etc. "Blocking" is a method of pre-animation which allows you to quickly visualize the entire animation from start to finish with minimal effort. By dividing the character's moving parts into distinguishable areas of solid colors, you can simulate and adjust the full movement of your character without spending time re-doing tiny details or having to re-shade large areas. For example, I have modified the Goblin Trumpeter's base frame into solid, distinguishable colors based on the character's different limbs.
 http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4724/goblintrumpeter2.png http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8687/goblintrumpeter.png
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 ===Fine Tuning===
-Its impossible to make a perfect blocking animation on the first try. Thats why it is important to continually observe the effects that your changes have upon the entire animation. To finely tune your blocking animation, it is a good idea to be on the look out for the animation issues discussed in Jetryl's Basic Animation Tutorial: http://wiki.wesnoth.org/Basic_Animation_Tutorial.
+It's nigh on impossible to make a perfect blocking animation on the first try. That is why it is important to continually observe the effects that your changes have upon the entire animation as a whole. To finely tune your blocking animation, it is a good idea to be on the look out for the animation issues discussed in Jetrel's [[Basic Animation Tutorial]].
 * Moving only the active element
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 * Hidden and turned surfaces not redrawn
-Another great resource is to discuss your animation on the Wesnoth Community Art Workshop forum: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewforum.php?f=23&sid=a976661f1c0a02092e50c643980d7eb0.
+Another great resource is to discuss your animation on the Wesnoth Community [http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewforum.php?f=23&sid=a976661f1c0a02092e50c643980d7eb0 Art Workshop forum].

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 ===Blocking===
-"Blocking" is a method of pre-animation which allows you to quickly draw your character's motions with minimal rework. By dividing the character's moving parts into distinguishable colors, you can simulate and adjust the full movement of your character without spending time re-doing tiny details. For example, I have modified Zerovirus's base frame of the Ghast into distinguishable colors based on the monster's different limbs.
+"Blocking" is a method of pre-animation which allows you to quickly draw your character's motions with minimal rework. By dividing the character's moving parts into distinguishable colors, you can simulate and adjust the full movement of your character without spending time re-doing tiny details. For example, I have modified the Goblin Trumpeter's base frame into distinguishable colors based on the character's different limbs.
 http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4724/goblintrumpeter2.png http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8687/goblintrumpeter.png
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 Another great resource is to discuss your animation on the Wesnoth Community Art Workshop forum: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewforum.php?f=23&sid=a976661f1c0a02092e50c643980d7eb0.

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 "Blocking" is a method of pre-animation which allows you to quickly draw your character's motions with minimal rework. By dividing the character's moving parts into distinguishable colors, you can simulate and adjust the full movement of your character without spending time re-doing tiny details. For example, I have modified Zerovirus's base frame of the Ghast into distinguishable colors based on the monster's different limbs.
-http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1500/ghast.png http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4742/ghast1.png
+http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4724/goblintrumpeter2.png http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8687/goblintrumpeter.png
 ===Animation Script===

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 A solid method of moving base frames forward towards full animation and a compilation of quick and easy tricks to help bring the animator's creations to life.
-Learn how to take a standing base frame: http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4724/goblintrumpeter2.png http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1500/ghast.png
+Learn how to take a standing base frame: http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4724/goblintrumpeter2.png
-To full animation:       http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3489/goblintrumpeter24.gif
+To full animation: http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3489/goblintrumpeter24.gif
 The magic of animation is "capturing" how your character moves and reacts through a series of frames. To animate well, we must learn about a concept called...

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 A solid method of moving base frames forward towards full animation and a compilation of quick and easy tricks to help bring the animator's creations to life.
-Learn how to take a standing base frame: http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1500/ghast.png
+Learn how to take a standing base frame: http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4724/goblintrumpeter2.png http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1500/ghast.png
-To full animation:                      http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/2486/ghastattack7.gif
+To full animation:       http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3489/goblintrumpeter24.gif
 The magic of animation is "capturing" how your character moves and reacts through a series of frames. To animate well, we must learn about a concept called...

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 Just like any good blockbuster movie, your character should have a written script or description of what it will be doing throughout its frames. By writing a brief description of what you want the character to do in each of his frames, you create a logical series of actions for a convincing animation.
 Another helpful tip is to draw a rough draft of the animation with stick figures to show how you want your character to move. By drawing stick figures ahead of time, you are actually "mapping" out the "network" of your character in preparation for animation.
 ====Example====

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 Another great resource is to discuss your animation on the Wesnoth Community Art Workshop forum: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewforum.php?f=23&sid=a976661f1c0a02092e50c643980d7eb0.
-'''Character Coloring'''
+==Character Coloring==
 If you are happy with how the movement of your character is throughout your "blocking" animation, it is time to finish by coloring your character.
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 http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/606/ghastanim27.gif http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/415/ghastanim28.gif
-'''Applying complex textures and shading '''
+===Applying complex textures and shading===
 This section is still in development.

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 '''Frame 7:''' Character regains balance and steps back to rest position.
 http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/3996/goblintrumpeter11.gif
-By using the stick figure drawings and following the written script, I created the finished blocking animation of the Goblin Trumpeter. Through the iterative process of moving the character's core and all of the corresponding joints frame by frame, little by little, you will soon have the blocking for a full animation.
+===Fine Tuning===
 To finely tune the blocking animation, continually observe the effects that your changes have upon the entire blocking animation. It is a good idea to be on the look out for the animation issues discussed in Jetryl's Basic Animation Tutorial: http://wiki.wesnoth.org/Basic_Animation_Tutorial.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:41, 15 December 2010
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	A graphics editing program -> http://www.gimp.org/		A graphics editing program -> http://www.gimp.org/
−

	===Blocking===		===Blocking===