HI, Im John. I Just started animating a week ago. These are my basic exercises. All done in Pencil (software) with a Wacom tablet.

Please be blunt and honest, im not here to hear compliments, i want to learn animation!

First walk cycle, from a basic cycle + observation:


Ball weights at 12FPS, completely off:


Ball weights2 at 24FPS on ones:


PLEASE give C&C! Everywhere i post, i just get vague comments. Be horrible if you have to!

Hi John,
Very good animation if you only started learning a week ago.
Though I would say that you have gained alot of knowledge, but, I would say that you need to use your stretch and squash more and give more time after the ball has landed.
and for the walk, it is a basic vanilla walk (just a walk with no added extras). So I would see if you can put in some personality and give the arms a frame or two after the leg extension to reach their full extension.
You might also try to find Richard William's "Animators Survival Kit", it is a really good animation book to start off with.
Good luck with animation and I hope this Feedback has helped!

Ive tried to use more squash and stretch here, and ive given the balls time to settle on the ground. although the baketball (red) should run off the screen, i made it stop for some reason. I need to stop doing that!

Im not sure i like the stretching on the bowling ball.



Since doing that walk I have read The animators survival kit cover to cover. I might try to do another walk cycle today. I just want to know if my balls are anything nearing believable before i move on too much.

Ok i set myself a task: To do a walk cycle by using keyframes, and doing it all from memory and LIFE reference (me).

[EDIT] I would like to point out that i do not flap my arms around like this in real life! [EDIT]

I didnt refer to any books or guides for this, just what i remember from the book i read. C&C please.

I was aiming for a sort of proud walk, with the head focussed on something, not going everywhere! The arms went a bit awol though.



YouTube isnt working properly.

hey John, noticing a few problems on your new basketball bounce. 1 your spacing isn't working for me at all. As the ball comes down its gaining momentum, and each frame should be spaced a bit farther apart. Try and get some more overlap as well at the top of each bounce.
Second your arcs aren't very nice on this jump. Try and plot you arcs out before you start animating. It doesn't look like you are using a traditional 2d method so I'm not to sure how you are animating right now, if you are using a computer try and even draw on your monitor if you have to(and if you can draw on that particular monitor). Read page 36 and 37 of the Richard Williams book, notice how nothing is moving in a straight line, look at your first bounce up and just track your balls path of action. It is very straight. Now also notice the angle your ball takes as it bounces up, it is at a completely different angle of movement than it started, unless it hit something that altered its trajectory this shouldn't be.

Cheers, I see what you mean. here is another try.



Im animating using a program called Pencil, drawing on a Wacom tablet. Pencil isnt very good, but its passable for this basic stuff.

My main source of confusion is the timing. I can break down into keyframes at 24FPS and i get a nice idea of timing, but then the tweens are way too numerous, so i cannot squash and stretch without it looking like a blur.

Hey guys, any chance of some C&C on those last two videos?

Hi John,
Always draw out your animation in 12 frames so it is less work for you to draw every frame in 24 and also you get the same effect in 12 as 24.

Have you seen this site?
animresource.blogspot.com/

I suggest reading the articles on there, they will give you more idea about what you need to work on.

I see the ideas that you are trying to convey. Have you tried a more planned pose-to-pose version of the bouncing ball? How much planning are you putting into the whole motion?

You've got a good lively straight ahead animation feel to all the animations and you've definitely done better with the walk then I did at 1st. There are some basics that could be emphasised.

My favorite thing to try with the bouncing ball and characters with squash and stretch is to make the S&S felt but not necessarily seen. It's tricky and challenging.

Good luck, keep up the practicing and try to nail the basics (12 principles).