Pixel Joint Forum: Feedback on small animation

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tonytony
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 16 May 2014
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Posts: 6

Topic: Feedback on small animation
Posted: 16 May 2014 at 5:11am

I'd like feedback on a small animation I just finished.

It is a simplified Puck from DotA 2.

My reflection on it is that I shouldn't be lazy and use the rotate tool, since it creates AA = more colors. The image ended up using 48 colors due to this, instead of under 10, which is probably all I needed. Will try to follow CELS' guide in regards to that.

I am quite ok with the static parts of the character.

Because I used rotations the wings ended up looking much sloppier in the animation.

What do you guys think? Any techniques you think I could learn from?

Thank you very much.

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CELS
Commander

Joined: 23 September 2022
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Posts: 758

Posted: 16 May 2014 at 6:38am

Good start!

Well, first of all, I would start out with as few details as possible. Try making the animation with only 2 or 3 colours, and then when you're happy with the animation overall, you add the details. Otherwise, you're going to be re-shading every limb and redrawing the face every time you make a change, which sucks.

When you've reduced it to 2 or 3 colours (or just 1 blob of colour for each limb and wing), I would try to make the animation more dynamic. Right now, the body is completely locked and the wings look hard as steel. Imagine if the wings looked elastic, so you could see them bending from the air resistance every time they flap. And imagine if the arms and legs of your creature move a bit, everytime the flapping of his wings breaks his fall.

Try to find some good reference videos, like this one:
http://youtu.be/LZidl8niBdg?t=2m27s

Edited by CELS - 16 May 2014 at 6:38am

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tonytony
Seaman
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Joined: 16 May 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6

Posted: 16 May 2014 at 7:25am

Originally posted by CELS

Good start!

Well, first of all, I would start out with as few details as possible. Try making the animation with only 2 or 3 colours, and then when you're happy with the animation overall, you add the details. Otherwise, you're going to be re-shading every limb and redrawing the face every time you make a change, which sucks.

When you've reduced it to 2 or 3 colours (or just 1 blob of colour for each limb and wing), I would try to make the animation more dynamic. Right now, the body is completely locked and the wings look hard as steel. Imagine if the wings looked elastic, so you could see them bending from the air resistance every time they flap. And imagine if the arms and legs of your creature move a bit, everytime the flapping of his wings breaks his fall.

Try to find some good reference videos, like this one:
http://youtu.be/LZidl8niBdg?t=2m27s

Thank you so much - I found all of what you said to be useful.

I do have another question, regarding color palettes.
Is there a common way to come up with them?

I often see this kind of thing:

To a newbie like me, they kind of look like the same thing.

If I was to restart and make a color palette first, I would do something like this:

Which I see is the "Bad" (It also took a while to come up with this).
Would anyone be able to offer any advice on that?

Thank you.

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jalonso
Admiral
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Joined: 29 November 2022
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13537

Posted: 16 May 2014 at 8:43am

What you did there is just fine.
What's seen as weak with that kind of linear ramp palettes is that what you really have is a 4 color palettes with variations of those 4 colors.
The other more organic palette is to extend your colors without adding anymore colors. This is done by choosing a shade where it works on multiple ramps.
For example, your lightest pink and your darkest orange can be one single shade that works for both ramps then the lightest yellow would become your lightest blue/yellow. Notice in your ramps the 2 middle blues are rather close and probably 2 wasted shades where one could easily be used for both blue and purple ramps.

These organic palettes are even more sensible when you are making a small sprite as you have here.

Edited by jalonso - 16 May 2014 at 8:45am

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Author	Message
tonytony Seaman Joined: 16 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Topic: Feedback on small animation Posted: 16 May 2014 at 5:11am
	I'd like feedback on a small animation I just finished. It is a simplified Puck from DotA 2. My reflection on it is that I shouldn't be lazy and use the rotate tool, since it creates AA = more colors. The image ended up using 48 colors due to this, instead of under 10, which is probably all I needed. Will try to follow CELS' guide in regards to that. I am quite ok with the static parts of the character. Because I used rotations the wings ended up looking much sloppier in the animation. What do you guys think? Any techniques you think I could learn from? Thank you very much.
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CELS Commander Joined: 23 September 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 758	Posted: 16 May 2014 at 6:38am
	Good start! Well, first of all, I would start out with as few details as possible. Try making the animation with only 2 or 3 colours, and then when you're happy with the animation overall, you add the details. Otherwise, you're going to be re-shading every limb and redrawing the face every time you make a change, which sucks. When you've reduced it to 2 or 3 colours (or just 1 blob of colour for each limb and wing), I would try to make the animation more dynamic. Right now, the body is completely locked and the wings look hard as steel. Imagine if the wings looked elastic, so you could see them bending from the air resistance every time they flap. And imagine if the arms and legs of your creature move a bit, everytime the flapping of his wings breaks his fall. Try to find some good reference videos, like this one: http://youtu.be/LZidl8niBdg?t=2m27s Edited by CELS - 16 May 2014 at 6:38am
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tonytony Seaman Joined: 16 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Posted: 16 May 2014 at 7:25am
	*Originally posted by CELS* Good start! Well, first of all, I would start out with as few details as possible. Try making the animation with only 2 or 3 colours, and then when you're happy with the animation overall, you add the details. Otherwise, you're going to be re-shading every limb and redrawing the face every time you make a change, which sucks. When you've reduced it to 2 or 3 colours (or just 1 blob of colour for each limb and wing), I would try to make the animation more dynamic. Right now, the body is completely locked and the wings look hard as steel. Imagine if the wings looked elastic, so you could see them bending from the air resistance every time they flap. And imagine if the arms and legs of your creature move a bit, everytime the flapping of his wings breaks his fall. Try to find some good reference videos, like this one: http://youtu.be/LZidl8niBdg?t=2m27s Thank you so much - I found all of what you said to be useful. I do have another question, regarding color palettes. Is there a common way to come up with them? I often see this kind of thing: To a newbie like me, they kind of look like the same thing. If I was to restart and make a color palette first, I would do something like this: Which I see is the "Bad" (It also took a while to come up with this). Would anyone be able to offer any advice on that? Thank you.
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jalonso Admiral Joined: 29 November 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13537	Posted: 16 May 2014 at 8:43am
	What you did there is just fine. What's seen as weak with that kind of linear ramp palettes is that what you really have is a 4 color palettes with variations of those 4 colors. The other more organic palette is to extend your colors without adding anymore colors. This is done by choosing a shade where it works on multiple ramps. For example, your lightest pink and your darkest orange can be one single shade that works for both ramps then the lightest yellow would become your lightest blue/yellow. Notice in your ramps the 2 middle blues are rather close and probably 2 wasted shades where one could easily be used for both blue and purple ramps. These organic palettes are even more sensible when you are making a small sprite as you have here. Edited by jalonso - 16 May 2014 at 8:45am
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