Hello all, I bring this here to you today because I am stumped on what to do with it.  I just recently drew this up and I would greatly appreciate Comments and Critiques, thanks all.

Hello Mikedsxx,

At first I thought that the blue arm had
a sword in it and I found it strange that
midway the animation the red arm grew
a sword.
Then when I opened it up in an editor
I noticed that there weren't any swords
and I think you intend to have the arms
make a slash movement.
Well, it doesn't read that well.
If you did intend to have a sword in both
arms then you should have them visible
in all frames and not just grow them when
you want them.
The movement of the red leg is strange
as well as it first has a sideway view and
there is a too abrupt movement to the back
view.
But I believe that your main focus should be
to make it clear what the action is: sword or
no sword.

The color blocks are really helpful for comments
and critiques and hopefully you keep them for
a while.

Best regards from

M.E.

I realized after the fact that I have to break up these poses into individual ones since I am going to use it in a game.

here is the first part of the combo.  I'm gonna try and string together the second combo now



Here is an extreme version I worked on before hand it doesn't fix anything stated but I figure I'll show it anyway.  Don't worry though as I will fix the issues stated.  Such as the bad turn around and the over all stiffness.




Edited by Mikedssx - 01 June 2008 at 4:48am

OLD ^^^^



Update ** ^^^

I'm not too sure a leg raise is going to work.  It detracts a bit from the slash.  Although I did exaggerate the raise to an extreme.  Hopefully someone can fix this flaw of mine.  I was staring at it for about 20 minutes and I have no idea how to make it less mechanical.

****
Oh i just realized that head edit, good idea making it separate I'll follow suit from now on.


Edited by Mikedssx - 01 June 2008 at 6:35am

lol I like the subtle approach

Motion trails don't shrink.
They are meant to happen fast.



However the red one in this is cool as f**k.



Edited by Souly - 01 June 2008 at 6:22pm

I think near the end of the first slash he should already begin bending his knees.
I mean at the moment the combo seems a little slow.

I think such a blow have to be delivered as a final one, because it is charged for a long time.
I suggest you to make a second swing maybe coming from above, to make your character bend his knees a bit, so the final slash can be more active and believable

Looking good!
1 thing looks akward though, it looks like there is some kind of pause in the beginning of the animation.
I removed it with this quick edit:



I think you added that pause to get more effect to his hand changing to a sword, right? Well, it makes the step look weird. But if you want to keep the pause I think it's possible. You just have to add a few frames so he makes his step after the pause (after he changed his hand to his sword)

Now:
begin step
pause + swordhand animation
finish step

how it should be
swordhand animation (with a pause)
step

Also, you did a really good job on this. I admire your skill to make such a smooth animation. I can't wait to see the final sprited version.


Edited by dragonrc - 04 June 2008 at 2:42pm

DragonRc you were right about the pause not only did I pause it for that I also paused it to maybe get a bit more oomph out of the upward slash.  I guess it didn't work out too well.

Thanks

"I think the down-chop part needs less butt and more back, like this:"

Yeah I totally agree A.B. !!  Wow I'll definitely change it to that way.  Thanks!!