Animation:So Heavy, So Light

[Pin_pal]

Great work!! Very good!!!! :buttrock:

[stephen2002]

that is quite funny. predictable, but very good execution.

[RamboSambo]

very cool i like it !!! :eek:
:buttrock:

[MSmith]

Thanks guys for all the great comments. Glad you like it, but I have to say "predictable"?!?! Ouch that hurts.
;)

[Bucket]

One of the great elements of this animation is the exageration, and the simpliciy of the models used. We don't quite identify with models as being either masculine or feminine until they begin to move, and then it becomes very obvious. Which is a major strong point for this animation.

However if I were to nitpick areas I find problems with in the animation, I would say that few parts of the characters move and jerk around a little too much to where the motion becomes hard to understand, I think these issues could acutally be resolved by adding maybe 1 or 2 more frames to these points of jerkiness in the movements of the characters.

As for the animation being predictable, I was only able to predict what was to happen at the point where the character was standing directly under the floating M. I don't think that is a problem nor should recieve much attention. Considering that when you are doing exagerated animation you are bound to know what is going to happen when a character steps out of building only to be walking on thin air, we know he will fall.

I think it is a shame that more people didn't take notice of this animation, sometimes I don't think people know how hard it is to create such a strong piece of animation.

Good job and keep up the great work. :thumbsup:

[pezz]

I played it in my mediaplayer, but there wasn't any pictures, just the music.. :shrug:

[chenling]

i went to ur webside and checked out all the animation!
it's so good!! u make me wanna do some animation now! :buttrock: :buttrock: :buttrock:

[t-toe]

yeah, if there's one thing I'm really critical of, it's animation. and you nailed it... there's nothing better than some good exaggerated motion.

I loved the fluidity you got into those movements. very impressive.

--t.toe

[Zoetrope]

Fantastic!! I enjoy this animation more & more eveytime I watch it. I didn't think it was terribley predictable, just straight forward. I am a total sucker for simple ideas! And this one is so well executed! The music, grain & scratches really push it!
Thanks for sharing!:applause:

[Larry_g1s]

Originally posted by pezz
I played it in my mediaplayer, but there wasn't any pictures, just the music.. :shrug:

I had the same problem. :thumbsdow
I tried it in a couple of different players and nothing but sound. :annoyed:

[Phrenzy84]

me too :hmm: , plz tell me (us) where the codec is :)

[MSmith]

I had totally given up on getting more comments from you guys on my animation, I thought that no one liked it. :blush:

Turns out, I guess some of you just couldn't view it, and I chose the MPG format becuase I thought it was the most universal. :argh:

Anyways I re-uploaded the file using Mpeg-1 so hopefully that will take care of the problem (the other clip was Mpeg-2). Take a look.

Heavy & Light Animation (http://members.cox.net/michaelsmpgs/BipedsMPG.mpg)

P.S. Thanks for the great comments on the animation (everyone that could actually view the animation.) And let me know if it is still unviewable.....I can always go DIVX (the universal codec ...:rolleyes: )

[Gnowoga]

hehe thats the funniest thing I ever saw. I like this one. great idea, that I thought fit best with just plain bipes instead of some high poly models.:applause:

[David Coombes]

Excellent work.:thumbsup: The quality of animation and visuals is extremely smooth and professional, and the characterisations well envisaged through movement.

Extremely nice and inspirational.

David

[hypercube]

Very funny, love the exaggerated animation, characterization, and also the choice of silent movie flavor. Nice snap to everything. :thumbsup:

I agree you can predict what's going to happen with the M falling, but at that point you're waiting for it to happen so you can watch the little guy get nailed..heh.

The only thing that kinda seemed odd to me was the double flip when the 'heavy' guy flies and lands towards camera..but in the scheme of things, it's all good.

P.S. mpeg-2 usually isn't a problem, but mediaplayer won't be able to view them unless you also have dvd player software installed (any of the players out there). So for rock bottom compatibility gotta go mpeg-1.

[WhiteRabbitObj]

Loved it, very nice vaudeville style.

[Meka]

Wow !!! what an awesome vid !!! just made my... err night :)

really love the simplicity and rendering style... great music, great everything !

keep it definatly up :buttrock:

[Fasty]

Fantastic!! Great style you got there! Well worth the download, that's for sure! :bounce:

[iBlue]

hahah awesome! :thumbsup:

[borderswine]

You, my friend, have an understanding of things that many, many people just dont fully attain (especially in 3d). Bravo! It's such a good example of wieght and motion. And such a great flavor with the traditional "test" look. Like the good ol' bouncing ball! :bounce:

If you can animate facial expressionism as well as you can the body, then you are the man! As we can see with Ice-Age, the more traditional, silly, cartoony movements are comming back into style with 3d.

****

[Refulgo]

:bounce:

Good stuff!!!! :applause:

[Supervlieg]

Thats some great animation. My compliments!:buttrock:

[Screwball]

This is peace of work man
àúä éëåì éåúø àáì :\
àîî àúä äåîå ÷å÷ñéðì îâåãì
àéï àéï àéï ëîå áîáä..
áà÷ áà÷ øåìææææææææææ..
ñ÷øåáì éù èä áñèèèè

------------------------------------
All my works in that site : click Here (http://www.outwar.com/page.php?x=662934)

[the Rev.]

Wow!

You have a new fan! This is a really well executed piece. Loved the contrast of the character, as well as all the subtle secondary motion.

BUT IT DOESN"T COMPARE TO 'JURASSIC SPEECH'!!!!!! That is an amazing piece! Say it many, many times. LOVED IT!!!

Hats off!

-g

[gaggle]

Holy whoa, that's hilarious man! I loved it. The female light one seems to float oddly down when she first moves. It may be intentional, she's light and all, to me it just seems like she's sliding, ie. "lazy keyframer syndrome" :)

But it doesn't wreck anything, it's terribly cool as it is. Very very nice. You deserve many more pages of comments if it were up to me :)

Did you plan everything out or did you go at it pop-thru' style, making it up as you went along?

[Jon Jones]

Oh man, totally fantastic piece. Great animation all around... wonderful characterizations, so much personality! VERY inspiring, man, extremely nice job. I rarely see animation this good. :)

[Taoizm]

Mike, what a great little clip. Are you still at Rainbow?

oo, and the new animations on your site are brilliant.

[PEN]

Great stuff, fast and snappy. Just goes to show you it doesn't take great models, textures and conplex scene to make fun animation.

[XD-0608-U]

that was great! thanks for sharing.

:beer:
-XD

[MSmith]

Thanks for all the great comments on the animation. Glad you guys could appreciate all the work I put into the animation rather than the models and textures.

And to answer your question Taoizm...no, I no longer work at Rainbow studios as the animation department I worked at was closed and we were let go. :cry:

As a matter of fact, I did this animation as part of a demo tape to find work. Hopefully I will find a job soon...

:shrug:

[Jon Jones]

With material like that, you shouldn't have any problem man. Loved the models you have on your site as well. Good luck with finding a new job, but I doubt you'll need it. :)

[chepe297]

Hi Michael

The animation is brilliant. However I like the cactus animation more on your site. All my co-workers and I got quite a laugh out of it.

I am just wondering how did you animate the tongue during the burp? Did you actually have a wave form deformer (like in MAX) applied to the tongue and just dragged it across the tongue over time?

Anyway, GREAT WORK MIKE! Keep up with the good work!

p.s. The "What Time is it" animation is great as well. I think that animation is flawless and SOOO CUTE! :beer:

[Jo B.]

yo Mike,
you're so incredible talented! this totally rocks man! I can remember when I first saw the VW-Transformer clip. It totally blew me away, but this is even better. The exaggeration is so slapstick. I love how the "guy" gets into pose, before lifting the M. brilliant! and the theatrical movements of the "girl" are so funny. I can't stop watching it!
allow me a question...
Did you use rotoscopes for this animation?

greetings, Jo

[Mikademius]

Whoa!! Good Job mate. The animation is very very good. I'm sorry, but it actually is predictable. The feminin anim is flawless

[SINN]

That ownz!!!!

I seen more of this animations tho, but I like this style.
:)

[rollmops]

Superb work!
You'll surely find a new job soon!
Keep on!

[Yorgo12345]

OMG!

SSOOOOO expressive!

[MSmith]

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback.

I've got a question though, I came back to view my thread and suddenly the thread has a rating of 5 stars. Can someone tell me what this means and where it came from? I just want to thank whoever gave me the rating.:love:

chepe297: Glad you liked the "Cactus Burp" and What Time is it" animations. To answer your question, that is exactly how I did the tongue on the cactus being a Max guy myself.

Jo B: If by "rotoscope" you mean film myself doing the motions as reference, yes I did indeed do that (it's nowhere's near as fun to watch). I also sketched out thumbnails of the poses I wanted as reference too. But if you mean I copied my motions exactly, I 100% sure that no human being can move exactly like those characters....way too "jerky" and fast, plus sometimes their knee, arm and ankle joints bend the "wrong" way (by wrong I mean I would have to break my elbow to get it to bend that way, if you watch close you can see a lot of this mostly in the inbetweens)

[thebadguy]

Hey mannnn


it came out hot!

[maxmare]

I usually just watch and although I almost never post reply cos I haven't any time left between job and job I must say you really did nailed. I have seen your clip more than fifty times already and I should be doing one with the inspiration it gives me. Thanks

[Nicodemus]

I really liked this. Glad someone brought it to my attention. I ahve downloaded it so I can watch it again and reference it.

Great work.

~L~

[Jo B.]

yeah, i ment using videos as reference to have a better sense of the timing and certain poses/betweens. not to copy every single frame... you gotta be a very special acrobat to do moves like that. :surprised
I wonder if you acted for both roles...?:D

greetings

[ALZHEM]

You're AMAZING

Incredible job

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[pascal_blanche]

Ok now that's what I call animation!! Ok there's still some snaps here and there, but hell, who cares? the guy doesnt bother with details and go straight where he wants to go! The characters look so alive!! just a detail.. in case you didnt mention it guys, max bipeds doesnt allow squatch'n stretch anims... well, it doesnt look like there's not! five stars for the artist please, that's really a nice work!!

[MattChew]

awesome work! i just watched it, you'll have great luck finding a new job with that video.

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