Animation: Acting, facial and lipsync

[phoenix]

good work

[omurray]

Here's an update with some slight improvements.

In Divx format.
http://www.oliver.murray.btinternet.co.uk/bruce_crazyglue3.avi

I was wondering should I hold some of the poses for longer to make them more powerful. Your thoughts appreciated.

Olly.

[MosaFacku]

hi oliver. i think this could be a good start. generally, i think the movement is too floaty, the poses aren't strong, the timing is off, and the character's mouth is too stiff.

more specifically: the head turning towards the camera at the begining is too slow and even. the "is, is, is" part has wierd, jerky timing, and the pose is difficult to read. also, the blendshapes, or how ever you're animating the mouth are far too subtle, and the timing is off. the face is a very squashy / stretchy thing. i think you should try to incorporate that into your model. the face is very very stiff right now. the corners of the mouth don't look like they're moving at all. whenever you open your mouth, the corners of your mouth tend to go in a bit. i'd say since the contest is over for this month, take time to go back and rework your blendshapes.

hope that helped.

[omurray]

http://www.btinternet.com/~oliver.murray/crazyglue4.jpg

I made some more improvements (making the motion and expressions more snappy).
Although I'm not sure they have actually improved it much. Can some one tell me please?

(divx format and about 600k)

http://www.btinternet.com/~oliver.murray/crazyglue4b.avi

[omurray]

Here is a quicktime version on the animation.

http://www.oliver.murray.btinternet.co.uk/.../crazyglue4.mov

[Kricket]

I agree with Mosa, the mouth shapes are too subtle. The dudes got a very large mouth, make use of it! Exaggeration is what animation is all about.

[Mooncalf]

Hey Oliver,

Nice work there. I think you're off to a real nice beginning.

I'd agree with the comments that the actions are a little too subtle... at the risk of getting all Emeril, I think you've got to kick it up a notch.

Some things in particular I see:

It looks like the first head turn is in reaction to "If you want to get rid of him..." I see some excitement in the character... I say go all out. Make his face register with joy, as if he's about to be given the key to the meaning of life and all creation.

Then, when he realizes that Katherine plainly doesn't understand the problem, show his disappointment with equal fervor.

I'd also play around with making the hands more snappy on "CRA-zy GLUE!" Those two syllables specifically. Maybe see how close the hands can get to the camera--really reach 'em out there.

Good luck! I look forward to see where this goes. :)

- M

[animation-angel]

I agree with Mooncalf. Play with the emotions.If you do make him seem hopeful when she says "If you want to get rid of him", then make him look up at her sooner.

But also your animation should be snappier, and yes, you should go over the top, not only with the body animation but the facial too. You could pull out some nice expressions in there. And yes open his mouth more then he talks. exaggerate the lipsync.

One thing that i would like to see, is more fluid animation on his hands. They feel heavy, because they are so large. I have seen that you have animated them, but animate the fingers more, animate the rotation in the wrist between each pose to make them more fluid. Overlap them too.
Also the camera is a little odd. He is much too low most of the time. Perhaps try pulling the camera out a little, so that he is in the middle of the shot most of the time. Also, I wouldnt have his hands come down at the end. Its ok to leave them in the frame after he is done.

Also when he pulls back at the end, the rotation in his spine is weird, he goes back and then forward and sorta to the side, check your curves.

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