Check out my new clip!

#1

She used to just walk, now she’s taken a page from the book of Aguilera and wants to show her stuff.

I’ve changed the model a little since the last time I showed her. I gave her a new outfit and a ponytail (still waiting on rigging the ponytail).

As before, this model uses cogs for the joints and The Setup Machine for the rig. All animation was done by me, but I used a video as the reference. This clip has sound, so it weighs in at about 3 mb.

Any comments about this clip would be appreciated.
Click!

#2

Look at her go. . . :thumbsup:

#3

great stuff!

now, are you going to confess that it was actually YOU grabbing your crotch and strutting your stuff for the video reference?

:scream:

#4

Hi Paul, that clip was great!
The model moves so smoothly. Not too mention that it looks like a really great model to begin with.
Are you going to make the dance longer or is that it for now. I was sorta mesmorized watching the hips!!!
Mike Fitz

#5

Thanks for the comments, guys!

If I had used myself for the video reference, I don’t think I would have gotten ANY positive feedback. Trust me on that. Instead, I opted for Christina herself. I had gotten the video off of the internet and was looking for something to use as reference to recreate realistic, um… female movement. Who better than the Dirrty One?

I have started another clip from the video and still have further to go on this one. This one is only about halfway through. I do have some ideas of how to use this clip other than just as a music video recreation.

Anyone else have some feedback (good, bad, sucks, whatever)?

#6

Hi Paul, don’t limit your potential exposure by posting only in the AM forum. Post it in the general wips page or the finished work page so that users of other software may see and comment.
Mike Fitz

#7

Very nice but wheres the dance lights?:airguitar

#8

Dance Lights? I’ll think about it.

Which forum do you think would be better suited, Mike? I tried the ‘Animation’ forum - no replies. Does any one know where cg-char got to? My bookmark doesn’t seem to work any more…

#9

Hi Paul, I’d put it in the critiques section, either in the 3d wips section or the finished work.
If I was looking for feedback, I’d probably wait till monday to put it in, when everyone is back on thier computer. The list moves pretty quickly and your thread could get buried very fast.
Mike Fitz

#10

Re: CG-Char, the new URL is…

http://cgchar.toonstruck.com/

Rick had some problems with the original domain. It’s now got a link to the new space, but he’s not sure if it’s going to stay at the new address or go back to the old one.

Re: the clip, it looks pretty nice. One thing that would help punch it up a notch is to make some of the movements more snappy. It feels pretty mellow as it is. Watch the reference again and notice really closely how the moves are made. Some probably more quicker from one pose to another, with a bit of a moving hold at the end. And even though the moves may look like the whole body is moving at the same time, it still helps to offset different body parts so there’s some slight overlap in the moves. And don’t forget to try some overshoot, too. Often when a person tries to make a snappy move and stop in a perfect position, the limb overshoots just a hair as the muscles try unsuccessfully to overcome the inertia of the move that led to that position.

Also try a bit more exaggeration in some of the poses. I’ve noticed that when animation tries to perfectly mimic reality, it often doesn’t look strong enough. Adding a touch of exaggeration in the right places will help it feel more real, even though you’re actually pushing beyond reality. Odd, but it works.

On a personal note, I find it sad that she’s even developed a reputation as a “Dirty One” (nothing against you for making the comment, Paul). I met her when she was eleven years old, and she was nothing like that…a very sweet girl with an amazing voice, and nothing “dirty” about her. Everyone makes their own choices, naturally, but it’s just sad that her choices have led to this kind of reputation. :sad:

#11

I was thinking the same thing as Jazbees. You could have pushed some of the poses more. The one where she grabs her crotch comes to mind. Also the hands look like they stay in one position for the entire clip. The hands are important to pose well it looks pretty unnatural to leave them in one position. Human characters are really hard to animate because its so easy to notice something that doesnt look quite right. You have done a real nice job though looks good :slight_smile:

David

#12

I cann’t feel the weight of her body. It’s very important to animatiors…

#13

Thanks for the comments, guys!

Things I’m going to look at as I continue with this clip:
Weight - apparently matching what I figure to be keyframes with the video reference is not enough.
Hands - I have already done a second look at them to make show that they are trailing the motion, but I haven’t done anything with the fingers yet.
Secondary motion - I think this will help convey the weight. The dynamics in hash are broken (or at least broken acting) and I wanted to try them out for that ponytail. Since I’m using the setup machine I also have the option of rigging the ponytail through that.

There’s still enough video reference in this shot to about double it’s length so I’ll probably check back in a week with a new, improved clip. If you guys or any other of the 150 or so silent observers have any other suggestions, I am ready and waiting.

BTW, the goal here, while definitely a learning endeavor, is to be able to put something on a demo reel for the purpose of actually being hired as an animator somewhere. With that being the case, I am very appreciative of folks that are in the industry who can take the time and say, “you still have a ways to go, kid,” or even better, “these things are good, but these others need more work.” Thanks again!!

#14

Clickity!

I went through and added a little overshoot to the head, torso and arms and tried to get things a little snappier throughout. Also tried to work in some subtle holds here and there to try and break up what someone on another board called a “swimming” sensation.

Still to do:ponytail and hands.

Comments, questions? Fire away!

#15

Hi Paul, this clip definately has some betterr elements to it… but for some reason I like the overall motion of the first clip- it’s smoother
I think if an animated character is moving too much like a person, it starts to look a little wierd for some reason.
I think that if you add the head motion that you added to the second clip to the first one, and you addressed the body wieght when Roxy drops to the floor(anticipaton of dropping, and slight absorbtion of the drop to the body when she gets to full squat) that would be enough for me…
But each clip on it’s own is excellent. I have yet to see many others produce something so well with hash, good job!
Mike Fitz

#16

This is the first time I could actually get a look at this clip. For some reason I couldn’t get it to work through Outlook from the Mailing List.

I like it so far. A great improvement from your earlier work with her.

#17

I just wanted to thank everyone that has written me either via this thread, the mailing list or personally. This has been pretty much the most encouraging source of commentary that I’ve received since I started fooling around with 3D. I really appreciate it!

:wavey:

#18

Excellent work, Paul!

I’ve got nothing to add that hasn’t already been addressed.

Seems you’ve come a long way from running flour sacks! :applause:

#19

Thanks, Ran! Let’s not knock the Sack now, though. That Sack got me through some hard times. The Sack has moved on, but still sends word from time to time…

Anyways.

New one

Here we have a ponytail being animated, hands doing some other stuff and a new gradient on her shirt and hair. I also added a little different timing to the jump-squat move. I’m still not sure how to do that move exactly right, so if anyone has a suggestion, I’m open.

#20

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