Moho Forum

Hi,
I'm working on a Robot animation project and would love for you to have a look at my progress and comment and help me over the next few weeks as I try and complete it.

Here are some videos of the motion tests I have done so far to establish the look and feel of what I want to achieve.

Walk Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1XYpnZ3LKU
Bodywave Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5SwL0VcKhk
Wave Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BarqyT0yFoI
Graphic Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-tc3-JrDqA
Facial Anim Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJIogeTqUok

Looking forward to your input!

ALSO a Question!

I am using a variety of point and bone animation. Is there a way for me to 'point animate' an image layer? I know there is a tutorial on textures which I thought might suit my purpose except that I can't seem to get the texture to apply when I am not using bones. Anyone have a solution or workaround for me?

lordstok, Australia

Seems to be funny when complete your tests. Cool and funky robot!!

Hey, I like it.

It has style, humor, and good kinematics.

Go for it!

2 more small vids.

Fullbody pan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugahtaE0GCA
Head Rotation Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYAY2ui08X8

Next I intend to start an animation routine for the charachter once I settle on the music.

lordstok, Australia

I am learning as I am going, the hard way!

I didn't bother to storyboard and as a result, my charachter consistently couldn't move as I have imagined. So I have abandoned using textures and vectorised my whole charachter, which was fortunately very easy because of the style I had drawn him in originally.

However now my charachter is far more painstaking to animate because of increasing complexity. I have many, many layers for eyebrows, facial features, each limb and appendage, clothing and seperate shadow layers!

My next problem occurred again as a result of poor planning. I launched into the animation without considering exactly what music I would use which meant more wasted time!

Hopefully all this lost time won't be fatal to my ambition - alas.

Before I abandoned textures I tried 2 simple walk animations, but was already becoming increasingly frustrated by the static, low quality textures. Curse my lack of forsight.

* Side walk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk7hcW--tUw
* Straight walk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhoVzTXc6jc

You may want to add a simple line for the ground to have a reference as to where to place the feet. Right now your robot walks a bit under the ground.

Don't forget about bones controlling all those layers and shapes.

You could theoretically have everything on its own layer... or even dozens of layers... and be able to animate everything just from one bone layer.

Since he is a robot, bones are a good choice for animating him.

-vern