Moho Forum

Andrew Pants from songstowearpantsto.com makes songs on request, this is one of them, entitled "I am something".

I actually did this to try out this way of lipsynching and animating and all, but I know I didn't really do it right. The jaw was attempted to be animated through bones. Still, give me comments and advice and all of that.

I AM SOMETHING (Putfile)

I really like this.

You're crazy, man.

Indeed the animation of the jaw is "mushy". Perhaps next time, you could separate the lower jaw out and put it into its own vector layer. It's a bit more complicated to set up, but the end result can be so much more solid.

Rasheed wrote:Indeed the animation of the jaw is "mushy". Perhaps next time, you could separate the lower jaw out and put it into its own vector layer. It's a bit more complicated to set up, but the end result can be so much more solid

My thoughts exactly. Complicated shmomplicated, in this animation I even put the black from the 'inside of the mouth' on a different layer, so adding a vector layer for the lower jaw is probably even simpler... I think.

Mikdog wrote:You're crazy, man.

Yup. Also just discovered someone else already animated this ten times better. (like this)

Well, better, but not ten times better. Let's say the acting is much better, but the animation is almost just as limited as yours.

You could try to use this as example, and improve on it. Then it becomes a learning experience.

The body movement is good but the lip sync needs work.

It's how you've got it rigged. See if this picture from one of my rigged characters helps:



The bone on the very top is the parent bone for all the bones in the jaw. All the bones should be attached to it.

Next, I put one bone across the teeth so it'll keep them from stretching and distorting.

Next, I make 3 bones parented to the top bone on the jaw. The hierarchy is important, top bone, middle bone, last bone.

This'll give you an idea of how they should be parented:



If you do this correctly you should get results similar to what I have in these cartoons:

http://www.freewebs.com/jtn1989/averagejoeseries.htm

Notice, I use the middle bone on the jaw to move the whole jaw. If you use the last bone it'll distort the jaw.
I move the jaw with the middle bone kinda forward for the "oo" sound and kinda back for the "ee" sound.

Hope this helps!

James

Yeah, that does help some. Thank you very much, spoooze! I've actually been wondering how exactly you did it, so now I know your secret. Muahaha! I mean... yeah.

On another note, I just animated another STWPT-song, called "I am the Hot Dog Eating Champion". The request was as follows: "You should make a song that has very deep vocals, and a light xylophone background and it's about a hotdog eating contest, until the contest gets invaded by a giant robot."

I Am Winning the Hot Dog Eating Contest

This one was another kind of test for lipsynching, but it could be very much improved.
The upper lip + teeth and under lip + teeth are on two separate layers. They are boned with one bone in the middle and two bones on the outside both. When the mouth needs to be opened more, I translate the center bone. If I finetune this, it might have a decent outcome.

Yeah, that does help some. Thank you very mych, spoooze! I've actually been wondering how exactly you did it, so now I know your secret. Muahaha! I mean... yeah.

lol it's no problem.

Well, that was an improvement, Jeronimus.

As a positive critique, I think you need to work on your facial expressions and body language as well, and synchronize those with the story. Try to see in you mind each character as an independent individual, to give your animation more life. Not every character reacts the same to a certain situation, not even if that character is a robot.

I think the easiest way to practice this is enacting the scene and either watch yourself in the mirror, or (even better) tape yourself with a digital camcorder or video function of a compact camera on a tripod. You are telling a story in pictures. Use easy and simple tools to develop your storyboard and key pictures.

And never forget: character animation is often about exaggerating real life, to make your point even more clear. Leave out unimportant bits and stress the important bits of reality. You decide what is important and what not, but you need to make that decision.

I hope this helps.