2 bar Oswald Animation Finally Complete

Here's the Final Clip for this two bar Oswald Dance. It took ages to do, but looks great. :) I was so relieved when it was finally complete:



The ear's, body and mouth are all on different layers. For the ears and mouth I just copied straight ahead. For the body, I did the keys and breakdowns and worked out the inbetweens myself (which some corrections and changes against the original later on).

Here's a comparision with the original:

Oswald Progress

Just finished the body layer for the first 4 bars. Here it is:



Here's a comparision:
 



I like it, I only wish it was a tad tidier. Anyway, mouth and ears next, copied frame by frame (I have no idea how to lip sync yet).

Most of it is on ones some is on twos. I tried to match the orginal framerate.

(Edit 30/11/09):I also forgot to post up the Ex sheets I used before (that I started with). I also had a horizontal ex sheet in my software. Here they are:

Smiley head turnaround*

This exercise was about working out how lines move on a sphere when rotated. The sphere is the easiest curved shape to work with, as it's contour doesn't change when rotated. I did the following pictures while looking at how lines change on a kneadable eraser.

I came up with some good rules as to how this works (see image below). Basically a line curving the opposite way to a contour will become straight and then bend towards the contour when turned towards it. A line bending the same way as the contour will be stretched out but will not come to form around the contour as it's turned towards it. I hope that makes sense.

Most of these pics below I just did via judgement and logic. Some don't look right, but it was a fun learning exercise. Hopefully I will be able to do some of Preston's eggs from any angle in mind soon.

I've started Oswald

I've Started John's 2nd 30's rhythmic animating lesson: Oswald's lucky rabbit dance.Very early days.

I copied the keys and a couple of the breakdowns but I tried to do the inbetweens logically without looking at the originals. I did check a couple of times, but I toggled off the originals when drawing. The hands were definately the hardest bit.

Here's the roughs for the first two bars:



And here's a comparision:




Now I've gotta go back and correct the roughs against the original and do an inking layer. I might even put in a mouth and lip sync for good measure.

Applied exercises*

Ok, I am going to start adding applied exercises to this blog also. In a sense, I think this is what all the lessons are pointing towards. John wants us to get to the stage where we can "apply the same principles to your own drawings at will".

I don't think only copying will get me there though. Whenever I attempt a drawing without copying I'm still at a similar stage to what I was before. I think you also need to practice applying.

Here are some of the tools I have been learning that I will be attempting to apply:

1) Construction (the most important)
2) lines of action
3) visualising drawings in 3D, maintaining volumes.
4) protruding/ intruding construction (lesson 6)
5) checking spaces (negative and positive)
6) exaggeration and contrast

I'm sure there are plenty more (silhouettes is one). I'll add these as I go.

Here are examples of the types of applied exercises I'll be attempting:

    •    drawings from memory
    •    new poses
    •    inbetweening via logical construction (not copying)
    •    making new characters
    •    short animations

I'll still be doing plenty of the regular lessons too (with overlay checks). You need both. ;)

All my lesson 6 stuff

Thank you Katie Rice for making such a great post on Drawing Lips. :)

For this post, I've decided just to post my worksheets up. I haven't done any overlays with them yet or  chopped into individual pics. This first sheet was done in TVPaint. Mine in blue:

These two were done on paper:

And finally, some more TVPaint:

I had some real fun copying these. Katie's drawing have a nice fun style and I can definitely see the construction technique influence.

final lesson 5 for the moment

Ok, got some Disney and Clampett done. First Disney:

I checked the boy with an overlay a couple of times while doing it, so that's why it's a bit more accurate that some of my other stuff.

Here's the Clampett attempt: