Help for a small kid character (added walkcycle)

Pizzapie · Wed 10/04/2013 21:08:21

Hi to everyone!

I'd like to have some feedback and critics in order to improve my small pixel kid.
As you can see, I'm using a simple style, but I like it simple

[imgzoom]http://s16.postimg.org/xpdylc7dd/gabry_sheet.png[/imgzoom]

So, I'd like to have some comments and help, 'cause I'm not totally satisfied of the side view $:-\$

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: first try with walkcycle:
[imgzoom]http://s23.postimg.org/nenf0rbtj/walkdown03.gif[/imgzoom]

Anian · Wed 10/04/2013 23:12:48

Looks good, you might want to use darker hue for his lips and nose, they're just a bit too similar to the face, so it's kind of hard to read. On very close examination, I think there's a frame in the animation where his pupil (the inside of it at least) changes size for some reason.
Third thing is, and it's not really big of a deal, because it'll look ok in motion I think, but I don't get the impression he's walking but rather kicking a ball or similar. Check the timing with the side view.

Tabata · Thu 11/04/2013 01:44:54

It's a cute character. I like how he is done.

I gave the sideviews a try and made him a bit more â€œroundâ€ to fit more to the shape from the frontview.
Also did different sideviews because the hair in the frontview doesn't let you mirror the head.

[imgzoom]http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/9448/gabrysheettab.png[/imgzoom]

waheela · Thu 11/04/2013 02:25:40

Adorable! I love the way you animated his stride!

I know you didn't specifically ask for a critique on this, but I think the animation could be improved by taking out/modifying the frames where the character is simply standing on both legs.

Here's an example. I just deleted the two standing frames, but you could modify them a bit more if you wanted to keep it at 8 frames and have the walk be more fluid:

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/zhROp6V.gif[/imgzoom]

Compared to:

[imgzoom]http://s23.postimg.org/nenf0rbtj/walkdown03.gif[/imgzoom]

Hope this helps!

Miez · Thu 11/04/2013 12:54:44

No critique, but it's a great little character - would love to see this one in a game

Pizzapie · Thu 11/04/2013 23:56:45

Thanks everyone for the feedback

Anian: I'll try to use darkest shade for nose, thanks. About the walking, you're quite right... I'm trying to mimic the "unusual" walking of small kids... and I think it's pretty funny

Tabata: thankyou for the sideways, especially for the not-mirrored hairs

waheela: yeah, I'd like to keep the animation at 8 frames (like the side animation) so maybe I'll try to improve the standing frames... however, I like it not-so-much-fluid, cause he's a veeery young kid and he has not yet learned how to walk

Miez: thankyou!

Here's the sidewalk... needs some fixes, but I'd like to know what you think:
[imgzoom]http://s15.postimg.org/xopnptwcn/walkright04.gif[/imgzoom]

Anian · Fri 12/04/2013 00:05:31

Quote from: Pizzapie on Thu 11/04/2013 23:56:45
Anian: I'll try to use darkest shade for nose, thanks. About the walking, you're quite right... I'm trying to mimic the "unusual" walking of small kids... and I think it's pretty funny

I know what you were trying to do, but there was timing issue (which waheela already corrected)

waheela · Fri 12/04/2013 00:08:15

Yeah, I definitely hear you.

A good thing to remember is that at no point when a person is walking are both feet fully on the ground.

[embed=425,349]<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EG3JguVQt1A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/embed]

If they are, it kind of looks like they're doing the wedding/graduation march.

Pizzapie · Sat 13/04/2013 10:42:26

Yeah, I think both of you are right

I'm gonna edit the "standing" frames!

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Sun 14/04/2013 11:52:05

I made an edit to show you how you can keep his awkward movement while making sure that each frame has the feet in different positions.

1. Adjusted the feet so they move back gradually after a down step and don't linger so he appears in constant motion.
2. Animated his hair to rise and fall with his steps, which are pretty heavy.
3. Shaded the face somewhat so the nose and mouth stand out better.

[IMGzoom]http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/ProgZmax/walkdownalt_zpsc62131b4.gif365937808[/imgzoom]

Generally it's quite good, hopefully this will help.

kconan · Sun 14/04/2013 17:25:08

Looks good! Maybe the cutest character and walk-cycle I've ever seen. Put that little dude in a game please.

Eric · Sun 14/04/2013 22:07:13

Quote from: waheela on Fri 12/04/2013 00:08:15A good thing to remember is that at no point when a person is walking are both feet fully on the ground.

This might depend on the age of the kid. The both feet on the ground walk cycle makes the kid look much younger. I've just watched my 19-month-old walking, and he has both of his feet on the ground some of the time. I'm sure it used to be much more.

Snarky · Mon 15/04/2013 08:14:50

I still like the original best. The speed probably has something to do with it, but the edits seem to lose that clumsy toddler waddle. Some hair bounce might be nice, but the extent of it in ProgZ's edit only makes sense for the kind of bouncy, rapid walk he's changed it to.

Pizzapie · Mon 15/04/2013 23:24:53

Thanks ProgZmax! I really like your edit of the face, hair movement and especially the light on the front leg. I'll surely use it

About the age, this kid is 14 months old, so I'd like to keep in some way the "clusmyness" of his walking.

Pizzapie · Wed 01/05/2013 00:40:26

Ok, let's try this again

NEW: [imgzoom]http://s14.postimg.org/ehhrvfw71/walkdown_new.gif[/imgzoom]
OLD: [imgzoom]http://s7.postimg.org/hlqbpr6kn/walkdown_old.gif[/imgzoom]

As you can see, I used ProgZmax animation as reference for feet and legs. It still lacks hair animation...
Also, I changed the shading on the lower part of the body: it's a little more "flat", maybe, but it's more similar to the "classic" Lucas style like DOTT and Sam & Max (I used Max as reference).

Do you think it's better than before? Animation, shading, or both?

Renal Shutdown · Sat 04/05/2013 03:20:52

It might just be me, and I'm sorry if it is, but he seems like a toddler who is goose-stepping whilst constipated. I think a little difference between his hips and his shoulders could make a huge difference. For a right-forward/left-back leg pose, his shoulders should be the opposite. Whilst the arms and the legs indicate that, perhaps a shadow on the pits/chest/etc could do the same, too. Perhaps lift/lower one of the brace buttons at the furthest/nearest point, too.

Maybe even have his head one pixel to each side at the most extreme point, too (with it balanced over time, so not jerky).

EDIT:

I think a lot of this feeling is from how detailed the hair is compared to the rest of him. His hair seems dithered, whilst the rest of him is relatively devoid of detail in comparison. I like the hair, so I'd personally suggest detailing the body in the same way. For a short term tester, basic-ing up the hair might make it pull together with far less work, allowing you to get the rest of the animations to a workable state faster.

Pizzapie · Wed 08/05/2013 23:16:55

Yes, I think you're right about the difference between hair details and the rest of sprite.
Well, my goal is to mimic the Lucas classic style, so I'm using mostly Sam & Max as reference... so, three colors for skin and hairs!

[imgzoom]http://s22.postimg.org/yu0fj0lzh/samnmaxngabry.png[/imgzoom]

Do you think it is consistent to the classic lucas style?

Renal Shutdown · Fri 10/05/2013 00:20:20

Style-wise, I'd say it's closer to SNES/GBA type RPGs (Harvest Moon, maybe?) than Sam and Max, which isn't a bad thing. The simplified hair seems more appropriate to the style choice/rest of the body, but honestly, I'd personally go for the detailed hair and a body to match. I realise the workload would increase exponentially, but I reckon it might be worth it in the long run, as it's a properly cute character.