NEW VERSION - Cutscene panel - sketch - WIP!

Khris · Thu 18/01/2007 14:38:23

This is for a small game I'm currently working on.

Something's gonna explode resulting in Ed, Bernard and Razor being catapulted in the air.

This is still very rough, but I wanna make sure that it "feels" right before I start coloring and fine-tuning.
What bothers me most is the position of the arms. Currently only the right arm of each person is visible, I'm not sure if this is correct, though.

Comments, suggestions?
(zipped psd file)

ildu · Thu 18/01/2007 17:09:01

Making multiple people fly from an explosion at the same time would be a great challenge for even a professional animator. Basically, the trajectories should be the same, so how do you distinguish the different chars when they're supposed to fly 'in a bundle'? The trajectories you have now are quite contradictory to each other. There's a 60-degree range difference in the angle, and the characters are really close together, which would suggest they're still quite close to the explosion. I know this is a bit too theoretical, but believability is based on realism to a degree.

So, I would rotate Razor's trajectory so that she's closer to Bernard and Ed. I would also shift bernard a bit higher than the other two, so that you break the curve composition and help distinguish the chars from each other (once they're moved closer to each other).

On the other hand, if you weren't looking for nitpicking, I would say the char sketches look fine, and you don't really need the back arms. I got the impression that this is gonna be animated, but re-reading your post, I noticed that you didn't mention it. If you're not gonna animate it, then the first part of my post doesn't really make a difference.

Snarky · Thu 18/01/2007 18:18:39

Quote from: ildu on Thu 18/01/2007 17:09:01
Making multiple people fly from an explosion at the same time would be a great challenge for even a professional animator. Basically, the trajectories should be the same, so how do you distinguish the different chars when they're supposed to fly 'in a bundle'? The trajectories you have now are quite contradictory to each other. There's a 60-degree range difference in the angle, and the characters are really close together, which would suggest they're still quite close to the explosion. I know this is a bit too theoretical, but believability is based on realism to a degree.

I don't think that's right. The people would only be thrown in the same direction if they were standing in the same location prior to the explosion. The basic principle is that things are thrown away from the center of the explosion. So if Ed was standing southeast, Bernard east-southeast, and Razor east of the center, they could all be thrown away from each other.

There's not enough detail in the picture to tell whether they're being thrown up (are we looking down?) or sideways, and whether their different directions are an effect of perspective or trajectories. However, it doesn't look wrong, at least not yet.

To offer a comment, I think some more dynamic arm positions would give a greater sense of careening through space. Bernard's is a good start, I think Razor should have her arms out a good deal more, maybe lift them up as if windmilling.

DoorKnobHandle · Thu 18/01/2007 18:36:02

Yes, at the moment it looks like they are performing a controlled flight (like Super-Man). It needs more chaos and the arms would be just the right thing to express that you're talking about an explosion and not three super heroes with flying-powers.

Apart from that it looks great, can't wait to see more of it (if you're willing to show more, of course). Did you check out the german DotT2-Project yet that I used to work for?

Khris · Thu 18/01/2007 18:46:59

Thanks, ildu, exactly what I was thinking.

Next version:

(Guess I'll have to adjust Razor's perspective now)

To clarify: this is going to be a static picture, not a storyboard for an animation.

Snarky, I haven't read your reply until just after creating this version, more dynamic arm positions will improve the pic greatly, thanks.

dkh: At the moment there isn't any more, this will be used in a one room game which is going to be my part of a collaboration project at adventure-treff.de.
I know the DotT2-project, though, are they making any progress lately?

ildu · Thu 18/01/2007 20:05:11

Quote from: Snarky on Thu 18/01/2007 18:18:39I don't think that's right. The people would only be thrown in the same direction if they were standing in the same location prior to the explosion. The basic principle is that things are thrown away from the center of the explosion. So if Ed was standing southeast, Bernard east-southeast, and Razor east of the center, they could all be thrown away from each other.

Well I assumed the explosion is quite far away. Of course, if the explosion is some meters away, then they might fly in such drastically different trajectories. When I saw the image before reading the post, I thought they were flying through a window actually.

Anyhow, if this is a still image, I'd go for a good composition rather than realism. Your first sketch had a great composition, except for Bernard being a bit too low. So I say use the original, shift the explosion lower and make it bigger (if this is supposed to be a promo pic), move Bernard closer to the corner and make Razor's arms more dynamic.

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Thu 18/01/2007 21:22:34

Quick edit. I focused mainly on Bernard, though I did work on Razor a bit.

1. Made Bernard and Razor's poses more dynamic and cartoony and added stretch lines to indicate they are moving fast.
2. Made expressions of fear more extreme.

Hope this helps.

Misj' · Thu 18/01/2007 22:50:36

Quote from: KhrisMUC on Thu 18/01/2007 14:38:23
This is for a small game I'm currently working on.

Something's gonna explode resulting in Ed, Bernard and Razor being catapulted in the air.

This is still very rough, but I wanna make sure that it "feels" right before I start coloring and fine-tuning.
What bothers me most is the position of the arms. Currently only the right arm of each person is visible, I'm not sure if this is correct, though.

Hi,

I'm making an assumption here which is: the player interacts with the 'something' right before it explodes. A second assumption I'm gonna make is: the character that does the interacting is Bernard. If I'm correct, then Bernard should be facing the explosion.

Another thing you might want to do to make the composition a little more interesting is: curved body-lines. In your sketch everyone has a straight backs. If the back is curved then the impact of the explosion will appear much bigger.

Also, you could make the composition a little more interesting by making Ed reach out for Bernard (he wants to stop him from interacting with the exploding something): there's an interactin between the characters; making them all part of the same story.

Finally, Overlapping the characters will increase their interaction, and can strengthen the composition.

Misj'

Ps. As you can already see in ProgZmax' image, the impact of the explosion is also increased by people loosing 'stuf' (like Razor's shoe)

Khris · Fri 19/01/2007 08:18:11

Thanks guys, very valuable input.

To explain the situation: the three of em are sitting in a small Trojan horse, the hatch won't open, Ed had beans for lunch and Bernard lights a match

They were really looking like superheroes way too much, so going with ProgZmax's and misj's suggestions, here's a complete revamp:

Would this work?
I planned on showing all their faces, but I really like Ed's current pose.

Nikolas · Fri 19/01/2007 15:56:48

I think that now it looks muchos better than before. Nothing to add really to this point!

Khris · Tue 13/02/2007 18:51:23

Here's the latest version, still sketchy, but I want to make sure it looks anatomically ok before I start coloring it.

vict0r · Tue 13/02/2007 20:18:47

Well, if you want it anatomically correct, you should straighten out Ed's arm as it would be impossible for anyone to bend their arm that way, unless it's broken.

Try for yourself!

Steel Drummer · Wed 14/02/2007 02:28:34

Is this going to be for a Maniac Mansion sequel?

Khris · Wed 14/02/2007 03:37:54

No, it's going to be for a short one-room game based on the MM universe.

Latest:

vict0r · Wed 14/02/2007 16:51:14

Looks great now! Good job

Khris · Wed 14/02/2007 22:02:11

Latest WIP:

Am I going in the right direction? Or is there something horribly wrong with the lighting or anything else?

Bernard is pretty much finished, so I'd be glad about some feedback before I start with the other two.

thewalrus · Wed 14/02/2007 23:09:40

In my very uneducated opinion, it looks great! 8)

Khris · Thu 15/02/2007 06:34:27

Included crappy explosion:

TheMagician · Fri 16/02/2007 18:07:39

It's simply great to see this cutscene evolving. I love the style. Even your "crappy" explosion looks brilliant to me.
Thanks for showing all your steps here. This is like a mini-tutorial :-)

Looking forward to the completed game!

Steel Drummer · Fri 16/02/2007 18:24:45

It looks very close to the LucasArts cutscene style, a lot better than Maniac Mansion.