Richard Willimot Thread/Gallery

[Dave]

This is a place holder for Richard's Content.

[Richard Willimot]

Thanks for all your work setting things up Dave. :) I've chosen to do the Rule one, no minerals... dialog. You could say I was sort of inspired by actual events,but the names of those involved have been changed to protect the innocent.
My scene: Winnie is a kindly ole' witch who uses her potions to help people. She comes from a long line of good witches including her Aunt Glinda from Oz. She feels witches always get a bad rap and works to change that. So instead of having the traditional black cat as a side kick Winnie has got herself a new pup. And like all puppies he's a bit mischievous chewing on her magic broom and not letting her know when he has to go outside. So in this scene,Winnie is explaining to Wiz what he can and cannot eat and do.

[Richard Willimot]

Hello all, awesome work from everyone,very interesting to see everyone's ideas for the different dialogue. Here's my concept for the pup wiz and some rough poses for him and winnie. I still have to do the layout but i have a good idea of what I want to do just a matter of getting it down on paper. As always any crits would be appreciated.
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_pupthumbs.jpg
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_clearerroughs.jpg
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_winniemodel.jpg
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_winnieroughs.jpg

[Richard Willimot]

Question for Don, You mentioned yesterday to one of the classmates that it was better for winnie to step with the downstage foot when taking a step. I want to have her raise her arm up to make a point,so would the same thing apply. And while I understand the reason why actors do this on stage wouldn't it go against who they are if their handedness is right and the reach with the left? Also should we post our thumbnail redos here?

[Phrogger]

I am thinking we should put all of our questions and critique items in the critique thread for next week. I don't think that Don or Dave are looking at these threads at all.

[Richard Willimot]

okee dokee Meredith, I was wondering about that. Guess I'll just do the thumbnails in the poses I see and change if necessary.Thanks

[Richard Willimot]

Hello all,here are my updated thumbs. Not sure on the last pose I like the pose idea but not the way its drawn,have to work on that for the actual animation. That is if theyre approved.
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_thumbs_audiochart.jpg
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_winniexsheet_1.jpg
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_winniexsheet2.jpg
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/willimot_winniexsheet_3.jpg

[Richard Willimot]

Hello all:here is my Winnie pose test on 4's http://donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=541 Lots of drawing mistakes to fix and timing issues but I wanted to see how the performance was going to look. I think it definitely needs to be snappier. Please any comments would be appreciated.

[NateHorsfall]

Hey Richard, it looks to me like you just have more drawings than you need here.
For example.. when she says "rule one.. no mineral.." I would hold her hands on her hips the entire time until "ONE" so you get the arm snapping out to point "ONE". Right now I can count about 5 or 6 drawings between that transition, when you probably only want maybe 2 to get that snap.
Likewise with "no mineral, or vegetable" but.. here i'm not sure where you want the snap. right now it's kind of blending between the carrot toss through that entire line. Do you want it on "No mi-" or "OR VEG-" I'd probably suggest on the "vEG" part, because she's holding a vegetable, and that would accent it. But it's your call.

Like I've been telling other people though, this is a good position to be in, because that means you just need to take away drawings instead of add in tons more.

Since this is the computer, I'd suggest playing with the timing and blow out a bunch of frames just to watch what you think could make it snappier. It should all be in your file, so removing frames just to eyeball and test what you want, won't hurt anything. Not like you're throwing away drawings.. yet ;)

[Richard Willimot]

Thanks for the post Nate, I took your advice and messed with the timing in flipbook. I moved some to 2s and left spaces between others,definitely made it snappier. Still need to add more pics to take it to 2s and keep the line alive on the pauses. Plus the second time she puts her right hand on her hip she has the thumb on the wrong side d'oh! http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=553

[NateHorsfall]

Thats looking better! I think you could STILL make it snappier. But we might be getting into personal preference type stuff. I like snappier animations because they feel more fun to look at, but you might prefer more realism :)

also the thumb thing.. haha. I can't tell you how many times I've messed that up over the years. it's even worse when you fully flesh out a drawing, colors and shading and all.... but something looks off! What is it? oh.. the THUMB is on the wrong side! >_<

happens to everyone at first :)

[jeremyhopkins]

Hi Richard, that's pretty good! When I saw your test on Saturday, I was wondering if you time out your animation on 4's or 8's and then space everything equally. I think that was brought up but if you time everything evenly on 4's then emphasis has to be placed on the drawing for spacing. Be really careful as you tie everything down to watch the spacing & arcs of your hands and other body parts. The eyes and eyebrows could be pushed more on your golden poses to emphasize the dialogue even if the mouth isn't moving. Overall I think it's a pretty good first test and doesn't look overworked. Looking forward to seeing your stuff this Saturday!

[Richard Willimot]

Thank you both for the comments.Nate, I think you're right and I'll try and make it snappier.I need to work on playing in and around the poses longer,I have a habit of wanting to go from one to the next. It's animation for pete's sake it has to move ;) Jeremy,I think you're spot on with the description. I knew it was too even but wanted to show something,hopefully this final pass will be more textured. I've been focusing more on the body up to this point and will push those face poses and add the couple tuffs of hair for the final iteration. Thanks again guys :)

[Phrogger]

Hi Richard! Thanks for the comment on my piece, I think you are spot on about the lip sync being slow at the top.

The only couple suggestions I would add are: When she tosses the carrot to the other hand, it looks more like it's floating over to her other hand. It doesn't look like a handoff or a toss. I like having the carrot as a prop but you may consider having her gesture with it in one hand the whole time. Also, I feel you need to add a frame at the end for it to be complete. She leans back on "only" but I feel she should come forward with that carrot emphatically on "animal." You should be able to accomplish that with only one, maybe two drawings.

Good luck! Can't wait to see it on Saturday!

[Richard Willimot]

Thank you for the reply Meredith, I'm glad I wasn't seeing things with the lipsync. You never can tell if its playback or if it's real. I wondered about the carrot toss so I sped it up in this next version. When she leans back she is actually tossing the carrot away,guess I didnt make that read to well lol I think maybe I do need another pose after it to show the carrot is gone. Here's part of Winnie on 2s,please let me know about the timing on this. http://donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=558

[NateHorsfall]

Hey Richard, this feels much better than last week, pretty much across the board :)

That carrot though, thats like a thorn in your side, huh? we keep telling you to change it.. and you do! But I think you went just a litttttlle too fast now.
Before, it was floating over, now it actually just nearly appears in her hand. I had to watch it a few times to catch where it was going. But another problem is that it is tossed-caught-brought back-and shoved forward, all in about 9 frames. It's not enough time to do all those things, and i would personally suggest not having her bring it back (where the body hides it from frame) and instead maybe bring it up- but keep it in frame, then pull back down down. I think that will help alot with it getting lost, because when i was watching.. i thought it disappeared, and got really confused until i frame-by-framed it.

Also give the toss just one more frame. Thats probably enough. But you don't want it to just go from one hand to the other within 1 frame. it will look like it's teleporting.

another suggestion to make this smoother would be that while you give the carrot another frame in the air.. maybe have her hand reach for it as well, and sort of meet it half way. Then, with that arcing motion.. you can continue it into drawing the carrot up.. and finally snap it back down as you have it. If you were to draw this, it would basically be a circular motion. And arcs are always fun to look at! :)

Hope thats helpful. I wish I could draw it.. but text will have to do. Good luck!

[Richard Willimot]

Thanks Nate, yea bugs bunny never had this much trouble with a carrot. I'm going to rework this section today and try and even it out more.

[Richard Willimot]

First, let me thank you all for your help with this one it is most appreciated. Second, let me say I now hate carrots! lol No,I'm sure some where along the way I'll be asked to animate something like this again and I'll remember winnie, Here is my final test on 2s http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=572

[NateHorsfall]

Richard! great job man! All thats really holding you back now mainly is the stiffness. A bunch of her movements feel restrained.. however, as general motion, it all reads, actions hit where they need to. and best of all? I can see the carrot clear as day :)

as you hit your final result here, i really like what you did with the carrot. it took a long way, but it really does work well. Good on you for sticking with it!

This is leaps and bounds beyond where you started. So, online seminar success story, eh? :)

[Phrogger]

I agree with Nate. You really improved the carrot, even if you never want to see one again! Great growth in just a few weeks! :)

[jeremyhopkins]

You had a tough scene and I give you a lot credit for digging in and wrestling with it. You have a good eye for animation choices and I appreciated your thoughts about my work. I'm having some difficulty returning the favor because I'm not sure how to critique your work. Guess my advice is I hope you stick with animating since you have a good eye but it looks like you're struggling a little with the workflow & technique. Congratulations on finishing your assignment and I don't think we celebrate those victories enough! :)

[Richard Willimot]

Thanks so much everyone,yes the evil carrot. I hate letting things like that get the better of me and with everyones help it didn't. It might not be perfect but it was better than I had it,and I definitely learned something. Jeremy, any advice you want to give me I'll take with open ears. Anything you could pass along as far as workflow and technique would be most appreciated.

[jeremyhopkins]

Umm.. I think the main problem is the acting is getting lost in the motion. There's two ways to approach this issue. One is to say, good enough, leave it at that, learn from this test and move on. The other is go back, take out some of the extremes and adjust the golden poses so the emotions match the dialogue. I think if the body & the face are more cohesive, you'd have an easier time getting the acting this in this scene. It's tough because each person has their own challenges to overcome. I think you did really well for your first attempt even with clarity issues. Hope that makes sense.

[Richard Willimot]

Thank you for the advice Jeremy and along with what Don said I think I'll give it another go.