ADVANCED ANIMATION - Project 1（Walk Animation）

 ADVANCED ANIMATION - PROJECT 1: WALK & JUMP ANIMATION -

24.09.24 - .0.24

week 1 - week 4

Dong Xinbei / 0359733

Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

LECTURE 

Please refer to Exercises.

INSTRUCTION

Figure 1.1 MIB

PROJECT 1: WALK CYCLE ANIMATION - VANILLA WALK -

In Project 1: Walk Cycle Animation, I will animate both a vanilla walk (natural walk) and an attitude walk (with personality). The process involves downloading a character rig, studying reference materials to identify key poses (contact, down, pass, and up), and setting up the project in Blender with specific settings (1280 x 720 resolution, 24fps). 

I’ll start by animating the vanilla walk with a focus on natural movement and timing, then proceed to the attitude walk, adjusting the cycle to reflect personality and flair.

Research

After completing the animations, I’ll add lighting, render them as image sequences, and compile the final video using Adobe Premiere, including an intro slide with project details. The video will be exported in .mov format. This project not only enhances my animation techniques but also refines my overall workflow in character animation, from rigging to final video production.

Figure 2.1 Reference

Figure 2.2 Reference

Figure 2.3 Reference

DIGITALIZATION

First, I followed the tutorial demonstrated by Mr. Kamal. The tutorial was well-structured, with detailed explanations and logically arranged steps, making it easy to understand and follow. This made the entire learning process both smooth and efficient, and I also gained a deeper understanding of some of the key techniques involved.

Figure 2.4

Next, after completing the basic adjustments to the frame count and actions, I will focus more on fine-tuning the details. Specifically, I will carefully check the transitions between each keyframe to ensure that each movement appears smooth and natural. I also need to further optimize the timing of the walk cycle to make the character’s steps more fluid, avoiding any abrupt changes or unnatural pauses.

 Additionally, I will pay attention to the coordination of the character’s body parts during movement, such as the swinging of the legs, the balance of the upper body, and the weight transfer between steps. Through these detailed adjustments, I hope to make the walk cycle animation smoother, ultimately achieving a natural and realistic result.

Figure 2.5

At the beginning of the project, I found it very difficult. During the process, Mr. Kamal provided me with some guidance, which helped me add a smoother feel to the animation.

After these adjustments and practice, the movements became more natural and fluid. This process not only improved my animation skills but also deepened my understanding of the importance of continuously solving problems, reflecting, and making adjustments during the creative process. Through this ongoing practice and optimization, my confidence grew. This experience not only enhanced my understanding of animation production but also laid a solid foundation for my future projects.

Final Outcome

Figure 2.6 Final Outcome VANILLA WALK in YouTube

PROJECT 1: WALK CYCLE ANIMATION (ATTITUDE WALK) 

Research

For creating the attitude walk animation, I gathered references from various media and watched and studied related videos. By watching these videos, I was able to better understand the changes in posture, rhythm, and emotional expression in the walk cycle.

After analyzing the video material in-depth, I decided to focus on anger as the theme for my animation. I realized that I needed to pay attention to details such as the arm expression and the pacing of the steps. 

I focused on exaggerating these movements to make the anger more pronounced and impactful. These reference videos not only provided me with creative ideas but also helped me better capture the techniques for conveying emotion during the animation process.

Figure 3.1

Figure 3.2

Figure 3.3

Figure 3.4

I delved into Blender to start the actual animation process. After completing each key pose, I carefully checked the transitions between the keyframes to ensure the rhythm of the walk was natural and smooth. Especially in the creation of the angry walk, I noticed that the emotion of anger is conveyed through the intensity and rhythm of each movement, making timing control particularly important.

 I spent more time adjusting the speed of the steps and the tension in the walk, striving to ensure that each movement effectively conveyed the emotion of anger.

Compared to the vanilla walk, I found that creating the attitude walk gave me more creative freedom and expressive possibilities. This type of walk relies more on exaggerated body language and posture, allowing me to be more creative, which also reduced the amount of detail adjustment required during my initial attempts. After becoming familiar with setting keyframes and managing spacing, I could focus more on expressing emotions and refining details, further enhancing the overall expressiveness of the animation.

Final Outcome

Figure 3.5 Final Outcome of attitude walk in YouTube

Reflection

Project 1 was a challenging yet rewarding experience. Initially, I encountered difficulties while animating the vanilla walk, but under Mr. Kamal's guidance, I gradually identified the issues, successfully corrected the mistakes, and ultimately completed the animation. This process not only enhanced my animation skills but also taught me the importance of problem-solving and continuous refinement.

Next, I shifted focus to animating the attitude walk, choosing an angry walk. Since I had already mastered keyframe setup and adjustments, the process went much smoother this time. The angry walk relied more on exaggerated movements, giving me more creative freedom. Through this project, I not only improved my keyframe management but also learned how to effectively convey emotions through body movements and timing. This experience was both challenging and fulfilling, and I look forward to applying these skills in future animation projects to further elevate my animation-making abilities.