Want to learn
by Jacob (Kouga) Nicholson · in Artist Corner · 05/24/2007 (11:18 pm) · 4 replies
Hey all-
I love animation. Specifically, I love character animation. How much? A lot. How much is a lot? In games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, I would go into practice mode, turn the speed to 1/4, and just watch the animation of the characters. Yeah, that much. When a cutscene or a particular move looks beautiful, I know this is the kind of thing I could see myself doing for a living, every day of my life.
Thing is...
I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
I own Maya 7. I've done REALLY basic keyframe animation in Flash with my super dooper stick figure drawing skills. I actually did a decent animation job in Maya, using primitive ping pong paddles/ball/table. It was pretty cool looking. I've scratched the surface on using a curve as a motion path. However, none of this is really the kind of character animation I want to do. I tried rigging a really rough Sonic the Hedgehog-esque model, but when I bound the skin to the skeleton, I tried to move his arm and half his face moved with it.
So I was wondering, to save me the time and effort (yes I am that lazy) what kind of resources are there, maybe such as pre-rigged models that I can just animate for the hell of it? Get to learn basic "look it's running" animations just by goofing around in the program.
Any tips, advice, links, etc would be appreciated.
Kouga, Out
I love animation. Specifically, I love character animation. How much? A lot. How much is a lot? In games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, I would go into practice mode, turn the speed to 1/4, and just watch the animation of the characters. Yeah, that much. When a cutscene or a particular move looks beautiful, I know this is the kind of thing I could see myself doing for a living, every day of my life.
Thing is...
I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
I own Maya 7. I've done REALLY basic keyframe animation in Flash with my super dooper stick figure drawing skills. I actually did a decent animation job in Maya, using primitive ping pong paddles/ball/table. It was pretty cool looking. I've scratched the surface on using a curve as a motion path. However, none of this is really the kind of character animation I want to do. I tried rigging a really rough Sonic the Hedgehog-esque model, but when I bound the skin to the skeleton, I tried to move his arm and half his face moved with it.
So I was wondering, to save me the time and effort (yes I am that lazy) what kind of resources are there, maybe such as pre-rigged models that I can just animate for the hell of it? Get to learn basic "look it's running" animations just by goofing around in the program.
Any tips, advice, links, etc would be appreciated.
Kouga, Out
About the author
#2
Really good school. Also, Maya 8.5 is available as the latest PLE (though you may already know this, just thought I would throw it out there).
08/10/2008 (3:28 am)
Just browsing through the posts looking for a solution, came across yours (even though its a year old, figure you may still get this). I'm personally a Max man (currently have Max 2008) so I really don't have any tips for you. However, if you are really hardcore about learning, I attend an online college, working towards a degree in Video Game Art and Design. (they have a physical branch, I just do online for a personal reason): www.westwood.eduReally good school. Also, Maya 8.5 is available as the latest PLE (though you may already know this, just thought I would throw it out there).
#3
08/26/2008 (6:08 am)
I've also attended westwood online and enrolled into the game design classes and after i found out that the stuff i was being taught was online for free, i had to go asap and save some money. There's also torqueschool if you search it online (i haven't gone there yet since i am learning and working two jobs) but i thought i'd throw that name around.
#4
anyway, I am getting a "classical" animation education from animationmentor.com, and I have learned so much although I've barely started.
If you want to Animate just for the hell of it, i would suggest the 11 second club, it's a community like this one but primarily focused on animation.
What happens is that each month the website gives you an audio clip, and you animate whatever you find will fit the audio. But the greatest thing about it is their forums. They have great feedback, and are really supportive;
and as a plus, there is a resources section that gives links to free maya rigs " I was totally surprised by this, because here in the game side of the industry, models are protected with lives."
Anyway there is also highend3d.com - " the website where most of the rigs are found" great site, i haven't really looked at the rest of the site, but its still pretty cool.
Finally ther is of course the most easily accessible source on the net - Youtube.com - awesome webz for many tuts, but just be careful.
10/03/2008 (7:05 am)
O.K here it goes............AWESOME you want to know about animation. SWEET! I am on the same boat, but i am taking a different route. The other comments posted by Everett and Fyreus talk about Westwood, but i don't know about that schoolanyway, I am getting a "classical" animation education from animationmentor.com, and I have learned so much although I've barely started.
If you want to Animate just for the hell of it, i would suggest the 11 second club, it's a community like this one but primarily focused on animation.
What happens is that each month the website gives you an audio clip, and you animate whatever you find will fit the audio. But the greatest thing about it is their forums. They have great feedback, and are really supportive;
and as a plus, there is a resources section that gives links to free maya rigs " I was totally surprised by this, because here in the game side of the industry, models are protected with lives."
Anyway there is also highend3d.com - " the website where most of the rigs are found" great site, i haven't really looked at the rest of the site, but its still pretty cool.
Finally ther is of course the most easily accessible source on the net - Youtube.com - awesome webz for many tuts, but just be careful.
Torque Owner Highlander