Super Stud expressions

I want to do something different with the character expressions on this production. I want the animators to have as much freedom as possible with the expressions. I don't want them to be constrained by being "on model." As long as the head shape stays the same, the characters features, eyes, and mouths can stray far from the model. One of the issues I have with programs like flash and harmony, is that the animators rely way to much on the library. So on this production there will be no standard lip sync in the library. Each expression will require the animators to do a new lip sync and use specific acting.

Expression test

Another little test to see how the character looks popping in and out of different facial expressions. It is not inbetweened fully yet, a lot of it is on 3's. That will not be the case for the real animation, but for the test, 3's are ok. In the next character I animate, I will make it a medium shot and include arm and hand gestures.

Scar Man expressions

I will animate him going from one expression to the next, like I did with Toilet Puck's expressions.

new SCAR MAN run cycle

POW!

MAJOR PECS vs. THE EVIL BRAIN TEASER

POW!!

SCAR MAN vs. METAL HEAD

POW!!!!

SUPER STUD vs. PEE BRAIN

PEE BRAIN rotation

He's hunch backed, bow legged and double jointed.

SUPER STUD rotation

I removed the sperm shaped lock of hair that he had before. It was a bad design choice, it didn't look appealing, it was clunky and ugly. It was also overkill, there is already a sperm in the middle of his chest crest and another one on the back of his cape.

SCAR MAN rotation

I had to tweek his head in order for the rotation to work. In the earlier design he did not have a straight horizontal line at the bottom of his chin. That line was angled before, it was impossible to rotate it properly. Looks pretty good now.

Test Animation

The goal with this test was to establish the style of the animation of the show. I did not want it to look too much like the mechanical, puppet animation that seems to be the norm these days. It works for some shows, not for all, definitely not for this one. The inbetweens are not perfect, but I would rather have those imperfect inbetweens than perfect, mechanical lifeless movement done automatically by a computer program. I did use a lot of flash tweens, but I also animated some of it in the traditional way...traditional, but digital. The result is a good compromise of rigged puppet animation and a more traditional look. Here's the test animation!! ENJOY!!

happy colors

The Bg changes to this triumphant glow when Toilet Puck recovers and picks up his clip. I have one or 2 more expressions to animate in the test animation. It is up to over 30 seconds long.

another new TP expression

This is a key pose before he bends over to grab his clip that he dropped.

new TP expression

I had to add this new expression in the test animation, to better transition to the next expression. I am up to 19 seconds of test animation. It looks good so far, for flash animation. I'll post it as soon as it's done.

seeing red

I am working on some test animation of TOILET PUCK. Basically, I took the expressions from a couple posts below and used them as key poses. I want to see how Toilet Puck would change from one expression to the next. The test animation is being done in MACROMEDIA FLASH. We will use TOON BOOM HARMONY once Toilet Puck goes into production. This is a screenshot of an angry pose, I made the entire BG change to that angry red just for this pose, then it changes back to a shot of the floor of the washroom.