Ouroboros animated

Ouroboros thingy

I'm not sure what this character is or why this character is, but it may get used in the latest project.
I've been doodling random characters into my kiddie sketchpad and this is one now translated into an animated vector inside Anime Studio Pro.

Anime Studio pro 11 at half price.

If you were thinking about buying this software then now would be a good time to act.

ASP is a great solution for a small studio that needs or wants to deliver 2D animation. It is relatively easy to get up to speed with it and start pumping out animation. This is not a paid comment, I just like and use the software and want to see its development continue.

Another Solid

Solids

I figured out (sort of) what the next project will be and have started translating some of the character designs into Anime Studio pro. Here is a test to see how this design sits on either a solid color or a white background (as both will be required). There will only be the one color plus black.

More pastel vectors

Just another variation of stroke type. I'd rather be able to get this sort of edge on the interior fill than on the stroke. Adding a stroke to get this effect inflates the proportions, then you have to compensate by shrinking the original vector.

Pastel shapes

I am going to explore some of the style options in Anime Studio Pro, there are various brush types and so forth for creating a less vector look. Below I'm using a brush style on the outer stroke of the shape to give it a rougher edge.

Mohair Sam, completed.

I don't think I can post it on YouTube because they will likely block it for the music, and have been delaying uploading it for the last few days since starting to question it's value. However I need to move on so here it is.

Dyna/4Cap -- SIGGRAPH 2015

I'm less interested in seeing this technology being put to use in production than I am in how mesmerizing these jiggling wire-frame people are to watch.

Stealing from the best.

I copied his moves frame for frame to get his signature "duck walk" right. Above is a screen shot of Anime Studio Pro with a reference movie placed in the background.

The workflow and ease at which I can have an idea, sketch something down and then make it happen within a matter of hours is testament to how good the software is.

For that reason I won't be posting any updated videos until the whole work is finished. I have about 45 seconds left to fill and I don't need to rush it.

Latest Video Update

The video has been updated again, I'm re-posting it here so that it is top of page for the moment.

Backgrounds

The whole western themed section is done and I'm really happy with it. Here is one of the backgrounds I made.

I made a horse today.

I planned out the next shot that will involve a western themed riff, putting 'Red' into cowboy mode. He'll ride into town with a wanted poster for Mohair Sam. I painted up a horse concept in Photoshop.

 And here's what that design looks like vector-ized in Anime Studio Pro.

Updated Video Notice

Just a note to say I've updated and replaced the video below two posts down to include the story-boarded shot in the previous post.

Planning shots

When I was listening to the music deciding if I'd use it, I  had the whole animation playing in my head, needless to say none of that has made it onto the screen so far.

I've simplified. The characters demand it, let's face it, they're faces with arms.

I'm usually doodling away on scraps of paper trying to work out what the next set of shots will be and how they might look. This next shot has been through many ideas, but the lyric had me somewhat perturbed, "chicks are makin' reservations...", how does one illustrate that?

I went into Photoshop and tried to pin it down because sometimes the doodles aren't enough.

Three days of animation.

Here is a little update with my Complementaries characters. I got bored after rigging them so they sat there for a while doing nothing, or perhaps I just didn't have a reason to animate them.

Anyway, I found a tune I liked that I could imagine them singing, 'Mohair Sam' performed by a European Band from the sixties. I liked the naive singing style with them singing an american song and not quite getting the pronunciation down. I'm going to try and do the whole song, but for now here is the first half minute.