Thief Animation

[bonehead11]

I havent been here long and I tried to make thief animation sooooo, I finished it.
One is normal speed and another one is in slow motion so you can see every frame and tell me how could i make it better.
Second, I am thinking of making another 2-3 frames of attack, that he would stab the enemy, but I think it would be too much. Feel free to discuss.

[Boucman]

Ok, you animation suffers from the "moonwalker" effect...


in other word, you forgot that the unit image is sliding back and forth during the attack, and you need to animate that.

in other word, you need to have the thief run/jump back and forth, you can't have the legs not move.

[thespaceinvader]

This post, and the post following it, are well worth looking at with reference to the thief's attack. What you've got there just doesn't make sense - why is he attacking twice in the same motion? The motion blur only goes on the striking stroke. He needs to step into it.

Also, you really need some rotation and movement of his body. Cutting and sliding parts around just won't cut it, I'm afraid.

Basically, look at mainline units, particularly the Bowman line, for inspiration on this.

[bonehead11]

Ok so I tried to remove the moonwalker effect, hope its good.

What you've got there just doesn't make sense - why is he attacking twice in the same motion? The motion blur only goes on the striking stroke. He needs to step into it.

Also, you really need some rotation and movement of his body. Cutting and sliding parts around just won't cut it, I'm afraid.

Basically, look at mainline units, particularly the Bowman line, for inspiration on this.

I thought it would look good, it would look like he is going to slice and dice the enemy...but I forgot this is Wesnoth... I tried to make him move, removed the motion blur at wind up and added some frames, got inspired by the bowman,thanks.
Hope you like it, feel free to discuss it.

[Turuk]

I cannot quite figure out why his head is following his initial backswing? He would probably not be inclined to take his eyes off of his enemy, and it's not like he needs to follow the dagger with his head to know where it is going.

[bonehead11]

I cannot quite figure out why his head is following his initial backswing?

Cause it looks cooler, some fantasy wont hurt anyone.

it's not like he needs to follow the dagger with his head to know where it is going.

Its not like you think, he is making a turn, so in fast is looking like he is following the dagger, I will upload a slow motion of it.

[Boucman]

sorry bonehead111 but....

if you need to explain/post a slow motion of your animation, then it's not working.


try not to have the head turning, I'm sure it would look better

[bonehead11]

You were right...It looks alot better when he doesnt move the head...thanks for the tips.

[zookeeper]

Ok, now you should still add in a couple of frames for the recovery. So basically you can just make him step back in the exact same manner, while moving the arms back to the base frame positions.

[Turuk]

Indeed, great work on the changes so far, the head not moving makes it seem as if he is indeed attacking very swiftly (given the quick movement of his arms and the blade). I understand what you were going for with his head moving, but with limited frames, you have to stick with simpler stuff.

[bonehead11]

I dont know if he should just simply jump back or he should do flip jump, so it would look nicer.

[Boucman]

do a simple jump

simple jump are unrealistic and impraticall

moreover, this is a lvl 1 unit. The big special effects should be very rare and kept for heroes/high level units

cheers

Boucman

[zookeeper]

do a simple jump

simple jump are unrealistic and impraticall

[Boucman]

ahem

I meant back flips are unrealistic

[Orcish Shyde]

do a simple jump

simple jump are unrealistic and impraticall

moreover, this is a lvl 1 unit. The big special effects should be very rare and kept for heroes/high level units

The only heroic units I can see backflipping out of an attack are the human Assassin and maybe the Orcish Slayer, neither of whom really strike me as the kind of flamboyant show-off who would bother. Admittedly WINR, but...