How Do I Animate?

jblb2424jblb2424 Member Posts: 65
edited March 2013 in Art, Graphics, Music and Sound
Hello :D

I am just beginning my game and the first thing i need is a simple running animation for a stick figure. It seems like the easiest task to do but for me its not, as i am not skilled in the least bit when it comes to making animations. So my question is, how the heck do i make a simple stick figure running animation, when it comes to someone who has no skill in the animation field? The program i am most comfortable with is Inkscape, gut if you guys have any other (free) animation/graphics program that makes this task easier to accomplish i will be more than happy to check it out. Anything that would help me out would be greatly appreciated since i am pathetically unskilled and clueless in the field, and even a kind individual who is willing to send/make me a running stick figure animation would be immensely appreciated as well. Thanks so much! :D

Comments

  • ChakkuChakku Member Posts: 1,513
    @jbib2424

    You might want to try the 'animate' behavior ;)

    Chakku
  • jblb2424jblb2424 Member Posts: 65
    @Chakku
    Definitely, but i am actually referring to how to actually make the animations, rather than putting them together in game salad. :P
  • RPRP Member Posts: 1,990
    A site dedicated to learning animation would be key (no joke). There are various applications out there that can help create animations but it depends on the software tools you have already and what you are willing to invest in.

    Some folks like Aid software like animation studio or toon boom and some prefer to do it all by hand in stuff like Photoshop, Fireworks or Flash
  • lycettebroslycettebros Member, PRO Posts: 1,598
    There have got to be free animation instructional videos out there....watch them.

    Animation can be easy when it is done badly.
    Animating well is a big learning curve and takes lots of time and effort. A stick figure is actually complicated....it requires a walk/run cycle and a walk cycle is probably not the first thing to try and animate as a beginner.

    When I taught animation the first thing I started with was a bouncing ball.
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  • BBEnkBBEnk Member Posts: 1,764
    For a simple stick figure you could use Pixen it's free and very easy to use and great for old school graphics and animation.
  • SingleSparqSingleSparq Member Posts: 1,339
    I've been testing the spine animation tool - once you get the hang of how it works it's pretty good and you can output your sequence of images (a little tricky on getting the size right for output but there are ways )
    http://esotericsoftware.com
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  • EverwildEverwild Member Posts: 48
    Google up Eadweard Muybridge, or go to http://www.muybridge.org/

    Late 1800s photographer who took a ton of photos showing animal and human locomotion in various gaits and activities. I've been using these to teach myself to animate. You generally won't need as many frames as he uses to get the movement across smoothly.

    I work in Illustrator, and do a lot of art board copying. Make one picture, make a copy beside it, make a tiny tweak to it. Then copy that, rinse and repeat. If I'm animating something with animals or people in it, I often have the Muybridge references right on my screen so I can compare as I go.
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