Smooth Animation v. Good Animation

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Bubbowrap

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Smooth Animation v. Good Animation

Posted by Bubbowrap - December 18th, 2009

So, this guy messages me on AIM and sends me a link to an swf to ask my opinion. I proceed to tell him that it's very smooth, but the animation is bad -- the walk cycle is completely unbelievable, and it looked more like the guy was doing a weird, floating kick thing. To my surprise, he was happy with that. He was ONLY worried about it being smooth and not about it being correct/believable.

How many people think this way? Is smooth animation valued more than good animation?

Personally, I'd rather see correct and believable animation at 6fps than incorrect and shoddy animation at 30fps, but I'm wondering if I'm the exception.

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rtil 2009-12-18 04:44:50

ignorance is bliss

Bubbowrap 2009-12-18 04:44:50

SADLY.

Nevercroft 2009-12-18 07:07:24

Well, define good animation.

Good animation comes from getting the feel of your piece across, no?

Carbonwater 2009-12-18 08:31:56

With the right amount of effort, you can have both.

Bubbowrap 2009-12-18 08:31:56

ur smart

SPace 2009-12-18 08:48:17

the smoothness of animation should be measured in tandem with how well it defines weight. and this should in turn show something about the movement, if its silly, if its a struggle it should show something about the character

I-smel 2009-12-18 09:12:35

Im usually tryin to avoid smooth animation in favor of communicating impact, I fuss a lot over pacing TRYING HARD NOT TO SOUND LIKE A BEARDSTROKING DORK

Hulalaoo 2009-12-18 10:09:34

sir, i agreee with you, but we need work for the "audience" of NG, not only for show we skill, if is for make a "good animation", we need put a lot of time in every second of animation, is crazy, good luck sir

Bubbowrap 2009-12-18 10:09:34

If I was interested in working for the audience of NG I'd be making Mario parodies.

TheBoogley 2009-12-18 15:44:33

I think the issue is that most of the people in the "smooth camp" work straight ahead without any planning, meaning that they don't have the movements working as posed keyframes and breakdowns before inbetweening them. They're just drawing a picture, adding a frame, drawing another picture very similar to the last one. Which leads to an aimless plot and poor but smooth movements.
Don't worry about it, we know what's right.

Jazza 2009-12-18 16:12:47

my vote is definitely with GOOD. smooth is just overrated, like someone focusing so much on how shiny a motorbike is then they go to ride it and realise they dont have petrol. i have NO idea how that analogy applies, so dont even ask.

Zyphonee 2009-12-18 17:26:24

Anyone can slap together drawings and make a smooth animation that makes no anatomical sense whatsoever. Perspective and anatomy, that's when the tricky part begins...

LewToons 2009-12-18 19:08:52

idk man...i like to make the art look good first and foremost .....sometimes haha

Kajenx 2010-01-17 00:06:58

I like really weighted animation at low frame rates, like in a Miyazaki or Otomo film. Smoothness tends to make stuff look too sleek and fakeish to me.

sweet21 2010-08-13 00:15:19

i think the animation has to run smoothly, it takes away any seriousness if it does not run smoothly.

Smooth Animation v. Good Animation

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