Critical review - 17th January 2014

Im over happy that l have finished my animation successfully, to be honest l have definitely struggled making this animation but I'm proud of myself for resolving the problem l had and I am happy to say that it worked but then saying that it is not as detailed whereas at the start of the my animation l have spent more time on it and I think watching it is noticeable slightly. 


Improve for the future:

For me to improve this I will think about the time schedule to create a animation that is decent enough to be very proud of and it is noticeable that the animation has had a lot of time spend on being made. I will definitely focus on the animation more aswell and stick to what the storyboard says, if there is a scene that does not fit with the animation, replace it with something better and what will flow. Next module I will definitely be starting my animation earlier than I have done with this module. 

If I had the chance to do this again I would of kept to sweet and simple styles, I would of don't a frame by frame sketchy animation spending a great amount of time getting it right, I'd probably focus on trees and nature liking that with the weather as the four seasons. 

I will remember:

For next time I will remember how to use tweens a lot better because I didn't really have much experience with them in previous animations I have done, and how to create a walk cycle. I will remember to stick to the storyboard. 

Techniques:

I have used a range of techniques in this animation by using tweens (shape tween) and (classic tween), frame by frame, masking, vcam, exporting the movie, sync the sound and converting to symbols.

Feedback:

- Its good 
- Rain very nice/ gave the effect time was pasting 
- Background very detailed
- Snow was nice
- Music works with the animation
- A shame there is not more, where that animation is short
- Umbrella drawing was a little glitchy/ was a little weird 
- Maybe be good she moved her arm, so looks she put it on her head.
- Want more 

Critical:

The snow:

For this not to happen again in the future l shall create a copy of the snow with the glow so if l loose it l can always replace it with the copy. The glow in the snow is a very important part because it shows what the white balls are, to be honest watching the animation it looks like white balls are falling from the sky. 

The walking:

My character looks like she is not walking properly, like she has a awkward leg or trying to run. Its not the best walk cycle but at least l got her moving. Originally l was using frame by frame to make her walk across the stage but then one of my piers told me to convert her into a symbol and make the walk cycle once and it will repeat, all l had to do after that was tween her from one side of the stage to the other side. this technique made life so much easier, it helped a lot more and it didn't take so much of my time up. 

The gap:

When both spring and summer background move across the stage there ends up being a massive gap in the middle, l have tried to resolve this issue but it keeps to the same time. In the future I will not allow this to happen by making sure they overlap each other, hopefully that method will work. 

Umbrella:

Im disappointed in myself for not animating the girl to stop and actually pick the hat up and then carry on walking. In the future I will make time to figure out how to get the character to pick things up. 

Rain:

I wish the rain was more realistic, l have created the rain to be very cartoon style, using a tween to move it from the top right of the stage to the bottom left. 
To improve this for the future l will study rain watch how it falls and create a more realistic rain. 

Masking:

I learnt a new technique 'masking' I will need to do this technique a few more times before actually understanding and being able to do it without needing any help. although my pier showed me how to use the mask and then i gave it ago myself. I find this technique very helpful for the animation and may come in handy in the future.

Back on track - 7th January 2013

I HAVE IT! I know how to end my animation, its not as detailed as l was aiming at but its something involving the seasons and ending my animation! Luckily l took a break and thought hard about how to finish my animation.

What l'm going to do is still stick with the backgrounds moving and my main character walking across but! She comes across a hat umbrella, she stops. She wears it and carries on walking off the stage while the vcam zoom's into a tree and the tree grows their leaves and flowers grow from the ground. Then scene moves along to summer in the park where she meets a boy and they fall for each other. Still using the thought bubble aswell, the thought bubble zooms out back to the girl curled up and then she smiles. 

Im over the moon that l have figure the ending out by myself and can continue to achieve my animation to a finish, I feel proud of myself. But! For this not to happen in the future l will create a more stable storyboard and I will be sticking to it from scene to scene. 

Disaster - 6th January 2014

A disaster has striked I do not know what I am doing with my animation anymore, I have not been following my storyboard because it is impossible to create with the short time I have. Honestly don't know what to do at the moment. Im quite disappointed in myself for letting myself get like this, I don't know how to resolve my problem.