I wasn't being hostile I meant this was surreal as **** and you did a great job of it

Also dont listen to Sonic Youth nobody likes him and all he cares about are PERFUCTLY ANIMOOTD FITE ANIMAAAASHUNS. Also I'm a better animator then him.

Lol ok if you weren't being hostile, I guess I misunderstood you. Cheers.

As for Sonic Youth, I still dont know if his ONLY problem was my lack of basics. Because he seemed really surprised that I got even vaguely positive feedback for my 'crappy' animation.

Error...error... creativity..does not compute...does not compute..unable to..register...what is creativity? error..ERROR!!
proceed with primary programing preparing to logicly break down animation in terms of quality.

Erh erm. Well I only had to watch the animation half way through to know that you have a lot to work on. Remember, move every joint of your stickman in each frame. Remember fluidity, where you need to keep constant movement throughout an animation, having your stickman stop halfway through kills the flow and breaks up the animation. Remember what zed said, ease everything you do. Keep in mind physics, remember thet the centre of gravity is allways over the yellow dot (or so I think anyway) and if something looks shaky or uneased then don't be afraid to go back and do it again. Stride for perfection, not length.

Thanks ghostly. Like I said, Im working on those basics that you pointed out. I wasn't striving for length, I just had an idea that happened to stretch across a span of time. But point noted.

So did you watch the whole thing? Or did the lack of physics turn you off halfway through?

Quote from Nish.Niruthan

Thanks ghostly. Like I said, Im working on those basics that you pointed out. I wasn't striving for length, I just had an idea that happened to stretch across a span of time. But point noted.

So did you watch the whole thing? Or did the lack of physics turn you off halfway through?

It's not that I was put off. But that half is all I needed to see in order to give critisism.

Quote from Nish.Niruthan

Btw, this is a just a general query by a newbie. But what exactly makes a good pivot animation in the eyes of the posters here? Is it only the technical physics invovled? But is it also about creating something that is unique?

When I finally absorb all the tutorials here, and make the physics in this toon better... will the animation be good BECAUSE I got the physics right? Or is accurate physics normally just an added bonus to a unique animation? Just an honest question from someone who doesnt know the general consensus here.

It depends on the individual. In general the more they've animated the more they'll appreciate perfection with movements, easing, stiffness, and all of that, and the older they are the more they'll appreciate something new and creative and slightly surreal. But not random. You must be very careful not to get your surrealism blended with the sort of HAHA SO RANDOM humour that a lot of youtube pivoteers engage in.

Personally, I've seen far too much great animation and not enough creativity recently. I would love your animations to be of high quality because I think that can only improve them, but I wouldn't like to see the style slip.

@Ghostly: Cool. Will keep your advice at heart.

@Zed: Yeah I know, I'm also very wary of all the so called 'surrealism' on Youtube. For this particular animation, I've got an entirely symbolic structure mapped out (it actually symbolises awkward sex, unplanned parenthood and even hints of abortion... see if you can spot the clues/symbols) and I think it functions on an internal logic of its own. Right now, I'm re-doing it and striving to get the physics accurate... I guess your comments (and almost everyone else's) have shown me that even though I've tried to do something unique, I need to work on my proficiency to make it enjoyable. :)

Quote from Nish.Niruthan

@Cinnamonbun: Thanks man. Like I said, I'm going through all the tutorials here to get better. Since many of you seem to think this is creative, I want to combine that with fluid movement. Hilarious avatar btw.

The avatar was a gif dancing fat cat. but it could not move.

im officially lost...the animation it took me to sucked, so i dont know what the big deal is...i posted a little bit of cc on the second page but i couldnt really say much

Your idea of a good animation sucks then. :v
I'd rather watch an entertaining video than a well animated one.

@Sonic Youth: I read your CC and I agree it has its technical faults. I just want to know if you thought a lack of basics would render any animation useless? Or whether you thought it had absolutely no positive points at all. Just wanted to know everyone's opinion so I can get better at this.

@Devour: If that means you think this was an entertaining video, thank you very much.

I love the creativity! It was almost like a wonderful theatre performance.

But, when you've have learnt the basics; smoothness, easing, non-stiffness, then it will turn it into a performance made not by cardboard puppets, but by real humans!

i like the part where he goes up his butt, uh huhuhuhuhuh.