Animation
I haven’t made many posts recently about the actual process of making Spatula Madness, so I thought I’d give you a quick view of how I animate the characters in this movie.
I am using a program called Adobe After Effects to do all of the animation work in the film. It’s a powerful video composition program not usually used for animation, however because of the ease in which it handles many layers of images it’s the perfect tool for making a movie in the sort of “cut-out” style Spatula Madness is done in.
Here is what the interface looks like:
http://www.spatulamadness.com/blog/images/anim1.jpg
To the left I have my files and documents for a scene, up top are my controls. To the right is some scene information and additional tools, and on the bottom is my “timeline” where most of the work takes place.
Here is a document with Crazy Homeless Guy added:
http://www.spatulamadness.com/blog/images/anim2.jpg
As you can see he is now on both the scene viewer window and the timeline window.
If I Command+Double Click him, it opens up his document I am able to animate each of his individual parts:
http://www.spatulamadness.com/blog/images/anim3.jpg
If you look at the timeline you can see many, many different new items. Each character is composed of a variety of different images, and each image can be moved by itself. In addition, certain images are “linked” to each other and move when the other items move. For instance, his right hand will move when I move his right forearm (so that when I move his forearm his hand isn’t left behind hanging in the air.)
I animate the characters in this movie as if I were animating a stop-motion figure. Meaning, every frame I move his various parts slightly more, and over time you get motion. The most important thing After Effects does that really speeds this process up is called “hold keyframes.” When I move a part of him, After Effects automatically sets that as a “keyframe” in the timeline - and this is where hold keyframes come in - it’ll only count that as a move for one frame and won’t effect anything that came before it (as opposed to “tween” keyframes, where if you set two keyframes 10 frames apart it’ll fill in the movement between those 10 frames.)
You can see two of those hold keyframes here:
http://www.spatulamadness.com/blog/images/anim4.jpg
Here’s a better explanation of the difference between hold and tween. If I have his arm by his side on frame 1, and then set a “tween” keyframe on frame 10 with his arm in the air, the computer will automatically fill in frames 2-9 with animation of his arm moving from his side to the air. If frame 10 was a hold keyframe instead of a tween, it wouldn’t do that. Frames 1-9 would be his arm by his side, and then frame 10 would have his arm instantly jump to the air. I then go back and manually animate frames 2-9 myself instead of having the computer do it automatically. Why? Because when the computer does it, well, it looks like a computer did it. It’s too “smooth” and doesn’t have that sort of organic “stop motion” feel. It takes a lot more time, but it makes the animation look less like some idiot on a computer did it and more like it was done professionally.
Well that’s all for now!
August 5th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Cool. The power of computers surpasses the power of machine!
August 5th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
ah yes, gotta have a lot of patience when working with such a program like after effects, I’m also with you Jason, I like the interface better on this version of after effects
August 5th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Thus begins the second age of the machines, starting the countdown that will commence the fall of man…
August 5th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Heh, I can’t believe how you have patience to do this.. I’d stick to the ’some idiot on a computer’-style after the first 5 minutes of animation xD
August 5th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
So what you’re saying is you just manually tween, like a traditional animator would do.
August 5th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Man, I would go for after effects WAY over Pivot.
It’s just that Adobe’s prices are way out of anyone’s average reach.
Anyway, Jason, When are you planning to upgrade to the Mac Pro?
By the way, if you are going to upgrade soon, are any of your applications written for G5 (as in it is only for the PowerPC G5 processor)? If so, Rosetta can’t do that. Click on my name for the rest of the things Rosetta can’t handle (Wiki article).
I see from one of the screenshots you have the terminal in the dock. What do you use Terminal for? Which makes me raise this question also: How much do you know about Mac OS X operating system?
August 5th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Also, forgot to mention, not usually used for animation, huh?
Well, we have something in common. For comics I use Comic Life, OmniGraffle 4, Keynote 2 (I’ll buy iWork ‘07 when it comes out), AppleWorks 6 (barely), and it’s possibly Gimp and Inkscape will be coming into the family (I don’t know, I haven’t made my comics for a while.
I can even give the EXACT instructions on how to build my stick figures in Keynote.
August 5th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
that’s pretty cool…
August 5th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Jared - Yeah, pretty much.
Techristsanisernn - Not planning on upgrading my computer until well after the movie is done. And yes, I’m aware of the software compatibility stuff, hah, I’ve used Macs since I was 4 and keep pretty up to date on Apple and their software.
August 5th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
August 5th, 2007 at 4:04 pm, Pete Said:
Heh, I can’t believe how you have patience to do this.. I’d stick to the ’some idiot on a computer’-style after the first 5 minutes of animation xD
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Yeah, I think I ever did any animation with After Effects, I think I would too.
I bet it is Lime Pie that makes him so patient. And he made a vow that will he will eat it only if he finishes the movie in that way!!!
EUREKA!!! I have faith in you, Jason. YOU WILL GET THAT PIE!!! XD
August 5th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
jason Said on August 5th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Techristsanisernn - Not planning on upgrading my computer until well after the movie is done. And yes, I’m aware of the software compatibility stuff, hah, I’ve used Macs since I was 4 and keep pretty up to date on Apple and their software.
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So much that “defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE” rings a bell?
By the way, speaking of those old days, on Friday my family got a laptop for my mom (no special occasion), and this guy had an Apple IIc hooked up to one of the TVs that are hooked up to the Apple TVs. He said he collected old computers. He even had 5.5″ disks he entered a lot of commands to eventually to continually keep the screen filled with “TAX FREE HOLIDAY”
I told him I did know about the Apple II, just never saw one in person (though one time while I was still a PC user (and knew nothing about the Mac) I saw a Classic in a museum). After that, he just took a screen from the front desk and left. Of course, the store knew about it. I guess one of the employees (I know practically all of them!) had one of those. Jason, did you keep any of your old computers, and what models did you go through? You don’t need to be specific if you don’t want to.
August 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
My brain is officially blown up.
Thanks for the explanation, Jason. Now will people stop asking what program he uses to animate?
August 5th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Wow, that’s amazing. It must have taken many movies to figure out how to do that.
…I feel you’re pain. =)
August 6th, 2007 at 1:49 am
Snazzy… and interesting too!
August 6th, 2007 at 2:19 am
Techristsanisernn, you don’t work for Apple do you?
August 6th, 2007 at 4:50 am
Cool. After Affects sounds like a cool program. When I have more money and more RAM, I’ll buy it.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Pierre Said on August 6th, 2007 at 2:19 am:
Techristsanisernn, you don’t work for Apple do you?
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Oh, how I wish I did.
Trust me, I know a lot.
In fact, the manager at my local apple store asked me if I could go to Apple’s “Apple Camp” program at the apple store as one of the, I’ll just say, “Counslers” And, I’m only a kid!!! Unfortunately, I had to tell her that I would have a busy summer up ahead, and would not be able to attend.
But anyway, I have learned a lot from them, and that, along with stuff I’ve learned from other websites, including Apple’s, I could say if I do a little more studying, I think I’d be ready to work there. But of course, I still have to think of what job I should have. I have a few more future jobs in mind.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
# Maggie Says:
August 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
My brain is officially blown up.
Thanks for the explanation, Jason. Now will people stop asking what program he uses to animate?
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Jason, what program do you use to animate.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Wow, you have to do HEAPS to make this movie! I tried making an animation a while ago, and it was frick’n hard! And it only went for 20 seconds!
How long does this movie go on for? And how many fames do you use in a second?
August 7th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Techristsanisernn, uh… I was joking, but sure. Sounds good. There’s probably a lot of money in Apple. Personally, I’m just gonna stick with film.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:08 am
So, what advantages does After Effects have over Flash? I can see that it looks snazzier, but Flash does most of the stuff you mentioned, except for the objects being linked together. Actually, come to think of it, that’s a huge advantage over Flash. Never mind then. Make the movie some more, and then make it until it’s done.
Damn, that last sentence only made my comment seem more pointless.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Pierre Said on August 7th, 2007 at 2:16 am:
Techristsanisernn, uh… I was joking, but sure. Sounds good. There’s probably a lot of money in Apple. Personally, I’m just gonna stick with film.
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Oh, I kind of thought you were being serious. I guess I got carried away.
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el josho Said on August 7th, 2007 at 12:53 am:
…And how many fames do you use in a second?
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I believe from another blog post (I’m not going to check right now ), he said that he said that he will usually shoot for 15 frames per second, but with some scenes he may use about 30 frames per second.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:29 am
hmmmmm…this is basicly one giant fancy pivot/montypythoncutout animation. Now I know how long it takes to make a movie like this, considering howlong it takes to make a stop moyion film. and your doing this in 30 fps? Thats even crazier
August 8th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Yeah, pretty much what you do with pivot stickfigure animation. Go search for it on google and download it for free. I have it and it’s LONG! Takes like 700 frames just to make something one minute long!!!
August 9th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Nice job, Jason. I can see how much pain your in making this film, especially the 16 hour background for the 1.5 second shot
The program is good for people who can hold their nerve, but for everyone else, it’s flash. I personally animate in 3D using LightWave, and it takes as long as yours, Jason.
PS: Have you ever used PC? If so, what did you think of it?
August 10th, 2007 at 6:19 am
Matt, I downloaded that thing and can you export the files, or does it always stay in that program, and you can only view it in that program.
August 11th, 2007 at 4:59 am
Jason. Why aren’t you returning my phone calls. The lime pie is getting cold.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Jason, I guess you know that chula died. R.I.P chula.
August 12th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Well, I can see how long animating this can take. I’d probably be hopeless at this. All this gives me a somewhat deeper respect for Jason. He is a really patient person isn’t he?
August 13th, 2007 at 12:10 am
I tried to download adobe after effects, but I didn’t have enough room. However, I downloded Flash from adobe, and it ROCKS! Now I won’t use pivot that often any more. And does anyone know how to get Adobe after effects on a MS? And Jarjar, what are you trying to say?
August 13th, 2007 at 12:14 am
That looks exactly like FLASH! Scary!
August 14th, 2007 at 1:11 am
boy, same thing with flash. i could take the easy way out and animate by tweening, but then wouldn’t it just be the computer doing the work? also if you want to really try your patience than make a stick figure movie with redrawing each frame. takes hours to animate a few seconds.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:40 am
Don’t worry Matt. How do you download Flash?
August 14th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I went to www.adobe.com, then I searched for animation, I came acrosss flash, and then downloaded it. Just one problem. How can you make complex characters like animated humans move body parts around and keep them attached to each other?
August 14th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
If you go back and fill in the animation then what is the point of doing the keyframe thing
August 15th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Kevin, there is an easier way, it’s called onion skinning. Saves a lot of time of FBF work.
Matt, you can’t. Sometimes tweening in Flash is horrible, and you have to go back and animate FBF, which does look better anyway, if you can do it right.
August 15th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Brownie said=
Matt, you can’t. Sometimes tweening in Flash is horrible, and you have to go back and animate FBF, which does look better anyway, if you can do it right.
Actually, there is a way. When you create the image, there will be a little dot in the middle. If you move that with the mouse to any part of the stage, it will pivot on that angle. For instance, if you want a leg to pivot on a thigh, you would put the leg so it is on the thigh, then move the little circle to the end of the htigh. So when you tween, it would rotate on that axis. It takes a little to set up, but it makes animating body parts and limbs a hell of a lot easier.
August 16th, 2007 at 3:51 am
Thanks kore22, you deserve a biscuit.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Thanks for posting this I asked about this on the forum but I still have one question How do you link the images like you mentioned?
August 17th, 2007 at 3:23 am
wow. I’ve done a bit of (cough cough) “animation” (if you can call it that) and always used the “tween” thing. so I see what you mean by “it’ll look like a computer did it”. and I must say that’s very helpful to me and my……….kensmen…….so thanks for that information
August 17th, 2007 at 8:52 am
jason, when could we expect a live action film. will you do one at christmas like you usually do?
August 18th, 2007 at 4:54 am
Kore 22- no, that’s just by selecting all the images. Apparantly, or by how I’ve interpreted Jason, if you ‘link’ two or more objects, you only have to animate the main one, and the others move with it, and it’s not like they just stick together until you animate.
August 19th, 2007 at 2:43 am
No way i could sit through doing that, i’d rather tween everything
also is anyone else having a problem with the forums?
August 19th, 2007 at 2:52 am
Yeah I have no idea what’s going on with the forum, trying to fix it now…
August 19th, 2007 at 2:53 am
maybe phbpp hates you
August 19th, 2007 at 6:08 am
Jason, will we get a new live action this christmas?
August 20th, 2007 at 8:25 am
I CAN NOT wait for this movie. Seriously it is impossible. Can you teach me about the time stream? You seem to know enough. JUST FRIGGIN SEND ME TO A TIME WHEN IT IS DONE I BEG OF YOU
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:40 am
Brownie says: Matt, you can’t. Sometimes tweening in Flash is horrible, and you have to go back and animate FBF, which does look better anyway, if you can do it right.
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Actually, I discovered how to. If you want to move an arm or a leg to make it wave or something like that, go to free transform, click on that leg or arm, and then go NEAR one of the corners of the box (still in free transform) and then it shows a rotate icon, then you click on that icon, and then you can make the appandage rotate and look like it’s kicking or waving, regardless of them not being linked.
August 24th, 2007 at 3:25 am
Matt- yeah, I guess that works, It’s just that sometimes things in Flash tend to move randomly with tween for no reason, while others work perfectly. And if that happens, the objects being kind of connected doesn’t matter, becasue one of them is suddenly on the other side of the screen.
August 24th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I never use tweening. I’m just patient enough to animate EVERYTHING frame by frame. For me, it just works better that way for some reason. And jason, Was your summer fun, or did you just spend all of your time working on the movie?
August 24th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Brownie: Ok, but I never use tweening. I’m patient enough to make everything
August 24th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
you have after effects 7 don’t you… lucky… lucky man…
August 25th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Right…so all this tweening talk. I am a bit confused.
# Matt Says:
August 24th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I never use tweening. I’m just patient enough to animate EVERYTHING frame by frame. For me, it just works better that way for some reason. And jason, Was your summer fun, or did you just spend all of your time working on the movie?
How do you sit there for hours on end being that patient. Do you take lots of breaks. I mean I do stop-motion and that takes a while but Matt that sounds like it takes forever.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
HEYYY! I just realized you made this post on mah berfday!