Practice Flash Studio Animation Test!

[Stephen M. Levinson]

Hello everyone! This is a challenge you should not pass up! Are you a flash animator, have been working at it for awhile, but not sure if you're at the level to apply as a flash animator at a studio yet? Or do you think you're not at the level but you're just interested in seeing what these animation test's are all about? Or are you a pro and just want to see how you do with this character? Well, if so, today is your lucky day!

The animation test in the zip folder provided has 2 parts:

Part 1: Acting Test- There is a flash file of an alien character named Jared. There is another flash file called animation. You will take the character assets from the character flash file to the animation flash file. There is a storyboard and audio to animate too. Do not adjust the timing in the storyboard, make no changes to it whatsoever, BUT you can adjust the timing when you use the character assets while you animate. Just don't touch the storyboard layer. Feel free to create as many different body parts as you'd like. It's key to not ONLY use what's given. You can use the storyboard, or you can create your own acting, but don't change the audio. Try and create realistic movements, well timed animation, and feel free to add a little acting to the storyboard while you animate. The poses are not limited to what's in the storyboard. Use AS MANY layers for animating as you want!

Part 2: Bouncing ball- There is a flash file called bouncing ball. In it there is a blue rubber ball, and a concrete hill. The ball is positioned where it should be dropped. Try and create a realistic bouncing ball on the slop.

It should take you acouple of days to get this complete. Feel free to post the swf in the comments below. My only suggestion is you put a play button so that when we open this post, I don't hear a million voices. Also, my suggestion to you is after you read this post, to NOT look back at it until you finish your animation. If you look at other peoples animation before you create yours, you're not getting the full experience of what taking an animation test is all about. They don't show you other people's tests.

This set up is identical to what an animation studio may give you for the animation test. This is a great opportunity for you! Everyone will be given notes when their tests are done. I created this character and all the assets I provided specifically for you guys, so show me what you got! ;)

Files:
FLASH 8:
www.stephenstudios.com/animation_test.zip

FLASH MX 2004: http://www.stephenstudios.com/flashmx04_animtest.zip

FLASH MX: http://www.stephenstudios.com/flashmxNOT04_animtest.zip

You guys think this is a good idea? Let me know in the comments. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Have fun with it guys!

Best,
Steve

[Stephen M. Levinson]

You should download the flash trial from adobe.com to do this...

[Alex Whitington]

...
What if i was to tell you I already downloaded it and wasted my trial period making a really goofy cartoon about a businessman named Skip who sells 'Jesus-hats?'

[Stephen M. Levinson]

you really downloaded n used the trial for every flash version since flash 5?

[Stephen M. Levinson]

How are your tests coming along guys?

[marc russo]

I feel guilty that it is sitting on my desktop. Work has been a little nutty - but that should calm down through the holidays, and the semester is almost over.
My plan is to start working on it this week.

[George Pfromm II]

I'm respectfully bowing out of this one. As I am having way too much fun on this

www.honoluludogfight.com/queenbeeboardani.html

[Ian D. Merch]

A bunch of work related things have popped up since you started this and I haven't had a chance to do the actual lip sync part, though I have the Bouncing ball sitting around in a folder on my desktop somewhere.

I feel a little bit like a rube for asking, but since I haven't used flash as extensively as I should have, is there any specific way to move the mouth the way you want it to?

[Stephen M. Levinson]

whatever u want just make sure it is moving to the correct words so it looks like he's saying whats in the audio

[Temris]

This is a great idea! I needed a little help getting started on something new. I am in the midst of working on it now. Thanks!

~Temris

[Sharvonique]

Hey, I didn't know this was also posted on RAW. Well, here's my test:

http://www.sharvonique.com/Jared/Jared_Sharvonique.swf
http://www.sharvonique.com/Jared/

[Stephen M. Levinson]

Hi Sharvonique,

Sorry it took me soo long to get back to you. Been very busy. Here are my thoughts on your test and what you can do to make it better:
1) The timing from the first pose to the second pose is too slow. Don't worry about the audience seeing every tween you make. It's about how everything looks all together. If it goes by in 1 second, but it looks great, then fine. Animation isn't about seeing every frame drawn, it's how everything plays together. You can spend hours on animation that go by in a couple seconds. It's all about how these individual pictures play together.
2) Make sure that the 2nd pose fits the storyboard. It appears that you tried moving only the current symbols to fit the 2nd pose. You should draw an actual new arm bending symbol that would fit the storyboard. You may also need to create a few inbetweens to that symbol-as in drawing them individually. It looks like the symbols aren't meant to bend the way you have it.
3) Try adding some easing in and out to your motions. They seem unnatural. Remember, for every action there is an equal or opposite reaction. If a character is going backward or forward, acouple frames before they should be moving in the exact opposite direction. The reason for this is to gain momentum for the action that's about to happen.
4) When he says "Oh Yeah"- everything get's larger, but the feet and other parts don't look very natural. What you can do is try drawing a better pose and then create symbols to match the character.
5) I think the most important thing to stress is that animation studios want to see you make more symbols than there are given, unless they already give the symbols you need. Don't be afraid to draw new arms,legs,hands,feet etc.. Just focus on timing and making your poses flow nicely between each other.

I hope that helps with your test!
Best,
Steve

[Temris]

Well, I finished the animation test, but I dont like how I got it up on the web. I exported an avi and posted it on my blog, http://temrisridge.blogspot.com But it's so tiny!

Is there a better way to upload an swf?

Thanks for the exercise! It was fun!