You have a great character, I like it. Animation a bit harsh - too strong attraction to the land, I'd like more flowing.

First go at the block animation :)

Thanks for the reference! I'll see what I can do to improve it :)

as for the block, I'm mostly just going for something kinda cute, but the unexpected-ness was more the plan. I originally planned on adding her looking surprised right before the block, but I haven't been able to implement it well yet. Ill keep that wing-push in mind though. Might change it later

Also, the back is another set of wings. I should probably add the 2nd one in the block animation. It would likely be visible and would make that clearer.


here's what I've got so far (Before I saw your post) - not much added except something for her to block, which is very WIP itself



edit: First pass at editing the flap



edit 2: new attack frame



She'll be magicing the spear back into existence and shooting it.

Q: So why carry the spear in the first place?
A: Because she would throw it, but I just dont have the canvas size to do that without cutting it off, which would look terrible :|

Edited by Zeratanus - 13 September 2012 at 9:20am

You have an amazing speed of creating this works. So I tried a little bit to smooth your animation angel.

I like the colors and the character, but that halo is a banded, ugly mess!

@Dawnbringer - is the new one in this animation better? (huzzah for having the halo on its own layer, and easily editable for all frames!)

@Yuran - yes, the attack animation was looking very poor. So I've completely changed my mind on what I'm doing!

Now she falls to the ground, because I find it cute, and because she's not flapping to keep her up anymore. Now the attack will take place on the ground instead of trying to find some way to make it take place in a fall, or without the bunch of extra frames to reposition her.



(Attack animation itself is still very WIP. hoping to get on this hardcore tomorrow and finish it up before Sunday...)

edit: just noticed she's clearly not landing as far down as the shadows are. ill be editing the shadows position later I suppose!

edit2: Added a frame into the floating animation (1 more than before, 1 less than Yuran's edit), and changed the halo




Edited by Zeratanus - 14 September 2012 at 11:31pm

Good point, Eclep! I've adjusted my animation file, but wont bother to upload it yet again lol. Thanks!

Okay, getting the attack animation in place... realized I missed the back wings so Ill have to tack those back on! The fly up is still obviously not done.



Not entirely happy with the attack animation, but I think.. the end is in sight... I'm honestly ready for this to be done lol.

I think taking just one (any) concentrating on that one and entering the challenge is a smarter and efficient way to meet a goal.

Try making the spear animation fast, it doesn't really look like she's throwing it at this speed. And this sprite is absolutely adorable.

Progress is real good and you got a vote from me for this week's challenge.

I would nitpick the halo in all versions in that it currently feels a bit thick and heavy. Not that its awful but something lighter, smaller, thinner, floatier would add to the sprite's heavenly nature...me thinks.

That looks like great advice from DawnBringer. I would also comment that the throw animation is the weakest piece. It definitely needs to be faster, maybe not motion blurred but at least shorter time for the frames.

Now you just to give her a name and backstory :)

This character is super adorable, you should take it beyond the realm of a simple challenge entry.

This awesome. My only comment would be preferential, I would rather see the spear taken off of the back instead of disappearing.

Your block animation is amazing. I think she starts getting pushed back too early from the blast. She should get hit and forced back, it looks like she moves before she is hit. However, the way she blocks is super cute and gives her personality.

Edited by coloringsquared - 15 January 2013 at 9:19am

Updated with some more frames for the hand clench. I don't know why, but I just love pixeling little hands. Its just really satisfying for some reason.

edit: Few but, IMO, important frame updates. Her shield no longer bounces back up with her entirely during her bump, and as she stands up she has to correct her posture as she goes a bit (1 pixel) too far. Also edited the throw animation to match what I'll be editing later.

>

Edited by Zeratanus - 16 January 2013 at 1:10pm

Stripped the animation down to just the attack frames so I can focus on them. Added more transition frames to the first part of the attack. still lack them on the second part (end/recoil). Other parts still look odd to me which I'll work on, like the movement of the shield as she prepares to attack.



Seriously though, if anyone wants to leave any feedback feel free ;P. I've got no problem finishing this on my own, but I know I'm not seeing everything that could be improved! :P

edit: glad I stripped it down. Now i see that she weirdly blips to the left when I didn't mean for her to. Wee more editing!

Edited by Zeratanus - 22 January 2013 at 8:27am

Thanks Shampoop! :D

I'll definitely keep the halo thing in mind. I've toned it down a bit, but I think it'll be less distracting when I've finished the other effects I'm planning on putting in, like her hair whipping forward and such (assuming that actually ends up looking good lol). I'll also probably draw a few new frames for it too, as having it stationary while her body's turning so far is weird looking.

As for any animations beyond this one, I guess it depends on how much steam I have left after this is over lol. I've been focusing on this little loop for so long, I really want to make it as good as I can get it before I start something else with this character.


And for my update: More frames! Smoother frames! (Fast frames! slooow frames! Even frames from around the world!) *has seen the "Lots and Lots of Trains/Planes commercial way too many times*.

Hair still isn't doing any whipping, and the little wing blip i added during the fist clench looks WAY too spazzy right now, but I'm not entirely sure what I want to do with it right now. Just that having it sit still looks boring. Edit: oh yeah, and now she gets pushed back by the attack, and not just because I'm doofus who didn't realize it!

old -> new
->

Edited by Zeratanus - 22 January 2013 at 1:04pm