ShipAntics: The Legend of the Kiki Beast

Steky

Hi,
Here are two designs and walk cycles for a character from a game I'm working on. I was hoping I could get some feed back on the character designs and animation.
If you could pick which design you like best and tell me why, that would be super helpful! Also thoughts on the animation would be a big help too.

Cheers,
Steky

MagicToaster

I really like the colors you'e chose! As for the design, I like the first one. The hat has more personality that way.

I've been looking at this walk cycle for a minute now... I can't stop looking.

Steky

MagicToaster wrote: »

I really like the colors you'e chose! As for the design, I like the first one. The hat has more personality that way.

I've been looking at this walk cycle for a minute now... I can't stop looking.

Thanks! I'm glad you picked the first one, that's my favorite too. There is something hypnotic about looking at gif animation!

Flay

The proportion of the of the hat to the head and the ears give the first design a stronger silhouette, so that's the one I'd go with.

Steky

Flay wrote: »

The proportion of the of the hat to the head and the ears give the first design a stronger silhouette, so that's the one I'd go with.

Very good point about the silhouette. That's two for the first one.
Thanks guys, this is really helpful!

Kochikens

Are her overalls purposefully a kittyface

Steky

Kochikens wrote: »

Are her overalls purposefully a kittyface

LOL no, but that's all I can see now! She has a little anchor on her dungarees and bolt nuts for buttons. She's kind of a engineer for a ship

Kochikens

I can tell that its a little anchor etc, but as soon as I noticed hey that looks like... That's all I can see now. Shes SUPER cute though and the walk cycle is really great.

Iruka

Is this all flash with bones, or are you using some other process?

NightDragon

Agree'd with the first one - it's the one I like the best, for the same reasons already mentioned. Really nice!

Also I noticed the kittyface almost immediately, too.

Steky

Iruka wrote: »

Is this all flash with bones, or are you using some other process?

Its all done in flash but I didn't use bones, just a mix of frame by frame, tweens and shape tweens.
I don't really like the bone system in flash, I don't think it works very well and I think animation looks better with out it.

Steky

NightDragon wrote: »

Agree'd with the first one - it's the one I like the best, for the same reasons already mentioned. Really nice!

Also I noticed the kittyface almost immediately, too.

Thanks, it looks like the first one is the winner. I'm not sure if I'll change the kittyface, I kinda like how it looks like a face now that I see it.

NightDragon

Yeah, I think it's good to be aware of that, but I wasn't bothered by it.

Iruka

Awesome dude. I need to get back into flash animation but its a pain of a program.

I really like the bouncy quality of the walk.

Steky

Iruka wrote: »

Awesome dude. I need to get back into flash animation but its a pain of a program.

I really like the bouncy quality of the walk.

Thanks man!
Yeah flash can be a real pain to work in. Its just the software I know best and have worked in the most. If I was to start from scratch and learn a new program, I'd probably go with Toon Boom.
It all depends on what you want to do. Flash is still very good for games and its handy if you want to work with vectors.

melting_doll

I like the body and the face of the second one personally. Here I go, going against the grain

brokecracker

Put me down for the first one as well, like the hat better and the eyes are cooler (cooler as in the color tone way, but also just cool) looking.

If you feel up to learning a new program, After Effects ain't so bad for animating. You can do quite a bit with a DUIK rig and it really cuts down on time.

F87

So cool! That makes me want to make an animation!

Mustang

I like the more compact face on the second one better, but the first one is the stronger silhouette and the blue eye colour is a better choice over the brown.

Steky

This is all really helpful stuff, thanks for your input guys. I'm definitely going to post more stuff up for feed back. It really helps to have a fresh pair of eyes looking at your stuff.
If anyone wants to see more from the game, please take a look at our blog http://shipantics.blogspot.com The games called The World of ShipAntics and its going to be a kind of point and click adventure game.

Kochikens

oh god for some reason I read that as shit panics


first the cat face
I am
reading things totally wrong in this thread


otto is also adorbs!!

NightDragon

Steky wrote: »

If anyone wants to see more from the game, please take a look at our blog http://shipantics.blogspot.com The games called The World of ShipAntics and its going to be a kind of point and click adventure game.

Haha oh man, I'm loving the art direction. Very cute/adorable! Can't wait for you to post more stuff

Steky

Kochikens wrote: »

oh god for some reason I read that as shit panics


first the cat face
I am
reading things totally wrong in this thread


otto is also adorbs!!

LOL! Your not the first person to think that. People some times think we're saying shit antics!
Heres a gif of young Otto.

Mynt

Oh man... I really love these. All the little secondary animations really bring them to life. Are Otto's arms just thickened lines?

Steky

Mynt wrote: »

Oh man... I really love these. All the little secondary animations really bring them to life. Are Otto's arms just thickened lines?

Thanks! Yep I just used a thickened line for his arms but then I converted them to fill and reshaped them in places to get in a bit of stretch. I find the simpler you make it to draw the character, the better the animation will look.

Steky

Hey guys. Here's a poster for The World of ShipAntics, done by the super talented Daltronica
We'd love some feedback on the composition and design.

Godfather

I love this so damn much. It reminds me of Foster's!

NightDragon

If I wanted to be really nitpicky, I'd suggest Daltronica try to eliminate the tangents on the poster...there are lots!...and maybe thicken the lines slightly between the characters so they're a bit more obviously distinct from other objects layered on top or underneath them.

Overall though it's still really charming. I like the layout and the colors.

Steky

NightDragon wrote: »

If I wanted to be really nitpicky, I'd suggest Daltronica try to eliminate the tangents on the poster...there are lots!...and maybe thicken the lines slightly between the characters so they're a bit more obviously distinct from other objects layered on top or underneath them.

Overall though it's still really charming. I like the layout and the colors.

Thanks, that's a good point on the tangents. Its tricky not to have them, when theres so much going on in the poster. I think if we can eliminate them and thicken up some of the lines like you say, it will definitely give for a stronger image.

FANTOMAS

Have I already said that I love your stuff, if not, I love your stuff. No constructive criticism here, just love for the stuff you are making.

Steky

FANTOMAS wrote: »

Have I already said that I love your stuff, if not, I love your stuff. No constructive criticism here, just love for the stuff you are making.

Thanks man! Its really encouraging to see people like our stuff

amateurhour

If you don't mind me asking, what engine are you using to make your game, and what's your targeted release platform(s)?

Steky

amateurhour wrote: »

If you don't mind me asking, what engine are you using to make your game, and what's your targeted release platform(s)?

We're building the game in adobe air and we our targeting multiple platforms. First we plan on releasing the game on PC from our own site and hopefully on steam and other direct download sites. Then we will release the game on iOS on iPad and maybe iPhone if we can get the game to look good on a small screen. iPad 1 is our base line and we are profiling the game to run on that. Its a tricky balance of quality animation and design against the limited resources of the iPad 1.
We are now working on a prototype demo of the game and a cut scene. Once that is done we are planning on going to KickStarter to try and raise some crowd funding.

Steky

Heres some images of Captain Fred, he's Amandas dad and captain of the Barnacle.


And here's the Barnacle. The Barnacle is more than just a ship, it is home to Captain Fred and his crew, providing all the modern conveniences the discerning sailor requires.

amateurhour

That looks fantastic!

ShadowsofBirds

Really great art direction.
As for the walk cycle - I'd say they both look great, the difference being I think no.1 is a bit more carefree, while 2 is a bit more reserved. And I do mean "bit".

Steky

ShadowsofBirds wrote: »

Really great art direction.
As for the walk cycle - I'd say they both look great, the difference being I think no.1 is a bit more carefree, while 2 is a bit more reserved. And I do mean "bit".

Thanks for your feedback ShadowsofBirds, its crazy how little changes to an animation can create such a different feeling.

Here's a background concept from the game. Any feedback welcomed.

NightDragon

Colors and mood seem great to me...though the style looks a little more realistic than what I would expect, based on the previous images you posted (especially the one of the ship). The shapes in the other pieces are really playful, wacky, and have a lot of character. I think while this concept is very nice, the goofy and fun shape-language could be pushed a little bit further.

Halen

The treatment of light is really lovely in that.

Steky

NightDragon wrote: »

Colors and mood seem great to me...though the style looks a little more realistic than what I would expect, based on the previous images you posted (especially the one of the ship). The shapes in the other pieces are really playful, wacky, and have a lot of character. I think while this concept is very nice, the goofy and fun shape-language could be pushed a little bit further.

I can see what you mean about the style and I agree. This concept was done more as a colour study but its too realistic. The final BG will be more stylized and will have less out line. We're going to try and push the shapes and make the more graphic. I'll post the finished BG when its done. Thanks for your feedback, its really helpful!

Steky

Halen wrote: »

The treatment of light is really lovely in that.

Thanks! If your interested, you can see more of the work from the artist who did it here http://tumblwip.tumblr.com/