Here are the drawings, rough background, and x-sheet for the Joker running away in perspective. The final color version in the commercial was tilted counterclockwise approximately 15 to 20%. It was also a little shorter at the end, cutting just before the Joker lands after he clicks his heels. (see the Joker commercial clip in my post from Saturday, July 30, 2011 "Batman Zellers Commercial Series")
Study the x-sheet. You'll note that the original timing had the Joker taking 8 frame running steps. However, that was too slow and the Joker could not possibly cover much distance at that jogging speed for the time allotted in the scene. So, I animated him running at twice that speed (4 frame steps).
Note that I originally timed him to kick his heels together on drawing 40 & 41. I changed that in the animation to heels clicking together on drawing 38 and seeing him "float" in the air with drawings 39 to 44. The heel clicking is a passing "squash" into the "stretching" of the legs apart for 6 frames, which is what sells the action.
An interesting timing exercise is to:
1) expose all the drawings on 2 frames (doubling the scene duration);
2) expose the drawings in combinations of 1 frame and 2 frame exposures. You can expose all the drawings where the Joker lands on the ground for 2 frames and also do the same for the "floating" drawings.
You will see how the action will feel different with these varied timings. How you expose the drawings will have a subtle but definite effect on the scene.
Would love to see a QT of this. The drawings are excellent. I'd like to see how the weight works on the character; he seems very light footed. An interesting and smart approach.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michael. I approached the scene by thinking of the Joker running on tip-toes. This would add to the "light footed" aspect of his run...also allow for a naturally faster run. I only had a limited amount of scene time to get him from points A to B, so this was keeping with the caricatured feeling of the spots. I was walking a thin line to keep it from feeling "Tex Avery-ish".
ReplyDeleteRegarding shooting a QT line test: I personally don't have time right now, but perhaps someone else could do that. If not, I will eventually shoot several versions for alternative timings...but I can't promise when.
I may be able to do a QT version of it. I'll see what I can get.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charles.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteI continue to appreciate these "nuts and bolts" posts on the process of animation.
And I admire anyone who can draw such solid looking shoes from a difficult angle. That's hard to do.
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ReplyDeleteHi, John,
ReplyDelete(sorry I had tried uploading a pencil test earlier ,but the export to YouTube got messed up , so I deleted my earlier post)
I made a pencil test of your crazy Joker run .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMw6sHmQIsw
I tried what you suggested for making a pencil test:
"An interesting timing exercise is to:
1) expose all the drawings on 2 frames (doubling the scene duration);
2) expose the drawings in combinations of 1 frame and 2 frame exposures. You can expose all the drawings where the Joker lands on the ground for 2 frames and also do the same for the "floating" drawings.
You will see how the action will feel different with these varied timings. How you expose the drawings will have a subtle but definite effect on the scene."
Scene is shot so it loops three times on a combination of 1's and 2's , then it loops two times on 1's. Then it loops one more time all on 2's . Then two more times showing it at a combination of 1's and 2's . Finally it loops two more times with the camera pull-out that is indicated on the original X-sheet starting from tighter 5 Field and pulling out to 9 Field .
As always , YouTube is not the most dependable in terms of accurately rendering the frame rate, so this may drop out certain frames depending on one's internet connection speed. If anyone wants to see it accurately at 24 FPS then download the original movie file using something like KeepVid.com or SaveVideo.me then watch it with Quicktime player on your own computer.
-DN
Ha! I just made a QT of the test, although your's is better (you actually have the BGs)
ReplyDeleteNontheless, if you want a version with just the animation and nothing else, here they are:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6IhSU3tP2c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvqGY7GZ_ag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh41IZw3vD8
David and Brubaker: Thank you both for putting together and uploading those QT pencil tests.
ReplyDeleteGreat!a really enjoyable post!thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI don't log in as much due to work but your posts are always very informative. And this one is most certainly a keeper.
ReplyDelete