[ Animation : BigDog ]

BigDog

This exercise is about weigh-shift and other elements of animation as well.

Unlike the spiderman rig before, we're now working on a simple structure of a "dog" with 4 legs.

Above is a video of the Big-Dog I animated.

Not the best, i'd say. However, plenty to learn from just doing this much :)

Learning Points

Some of the things I've learned during the making of this exercise was doing weight shift on a 4 legged creature.

Unlike a human with only 2 feet and weight shift meant focusing a lot on the hips to show the weight-shift. This creature had to depend on the entire body to show it trying to balance after being kicked.

To do this "weight-shift" balancing act, I first tilt the body until the weight seemed over one side of the body so it'll look as if he can't support it thus resulting in the trip. Then in order to counter it, while tripping the creature bends it's body to the right side to change the weight of the body to enable it to balance again.

The other thing i had trouble doing at first was the legs of the Big-Dog. 

Since it had 4 limbs I had to visualize which leg would move first. However while tipping over, both of the legs on one side had to be lifted, then it had to switch to the alternate legs moving so it could balance.

After it has stopped itself from tumbling anymore, it would stand up straight again. For this part, i tried to achievement a more "powerful" push-up from the stop position.

I also learned about weights using the graph editor.

Reflection

From this exercise, apart from everything i've learned. I feel as if doing an animation for a 4 legged creature seems harder than just a regular human figure with 2 feet. However, to do a 2 legged creature would mean having to twig more joints and position the hips right so the animation would look smooth and natural as well as life-like.

Well, i suppose this concludes this post :)

Cheers,
Elixian