Episode 2: How to Animate a Fight Scene - Hand-to-Hand Combat

Introduction

• Focus on: hand-to-hand combat, kicks, acrobatics
• Full extended tutorial available on the website (free)
• Source files will also be available for download

Animation Approach

• Keyframes: Started with 10 keyframes.
• Methodology Change:
  • Previously animated continuously, drawing frame by frame in time order.
  • New approach:
    • Draw all points of contact first (e.g., punch, block).
    • Skip intermediate movements initially.
    • Create breakdown poses later for smoother transitions.
• Benefits:
  • Efficient for fast-paced action: exchanges can occur in fewer frames.
  • Reduced layer management complexity.

Layer Management

• Kept both characters on the same layer to simplify animation.
• Used different colors for each character to ease selection and movement adjustments.

Animation Tools

• Software: Adobe Flash CC.
• Hardware: Wacom Cintiq 12WX.
• Learning transition to Toon Boom and testing animation in Photoshop.

Character Design

• Character on the right (female) will have hair drawn separately after pose animations.
• Male character's design includes a hood and robe, but designs were created by another animator (Keep Walking on Newgrounds).

Unique Scene Elements

• Aiming for continuous shots without jump cuts, contrasting with Western fight scene editing.
• Female character’s style: defensive (blocks and dodges); Male character’s style: aggressive (Wing Chun inspired).

Animation Techniques

• Utilize Onion Skin: visual guide showing previous frames to maintain fluidity.
• Focus on Flow: for each limb, draw motion in drag (e.g., the elbow leads arm movement, fingertips follow).
• Modified original animations to maintain close-quarters combat instead of a throw.

Conclusion

• Future tutorials will further explain the animation process.
• Continue learning and testing new methods in animation.
• Subscribe for more videos on animation techniques and projects.