Creating the cycle
For the body mechanics cycle, I was researching different movements such as moving an objects, such as wielding a sword, or a jumping motion. I found this reference on YouTube and wanted to create a slip and fall motion. This will capture part of a walk cycle of the character, then the action, such as the slip or trip, and the reaction, the fall.
Creating the animation
Having just completed a bathroom in unreal for my other assessment, I had the idea of the Azri rig slipping on soap instead of a banana. I thought this would be easier to do as a bar of soap is a hard object, compared to a banana peel, which I would have to animate it compressing and decompressing. I could then design Azri washing her hands, the soap ending up on the floor and Azri slipping and falling.
The most natural way I could find from the soap ending up in Azri hands to the floor is by Azri intending to set the soap on the side of the sink, but dropping it and it sliding to the floor. To create the movement of Azri washing her hands, I had to animate her moving her shoulders up and down repeatedly.
Trail 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzB6Z3tch04&feature=youtu.be
This is the first recording of the body mechanics cycle. Here Azri is seen washing her hands, dropping the soap to the ground then slipping and falling.
Feedback
I sent this video to my peers Hannah Gordon, and Rachel Martin. Hannah suggested that when Azri slips, that it might look better if her legs came up higher, to make the animation more dramatic. Rachel also suggested moving the torso more as the current rig does not move much around the torso and looks unnatural.
Final thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raFwOhHzIHU&feature=youtu.be
I am quite pleased with how the cycle turned out. I think it was a good concept and I’ve executed it to the best of my ability, and it’s turned out well. On this improvement I have raised the legs and twisted the feet on the way down on the fall, making the fall seem more chaotic and dramatic. I have added more twist to the torso and rise and fall of the hips, making the animation less stagnant and the walk more feminine. I used the principles of the bouncing ball movement when the soap gets dropped for it reaching the floor, as a wet bar of soap being dropped will continue to move before being settled.