Walk cycle

Here is my chosen character design.

The simple design made this much easier to manipulate and I went with a stop motion tussle of animation. When approaching this challenge I began by drawing out the beginning standing pose a mid step pose and final pose

This allowed me to have a clear direction with the movement I wanted to achieve and how to get there seamlessly 

without losing the goal. This also helped me reach the same pose I began with to create that seamless loop. I also made a point to make mŷ character do a slight lift to create a more realistic effect as if they are actually walking forward.

This diagram I found very useful as although my character is a hedgehog they have very human like movements. Here it is clear as I said before they have shown the movement as the character moves up and down and the extend of the legs so I could more clearly see the movement required.

Run cycle

Moving on to my run cycle I had to extend the steps with less frames to increase the speed to imitate a run more realistically.

 
This reference was good for the posing however I did find myself surprised at how much more I struggled with the loop rather than bringing the character forward as any errors where made more clear with the cycle. Due to the character now running I had to ,ale each movement more dramatic elongated and ensure again I am bringing the character up and down but keeping in unison with the running movement.

A few things to know when creating a walk cycle

This is the moment the character makes contact with the surface this is very important to be aware of with key frames and weight transfer. Weight transfer basically when the characters weight Is transferred from one limb to the other , e.g. one leg lifts the other takes the weight carrying the rest of the body forward reoeating this movement to then create a walk cycle. A main factor to consider is consistency, tho character is doing a simple walk therefor the steps but be equal and planned to perfection to disguise that loop so the audience can’t tell where it starts and ends.  Once you have. Pimple red these key frames taking in these guidelines it is time to get the in between frames which should come easy now you have a baseline and direction for your animation. The in between a are Simply frames added to help bring those frames together for a much smoother movement. Like most things once you believe it is complete you must take a step back review what you’ve done then decide if my areas could do with more 

Refining.

Jumping cycle

Another animation I done with this character was a jumping cycle which I found the most difficult of all the cycles. Again I completed the same process with the key frames then in between however getting the accurate movement was surprisingly difficult for me. The main struggle is aligning the arm movement along with the up and down motion as a real person would do.

Also these simple frames come in handy the keeping your character on the one place with these movements was something I found very difficult. 

 

-jump cycle tips-

When beginning the best -b  to get down are the squash and the stretch. These poses are of ur character at their lowest point and then their highest taking into consideration the position they will be in at these times. Again weight and gravity is a great factor in this movement as when the character is going up they will be moving at a slower pace than when they are descending due to gravity. Also a brief pause or slow down at the highest point of the jump adds to the realism as although it’s hard to pick up on with the naked eye it could be that final touch to bring your cycle life. again along with the other poses it is vital to backtrack and make sure your character finishes in a pose which matched the first pose to keep it running smoothly or else it will ruin the illusion and make it very clear that they are repeating movements. Loops are great way of learning anatomy and movement and can be used a great timesaver within animating however once done wrong they can disrupt and overall decrease the quality of the overall project. This is another example of why we must take a step back and review our work fo make sure there is no where else we could refine or improve on.
Self reflection

when creating my cycles I found the balancing the arms and legs to work together as they would on real life and in furores for battle this I will definitely plan it out more and think more in depth about where I want them to go and how I want it to look. I found I struggled the most with the jumping cycle as it is a trickier movement to grasp as many more limbs and muscles ,use be takin into consideration that I did not realise which is something I could do with researching more in depth. Then my only other issue is with more time I would moved the main body more for a realistic effect which If I managed my time more efficiently I may of been able to complete which I will remember when tackling my next assignment.
However within all off this I have come away learning a great deal which I will carry with me for future projects as for example weight was never something I considered much when animating but it does make a great deal of difference. Considering weight allowed me to understand more the next move and the inbetweens as it must always have a place which holds up the weight of whatever character you are animating.

my cycles

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What makes a good cv
When it comes to making a cv you must go into it Knowing the role you are trying to acquire, what it takes to be within this role and what makes you more deserving and suitable for this role as often there are many other applicants who are also qualified however it is up to you to convince the employer whoever it may be that you are the most suitable and will be the greatest asset to their team. You must go into this task knowing exactly what you want to say and how your gonna say it or else often you could get ahead of yourself and almost bore the employee with useless information that they pay less information to the details that really matter therefor moving on to the next applicant.

To allow yourself to stand out you must do your research on said role so you can hit keywords that the company will be closely watching for in order to pluck out those who are not taking it as serious.

Show reels 
When it comes to show reels they are what allows us to show our creativity and give us a chance to put our best foot forward. However this also can come with a great deal of pressure as with only limited time we it is important to carefully select pieces of work that are at our highest standard and best quality we are capable as this is all employers have as a representation of us and our talent therefor if there is work less than our best the employer will assume that is what they will be handed which may not be to the standard they withhold or expect in their company or business.

It is important to open up strong with your reel as you want to instantly capture the attention of the employer and then maintain that as they continue to watch. This allows you to stay in their memory giving you a much stronger chance as you have made an impact which will most often follow you through the employment process no matter what role that may be. A good mix of talents is always great however focusing on areas you excel and are more confident will ultimately benefit you with finding a role that suits you that you can work to your full potential and enjoy. One thing to always remember when making the showreel as much as you are trying to be true to yourself to also keep a level of professionalism as you are also trying to present yourself as a good employee.

Their are many ways to find job positions and opportunities especially in such a creative growing industry as animation. Through your learning networking is a great way to get yourself out there and make yourself known increasing your opportunities. Even though it may be seemingly obvious social media is a great outlet. By posting ur work and advertising yourself you are making yourself a name and a brand which people will learn and recognise to the point you are being seeked out. Many companies look for fresh new talent on social media in hopes for new original ideas styles and views. Another common way to apply for jobs is searching through job sites, animation companies and others in the business to watch for any job openings and never be scared to put yourself forward for it. Many times small companies will advertise looking for junior designers, animators to help them with projects they are working on which is a great way to begin in the industry to build up a professional portfolio and experience working in a professional environment therefor making you a more desirable applicant.

Once you are to the stage you are invited for an interview you must research the company thoroughly, learn their values their previous and current work. This shows hard work diligence and commitment to the job role. Many times once you have reached this stage it is clear they like the quality of work and now this is a test of your  desire for the job, attitude and reviewing if you are the right person for their team, therefor it is always necessary you study hard arrived early and presentable and make a lasting impression.Along with these talents you must also demonstrate ur knowledge of animation tools, software and methods with the ability to work with others efficiently.

within your cv always make sure you have the relevant education and provide a link to your showreel. It is also good to not get caught up in the technical side of things as it important to show off your soft skills such as time management, working with others and hard working attitude.

What makes a good cover email
A cover email is a short introduction to you as a worker, your goals and is important when putting your best foot forward. It is very important that will your points you come across as confident and sure of yourself showing this indicates you are independent motivated and have the confidence to join their team and work alongside them knowing yourself and confidence in your work as at the end of the day if you don’t even believe in your own work it’s very hard to convince an employer otherwise.

It is vital you include your qualifications and experience of any. This allows you to stand out and shows you are equipped for the role, it’s useful to emphasise the qualifications you have which are more suited to the role you are applying for making you the perfect candidate.

it is also very useful to show your research you have done of the company and most importantly flattering them with what you particularly like about the company, work they have produced that may of inspired you and why and why you have chose them in particular compared to other roles.

Finally, the about me section is lovers important although it seems minimal a lot of employers are wanting a member of their team therefor they aren’t just looking for a worker they are looking for someone who seem friendly no bubbly enough for their current staff. Another thing that could put you that little bit you need to pass the other candidates.