"Ultimate Warrior" Fight-Test

[Hiya Animation]

Here's a short fighting test that I did using characters from a fantasy/action series I'm developing called Ultimate Warrior:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR4buBvsbo

I'm experimenting on how to make an intense fight scene using camera moves and angles while remaining in 2D space while remaining a "3D" illusion through shading, shadows, and forced perspective.
You'll also notice that when the characters punch or kick each other I put a frame of white that looks like a "flash" when the impact comes. The flashes, unfortunately, do not all show up in the YouTube video because of the compression but some of them are there.

btw I got the "flash" idea from the 90s Batman animated TV series. They use that technique a lot.

[Temple Fugate]

Looks good overall, but there are a couple points you should probably consider.

1. You said not all of the flashes were visible in the YouTube video, but what ones that showed up I feel are too many. Do you have a flash for every punch? That would be WAY too many. The flashes work at the beginning when they're in the air and you quickly jump between poses. It's got a very anime feel to it that works. But when they're trading blows rapidly on the ground, that probably shouldn't have any flashes at all.

2. You vary the choreography to some extent with blocking, but you use the same sound effect for punching. I was going to recommend you insert some blocking but once I saw the video the second and third times, I realized you already had blocking. This needs to be conveyed with another sound effect that's duller/softer than the meat-on-meat punching sound, or else those blocks are going to read like punches because the action happens so fast the viewer can't see the difference.

[Hiya Animation]

1. You said not all of the flashes were visible in the YouTube video, but what ones that showed up I feel are too many. Do you have a flash for every punch? That would be WAY too many. The flashes work at the beginning when they're in the air and you quickly jump between poses. It's got a very anime feel to it that works. But when they're trading blows rapidly on the ground, that probably shouldn't have any flashes at all.

Yeah, I had a flash for every time someone got punched or kicked but not for the blocking.

I'll keep what you said in mind. It makes sense.

I think what'll solve the YouTube problem is if I hold the flash for two or three frames instead of one...


2. You vary the choreography to some extent with blocking, but you use the same sound effect for punching. I was going to recommend you insert some blocking but once I saw the video the second and third times, I realized you already had blocking. This needs to be conveyed with another sound effect that's duller/softer than the meat-on-meat punching sound, or else those blocks are going to read like punches because the action happens so fast the viewer can't see the difference.Ok, I'll try and find a sound effect or alter the sound effect I already have.

[MonkeyFunk]

I'm experimenting on how to make an intense fight scene using camera moves and angles while remaining in 2D space while remaining a "3D" illusion through shading, shadows, and forced perspective.

I'd say you've done a pretty good job of pushing Hanna-Barbera-esque flatness to its limits, but really, I think for this project to work you should be moving on and experimenting with actual depth.

[Hiya Animation]

2. You vary the choreography to some extent with blocking, but you use the same sound effect for punching. I was going to recommend you insert some blocking but once I saw the video the second and third times, I realized you already had blocking. This needs to be conveyed with another sound effect that's duller/softer than the meat-on-meat punching sound, or else those blocks are going to read like punches because the action happens so fast the viewer can't see the difference. __________________Hey, I deepened the punch sounds when they block. It works great and you can tell the difference between the blocks and impacts now :D

Thanks for the tip! I'll post the revised version when I have better internet.

PROJECT UPDATE:

My partner and I recorded the lines for the whole first season. I'll be starting layout and animation as soon as I get home. First episode is very short and should be out in a few days.