Bricks in Motion
We are a friendly filmmaking community devoted to the art of stop-motion animation using LEGO® and similar construction toys. Here, you can share your work, join our community of other brickfilmers, and participate in periodic animation contests!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY2VVXM … e=youtu.be
Just a few tests I did over the past couple days. This was shot at 15 fps and I would love to hear any feedback!:D
The animation was kind of jerky and robotic. Try taking more frames and making smaller movements. Also, the minifigure was leaning forward in a odd way during the walk cycle. The pictures were very crisp and clear though.
Some of the more experienced brickfilmers can probably give better advice than me, but here goes.
I think that wasn't too bad, I liked the jumping animation. For the walk cycles, the thing you need to work on is the torso movement, if you watch a real person walk, their body tends to stay straight upright and move forward at a constant speed, while the legs move back and forth, and when running tends to be bent forward. If you haven't already, watch some walk cycle tutorials, and see what you like, and also use YouTubes .25 speed playback option to analyze the walk cycles of brickfilms you like.
Also Smocktopus, more frames and smaller movements don't necessarily equal better animation, easing, moving things the right distance in proportion to the frame rate, only moving the what needs to be moved, and smooth consistent movement, are all more important to natural looking animation than a high frame-rate.
Keep on Brickfilming! 
I think the main things is that you're not using a standard walk cycle. While you don't always have to stick to a standard walk cycle, it is usually helpful because it is more natural than non-standard walking, thus, more realistic. Here are a couple of examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU16RPa9Dp8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojxKhLtmimY
The running is also odd, because he plants his feet every other frame. That's fine, but depending on the speed of the run, the feet planting isn't recommended. It's best to do a frame instead where both feet are slightly pointing in opposite directions so it maintains the consistent action movement instead of making it look like he's standing still every other frame. I don't have a tutorial for that one. He also seems to be leaning over too far which is making it look peculiar. However, you've got it right in how he's skipping a stud when running.
The jump motion was fine, but the pacing didn't do it justice. On the anticipation (where he's leaning down), he needs to pause one or two frames before going into the air. There also needs to be some easing so he's not mid-air all the sudden. There needs to be a frame where he's still partially bending over and only slightly above the ground. Once he's in the air, he needs to pause for a frame or two before falling back down. Again, easing is necessary.
However, this is a good start! I look forward to seeing your improve.
If you haven't already, watch some walk cycle tutorials, and see what you like, and also use YouTubes .25 speed playback option to analyze the walk cycles of brickfilms you like.
There's also the handy RowVid that allows you to watch youtube videos frame-by-frame, and that's especially helpful for analyzing animation.
Awesome thanks everybody for the advice! I'll keep on improving!
So I gave those same animations another shot with your guys help and I think it turned out pretty well. Definitely have some work on the run but I think the walk turned out pretty good.
Nice job. The effects are really nice and smooth.
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