Minifig Motion Studies

Here's the first one:

12 frame run cycle at 30fps - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_-12_sLEh0

Description: This is the first of my minifig study animation timing project. I filmed this run cycle and then tried playing it back at various frames per second. Anything slower than 30 frames per second makes this cycle look more like a fast walk than a run. At this rate, the minifig traverses 3 studs per step, 6 studs per run cycle, 1/2 stud per frame which comes out to a speed of 15 studs per second (5 steps per second). Next, I'll try an 8 frame run cycle (4 studs per step).

That's true.  But one result of this study is that I am going to try a different run cycle that might work at a lower FPS. 

I should've explained how I plan to do these studies.  Instead of filming the animation "to" some specific FPS, I'm going to just film in as small as possible or reasonable movement increments.  Then I'll try playing back the frames at various FPS until I find out what FPS looks "right" or works best.  From that, I'll be able to determine the "speed" of the movement that I'm looking for, and then I can use that speed later to extrapolate it to whatever FPS I decide I want to film a particulat shot at.

Doing a run or walk cycle doesn't fit so well with this plan for my study because you can't really change the "amount" of movement between each frame because it's already determined by what cycle you're using.  All you can do in this case is choose some FPS that works for the run cycle, or find  a different run cycle.  The result of this first run study for me is that I'm going to try a different run cycle, probably 8 frames per cycle that covers 4 studs instead of 3 per step and see if I can then get away with something closer to 15 fps.

I'd agree. Just lower the framerate and it should be better.

-Leonardo

Yes, plus the 3rd frame when the minifig lowers makes it look bumpy.

Heads definitely go up and down when running, but you need to make sure they make a wave motion, as opposed to randomly popping up and down every few frames.

For the 15fps cycle, I think the solution is to take a couple of the transition frames out so that it's faster.

I tried to make a minifig run, but it looks more like sliding:
MOV

Yeah, I think the problem is that you're not really having the minifig truly run; that is, he's not really using his legs to move his body forward. It looks more like somebody doing a moonwalk on an airport conveyor belt (what a funny analogy).

If you look at my newest film, Moronic I have the character "Ralph" run at 0:58 and I think it looked great.

That does look like a great run cycle VN.
AncientBricks: I think that you should lower the framerate to maybe 24 fps. Does it look better that way? I agree with others that 30 fps is just a little too fast.

http://mcauliffemovies.googlepages.com/lotor
52 seconds filmed!
Casting Call!

That looks slightly awkward to me, almost as if the minifig's head is coming off. I'm not sure if audiences would like it, or if they'd be distracted by it. BertL did a great nod in Da Europeans.

I think the I know why Yanzl's run looks more like a slide.  I tried his exact same run cycle, but as a walk cycle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWrnZSwx9_0).  The frame right after the frame where the legs are stretched across a whole stud's width is the culprit.  I changed that frame in my cycle so that the back leg stays farther back in that frame.  I think that makes it work better as a walk cycle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5OYYfLURwA).

Beyond changing that frame in the cycle, I think Yanzl's run can be improved by having the arms swing higher.  The current arm swing makes it look more like a sped up walk instead of a run.