animation tools?

[X1Lightning]

what would be a good tool to use for creating animation?
my boss wants me to do up some animations for him, and all i'm familiar with is tween animation in flash,
sounds like he wants somthing alittle cooler than a tween, somthing altittle more 3dish. got any tips or tools?

thanks

 

[motulist]

My suggestion is to hire an animator. It'll take you a significant amount of time and energy for you to personally get the skills together that you need to make a good quality animation. Hire an animator and it'll be done quick, look great, and probably cost less than the salaried money time it would take you to create a worse product.

 

[X1Lightning]

hmm, thats not what i looken to hear...

even if my boss does hire a pro, i'd still like to learn how that stuff is done, what would be a good direction to start in?

 

[JasonElise1983]

i don't personally animate a whole lot, but if you are familiar with Flash Tween and Keyframe animation, AfterEffects would be a logical step for you. it allows for some 3D stuff, but i will say, if you spend enough time in flash, you can create some really awesome things.

-JE

 

[ANIM8R]

hmm, thats not what i looken to hear...

even if my boss does hire a pro, i'd still like to learn how that stuff is done, what would be a good direction to start in?

There are great places to go and talk about animation and get tips and tutorials, but honestly, if you really want to learn how to animate, you're better of pursuing it as a career and looking into a school or design courses.

Software is just a tool. You need the knowledge associated with it in order to create anything with substance.

You obviously have a desire to learn, so why not ask the hired professional individual if they can freelance in-house on your hardware and software and ask to sit in? I'm sure you'll pick up some tips along the way.

Be wary though: clients sitting over shoulders is one thing, but someone asking questions constantly is downright annoying.

 

[X1Lightning]

I would love to take a few classes in it, but there are none anywhere near me,
I'll have to just get a book, or find some online tutorials then.
i haven't messed with after effects, is that an ideal tool for doing animation?
i was under the impression that after effects was for adding effect and tweaking video footage.

 

[JasonElise1983]

i think After Effects would be a good start for you. It is really for both what you think it's for and animation. It's a post tool, but has some really good animation tools in it. Sure, there might be better tools out there, but to me After Effects is the logical step to take after Flash. I mean, if you are comfortable in Flash, get Swift3D and build from there. It allows you to do some cool 3D stuff in Flash. the reason i would go towards After Effects is because it's Keyframe and tween based, but also has lighting, camera angle, etc... It's a good tool to know.

-JE

 

[Shaduu]

What about Motion/Shake? I have and use Shake a fair amount for compositing but I'm sure it has more than enough capability to do 3D animation, I know Motion does for sure.

Why don't you check out some dedicated animation forums? I learned all my Final Cut/Shake/Photoshop stuff from reading tutorials on the net.

 

[LeviG]

Realistically character animation (3d sort) is not something you can just pick up and play with.

However you may get away with poser - its fairly simple drag the slider to time, move arm etc approach.

 

[faustfire]

What about Motion/Shake? I have and use Shake a fair amount for compositing but I'm sure it has more than enough capability to do 3D animation, I know Motion does for sure.

Why don't you check out some dedicated animation forums? I learned all my Final Cut/Shake/Photoshop stuff from reading tutorials on the net.

I would definitely not go with shake, with no previous experience it will fry his brain.

 

[digitalnicotine]

Actually, there are several options for a beginner learning animation. I'll list a few programs, some of which you can download trials before committing to purchase.

For 2D animation:

ToonBoom Studio 4

For both 2D and 3D animation:

Kinemac

Swift 3D V.5

Animation:Master

Poser 7

All of the above do have a learning curve, but are a good place for you to start. Here is a site I use for video tutorials. They have training for Adobe products such as After Effects and Flash, as well as Poser 7, Motion, and several of the more complex 3D programs. There are several other online tutorials, and some are free, if you do a search. Good luck.

 

[X1Lightning]

I'm downloading AE and Poser trials right now.
Looks like there is some good tutorials for AE on that lynda.com site. i might sign up for a month and check that out.
Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[ezekielrage_99]

You could try to do it yourself but if you don't have the skills or software it will be a fruitless task.

3D and motion graphics are tough if you don't have the right expertise in the area and the fact you don't have the software will make it expensive.

IMHO I would find a freelancer and provide them with a detailed storyboard and animatic, this would minimise the cost and offset the time needed to create what you need.