M3 - Optimizing the final animation

For this report I have been tasked to write down how I was able to optimize the final product of the unit. The report will be split into three parts of optimization that I have used for the animation with the parts being KeyFrames, Abstraction and File Arangement.

Key Frames

While making the animation, I first drew the main poses of an action with there being three parts that are the beginning of the action, the action being executed and the end of the action. After those frames are done I draw in-betweens (Drawings between the keyframes) if any are needed that is. One example for drawing the keyframes is the action where Wolfgang reaches into the backpack to grab the ham from it. From that I drew the keyframes which are him preparing to put his hand in the backpack, him searching through the backpack and lastly bringing the ham out. Afterwards I add the in-betweens and adjust the timing of the frames. As seen below, there are more drawings to the character lifting his hand compared to him putting it in the backpack, and this is made with the reason of making some parts of the actions feel fast or slow. The more the frames or the longer they stay on screen, the slower the action feels while if the opposite is done, then the action will seem rash and quick.

Abstraction

This term is mostly used in computer science but the definition of it is to remove the unesesery details to reach the main objective easier. This is commonly used during the early stages of animation so that the structure of it is made faster and with ease. The way that abstraction has been used in my animation is by leaving details such as clothes, hair, environment and drawing the storyline of the characters and their encounter. By doing this I'm keeping my focus on drawing the actions and story of the characters instead of trying to get a small string of hair right each frame. One example that can be used is when the characters are preparing for the encounter with the monster with the weapons being simple shapes as small cilenders or big boxes.

File Sorting

For the final part of the report is all about the placement of the work files on my computer. In a folder I have created three seperate folders with them being Main Animation, Gameplay, Final Product. The reason why file placement is crutial to working is because it can save you time later on so that you wouldn't need to look where your work could be and so that any editing in Premiere Pro or other editing program doesn't overlap with the original files.