Frame Rates

XTREEMMAK wrote on 4/5/2004, 6:24 PM
I'm working on an Anime and I'm trying to work out the project before I start it. My main concern is frame rate. I'll be using Lightwave and possibly some external tools for editing. The problem with frame rate that I've seen with people using lightwave for Anime, is the unnatural dropage of frame rate. Now dont get me wrong, low frame rate in Anime is important because else it will look like CG if not droped, but in some cases, the rate needs to be boosted, such as for camera movements, or high speed\definition movements of characters. With a combination of editors in the mix, I'll be also using Vegas. With the use of Vegas, could I possibly solve this problem? Or do I have to render seperate sections with different frame rates, then compile them into one project?

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 4/5/2004, 7:22 PM
I belive most animation is at 12fps. But, NTSC (japan, US & Canada) display at 29.97 fps, so it's not really 12fps (frames are doubled/trippled).

You will probley wanna mix framerates. I take it you'll be exporting TGA or TIFF sequences (forget what Lightwave does). So if you want some "choppy" animation render it at a lower fps & use the CTRL+drag to extend the video's length to what you want (because when you import a frame sequence at a lower FPS then your project it will be converted to the project FPS). When you import your stuff @ 30fps you won't need to anything with it.

Of course with lightwave you can mess with keyframes, etc. and render everyhing at the final framerate. Can be done. I saw some kids at college do anime on Maya/Lightwave and exported it at 30fps. looked good.

Also, remember that "anime" is the STYLE of the animation. The "Final Fantasity" games are in anime style but obiviously not less then 30fps (infact, almost ALL games that are developed in Japan are anime style) and obiviously not like Akira (my fav). Check out the animatrix (or at least the trailer). It has a mix of anime styles.
XTREEMMAK wrote on 4/6/2004, 8:20 AM
Do you know what editors were used in the Animatrix? I like Akira as well, some of my favorite include Samurai X, and a lightwave work, Voices from a Distant Star :)
TheHappyFriar wrote on 4/6/2004, 1:22 PM
I'm not sure what was used in the Animatrix (if have it and watch the credits it might say: i don't have it... yet!). Most likely Maya, Photoshop, and a 2d animation program. What version of Light Wave do you have? I've only used 5.5 & 5.6 back in college. I think now it's comparible to Maya in features. But, Maya has dropped about $30,000 since college. :)
XTREEMMAK wrote on 4/6/2004, 10:11 PM
I currently have Lightwave v7.5 . It's a nice program once you get to know it. I've just posted on Lightwave's board about this same topic, for informational purposes only, they also said almost the same thing, render the full animation into individual files, and then use a editor to take out out the redudant or lessly changed frames. Then compile it into one file.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 4/6/2004, 10:45 PM
When you're setting up your keyframes in LW, you COULD keep everything linear (no curves). That would give the same effect (or, at least there will be less editing later on). Here's a "trick" I used with keyframes in LW, Maya, and even Vegas. :)

If you want something to go suddendly from point A to B (no motion inbetween), try this.

Find the point in time where you want the sudden change. Move 1 frame before that. Set a keyframe. Now, move back forward 1 frame to the point in time. Setup how everything will look, Make a keyframe. Then, move forward another frame. Make a 3rd keyframe.

Of course in LW you'll have to adjust the curves so they are linear, and in Vegas you have to turn the smoothness down to 0.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 4/7/2004, 8:29 PM
I just saw on the matrix website (www.thematrix.com) that 4 of the 9 Animatirx video's are available as a free download.
I'm gonna check them out. I still wanna get the DVD though. :) Nothing like supporting the artists you like!