Overcoming the Fear of Walking

I haven't updated this blog in a while... it's shameful! Even more shameful is that I've fallen behind on the film. Today is a happy day though, so I had to announce it -- that I'm well on my way to overcoming my fear of the Walk Cycle.

I can't believe I have been so hung up on this one shot. This is probably the only shot in the film that has a walk cycle. Not only does it have a walk cycle, but it also has many things animating on the stage behind this walk cycle. So if there is a mistake in the walk, then there is a lot of animation lost.

This shot has been lit for a few weeks. I've had to prep some other things -- which is a whole other post that I will get to once the shot's done -- but since the lighting has been finished I've also taken a vacation, done some paid gigs, done some work on the house, socialized, and generally done whatever I can to stay away from this dreaded walk cycle shot.

But now the fear is pretty much gone! I've done it! It's far from perfect -- the stand-in puppet does some moonwalking and stumbling but there's something about it that is kinda not too bad. I plan on practicing this a few more times before bringing the real Sabela into the set and animating it for real. Gulp.

Sadly my magnetic-feet idea did not work for the walking. At the end of the walk I tried to balance her in a couple of poses with just the magnets, and that turned out OK... but it was very tricky to get her to walk, with her feet being so tiny and all. I will have to animate this scene twice -- one pass for just the background elements (there will be elements of the set rolling onstage behind her), and one pass with the set elements, Sabela, and her rigging. I'll then have to paint out the rigging in After Effects.

So here it is -- my First Ever (EVER!) walk cycle. I did it! Baby steps...