Practice Flash Studio Animation Test!

Hello everyone! This is a challenge you should not pass up! Are you a flash animator, have been working at it for awhile, but not sure if you're at the level to apply as a flash animator at a studio yet? Or do you think you're not at the level but you're just interested in seeing what these animation test's are all about? Or are you a pro and just want to see how you do with this character? Well, if so, today is your lucky day!

The animation test in the zip folder provided has 2 parts:

Part 1: Acting Test- There is a flash file of an alien character named Jared. There is another flash file called animation. You will take the character assets from the character flash file to the animation flash file. There is a storyboard and audio to animate too. Do not adjust the timing in the storyboard, make no changes to it whatsoever, BUT you can adjust the timing when you use the character assets while you animate. Just don't touch the storyboard layer. Feel free to create as many different body parts as you'd like. It's key to not ONLY use what's given. You can use the storyboard, or you can create your own acting, but don't change the audio. Try and create realistic movements, well timed animation, and feel free to add a little acting to the storyboard while you animate. The poses are not limited to what's in the storyboard. Use AS MANY layers for animating as you want!

Part 2: Bouncing ball- There is a flash file called bouncing ball. In it there is a blue rubber ball, and a concrete hill. The ball is positioned where it should be dropped. Try and create a realistic bouncing ball on the slop.

It should take you acouple of days to get this complete. Feel free to post the swf in the comments below. My only suggestion is you put a play button so that when we open this post, I don't hear a million voices. Also, my suggestion to you is after you read this post, to NOT look back at it until you finish your animation. If you look at other peoples animation before you create yours, you're not getting the full experience of what taking an animation test is all about. They don't show you other people's tests.

This set up is identical to what an animation studio may give you for the animation test. This is a great opportunity for you! Everyone will be given notes when their tests are done. I created this character and all the assets I provided specifically for you guys, so show me what you got! ;)

Files:
FLASH 8:
www.stephenstudios.com/animation_test.zip

FLASH MX 2004: http://www.stephenstudios.com/flashmx04_animtest.zip

FLASH MX: http://www.stephenstudios.com/flashmxNOT04_animtest.zip

You guys think this is a good idea? Let me know in the comments. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Have fun with it guys!

Best,
Steve

Tags: animation, flash, test

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by marc russo on November 23, 2007 at 3:30pm: This is a very cool idea Steve. Thanks for keeping us going here and turning this into a community. I am really getting a lot of out interacting with people on RAW.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by George Pfromm II on November 23, 2007 at 6:09pm: Excellent! I'm downloading it and will definitely give this a spin as soon as possible.
thanks for this.
_George; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Italo F. Capasso B. on November 23, 2007 at 9:41pm: Wonderful. Very nice idea indeed...

Although I am no animator, if I want to help animators with my programming and engineering skills, I have to know how is an animators' work flow (well, at least work flow in flash :D), so I can get a feeling to what its difficult and what is easy, which part takes time and which part of the animation process needs more support... so I guess I will be working in these as soon as i can!

Italo F. Capasso B:
AKA "Edwood Grant"; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ian D. Merch on November 25, 2007 at 3:14pm: What version is this for? I keep trying to open it in Flash MX2004, but it says unexpected file type.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephen M. Levinson on November 25, 2007 at 3:24pm: It's for Flash 8... Here's the link to the flash mx version I just uploaded. http://www.stephenstudios.com/flashmx_animtest.zip; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ian D. Merch on November 26, 2007 at 1:54am: It has a "404 not found" on it as of right now.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephen M. Levinson on November 26, 2007 at 6:57am: Sorry, try this http://www.stephenstudios.com/flashmx04_animtest.zip; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ian D. Merch on November 26, 2007 at 12:08pm: Thanks! I'm really excited about trying this out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephen M. Levinson on November 28, 2007 at 6:45pm: Awesome, I can't wait to see what you come up with dude!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ian D. Merch on January 10, 2008 at 2:01am: Animation Test

I had a lot going on recently, and when I finally sat down and did this it maybe took an afternoon or so, so I feel a bit foolish! I don't have a lot of time coming up in the immediate future, so I can't put the level of polish on this I'd like, and honestly I would remove the pelvic thrust that I added in for no real reason.; ▶ Reply to This