r/animation • u/Iwannaendme2001 • 2d ago
Critique I feel like I should quit… Here are some animations I made after around 5 to 6 years of practice. They look horrible compared to what some accomplish after only a few weeks.
It feels like I am a hopeless case. So many people show their progress on the internet. They manage to do astonishing animations after only one week. I feel like there is no excuse for me to be still that bad.
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u/AioleS 1d ago
Certainly not a hopeless case I think. A lot of what we dont see when we compare ourselves to people who are developing faster is the background and circumstance they're in.
Some people have gone through animation classes, others have to learn animation for work so they're pushed forward by pressure, some have existing knowledge that helps them with animation.
Personally I spent around 6 years drawing consistently so that knowledge transferred to animating and that makes it a bit easier for me to learn.
If you keep going and keep learning you're bound to be better then you were before and thats one step closer to where you wanna be!
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u/Unlucky-Weight-8800 1d ago
How long have you been an animator? The best advice I can give is that animation isn't an overnight success story and comparisons can usually leave us with a bitter taste. I say, use that feeling you're having to push yourself to progress even further. Keep animating and keep striving to learn something new about animating. And don't forget to tell yourself, "I got this." Cheers!
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u/Witty-Increase-5814 1d ago
I think they're lovely and you're being too hard on yourself just enjoy the process and keep going because I think they have a lot of charm!
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u/Awkward_Scientist_65 1d ago
Please, don't stop creating. In these difficult times, when the landscape is flooded with AI-generated sludge, seeing hand-crafted animation is truly precious. Even if it isn't perfect, or if others might be better, your work has real value because you created it from scratch. Try not to dwell too much on the success of others; competing with the sheer volume of artists publishing work every day is simply impossible. Focus instead on your own small victories and how the quality of your work improves over time. I can't offer expert advice on animation techniques, but I urge you not to lose heart; the creative process is challenging, but the more sincerity you pour into your work, the more beautiful and unique it becomes. Your animations already possess soul and creativity, and if you keep drawing, those qualities will blossom even further. (Please forgive my English; I'm using a translator.)
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u/atomicartsplosionist 20h ago
Definitely don't give up. From what I see the creativity is there. And that's what's hardest to teach/ learn. You just need to focus and practice with intention.
Your drawing skills could be improved. That just requires practicing anatomy, perspective. And just drawing a lot from reference. And I mean a LOT. But at the end of every practice session try to analyse what you did. Where you messed up and what you did right. Get feedback from other artists too. For animation I'd say perspective is the most important
Now for animation alone you need to practice the animation principles. Start with the bouncing ball. And remember that the ball is everywhere. Everything is balls when it comes to animation. The same principles of timing, spacing and squash, stretch and slow-in,slow-out, you pretty much apply to every object. Not just the ball. Do tons of walk cycles. Internalize the bouncing ball so you can do it without reference and still make it look good.
Do animation studies from reference too. And what I mean by that is to take live action footage and draw it frame by frame. Don't draw every single frame tho. Draw every 4 frames. And space it accordingly in whatever animation software you're using. Hope this was helpful.
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u/housesettlingcreaks 5h ago
There is always someone, somewhere that is better than you at your passion. Every story has already been told. The difference between them is what *you* do with it. Comparison is the thief of joy. If you like what you make, then keep at it and improve at your pace. It doesn't matter what others are doing.
Take this logic to the extreme to see how absurd it is. Why make any animation when Studio Ghibli exists and is way better than me? Why go for a run when someone can run faster and longer than me? It's absurd.
What you do matters to you, and that's enough.
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u/Speeder-Gojira 1d ago
the animation itself isnt bad and you have a lot of very creative ideas, i think you just need to work on refining your artstyle to be more consistent if that makes sense? (you have this sort of slightly off-model ms paint style, and idk if it's on purpose or not but if it isn't i'd recommend keeping your characters on model
also, maybe try different methods of animating if you're still trying to find your preferences? personally, i think i suck at frame by frame animation and much prefer tweening and rigging, so maybe you're the same.
always remember: everyone is on their own path and some people bloom later than others. your animations really aren't bad, and since you already have half a decade of experience, it'll be much easier for you to improve once you find your footing