BOUNCING BALL ANIMATION

 

This is my first 3d animation assignment. It follows basic principle of animation proposed by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson.

 

 

I used a basketball as a reference to animate the bounce. This is the basketball I created in Maya with basketball texture.

 

To get the bouncing ball animation in 3d, I had to plan and execute it in 2d and then get the same in 3d. Our mentor asked us to record a self - video of a bouncing ball.

 

 

The above video is the reference I used from my Basketball.

 

After watching the video several times I figured out the technique and analysed it properly. I had to refer my 2d animated bouncing ball to get it right.

 

I analysed the number of frames it took to bounce, number of bounces and timing and spacing for the bounce.

 

I used a rigged ball which I did in rigging class.

 

 

The above image shows the animation for ball. The red boxes indicate that the transformation control is keyframed.

 

* First the main key frame is set from where it has to fall. S is shortcut to key the object. There is a auto keyframe toggle button on right side of range slider in Maya which helps us to key the animation automatically.

* The bouncing is done by moving the ball along Y axis and keying it according to timing.

* When the bounce is done along Y axis it is keyed along X axis where the ball moves forward with the bounce.

* The fourth step is to attain the rotation of the ball in relation to the bounce, which is done by keyframing the rotation axis.

 

 

The above image shows a Graph editor for the bounce.

 

"Graph editor" is located in window > animation editors > graph editor.

Graph editor allows us to tweak and adjust the tangents of keyframes and helps us to animate easily.

 

* The green curve in graph allows us to add weight, i.e when ball goes up, it slows down. We on the auto - tangents option to ease the work.

* Unify tangents are used to sharpen the curve which updates the speed of ball when it hits the ground.

* The red curve indicates the rotation of the ball according to the bounce.

 

 

The above image shows the motiontrail which is red curve in the viewport.

 

To activate the motion trail - select object > Animate > Create Editable Motiontrail.

 

* Motiontrail acts like a graph editor in viewport. It allows us to tweak the tangents without repeatedly switching to graphic editor tab.

* We can add keyframes, remove keyframes and manipulate it in graphic editor as well as in motiontrail.

* Hence the basketball is heavy and bulky, it bounces slowly. Therefore I had to reduce the number of bounces and put it accordingly.

 

The final playblast of the Bouncing Basketball

 

 

Hope you like it, Comments are welcome