• Adobe After Effects

  Stick Figure Walking

  Posted by Adam Ellis on February 2, 2008 at 5:47 pm

  Hello all,

  Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

  I’m trying to create a stick figure that sadly walks from left to right with his head hanging low and then sees something, like a logo for example,and turns his faceless head (a circle) toward the view in a “AA-HA!” moment.

  I thought it sounded pretty simple, tried a few things, and now I’m a little better educated and could use some suggestions on how to do this in CS3.

  Thanks for your time and trouble.

  regards
  Adam

  Adam Ellis replied 18 years, 7 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Topher Welsh

  February 2, 2008 at 10:59 pm

  Well since you have CS3 I would say that the puppet tool would be the best way to go, just build your background in photoshop as a long picture, and keyframe the position to scroll from left to right.

  Just google puppet tool CS3 or I think there is a tutorial here on the COW somewhere….

  Topher Welsh
  Head Editor & Motion Graphics
  http://www.scout.com
• 

  Erik Waluska

  February 2, 2008 at 11:01 pm

  I would create an illustrator or Photoshop file of your stick figure with each part you want to move on a separate layer (head, hand, upper arm, lower arm, etc.).

  Import the file into AE as a composition then open the comp and set each of the anchor points for the body parts to where the joint would be (“Y” = shortcut for anchor point tool). Create a parenting chain by parenting each body part to the part it is supposed to be attached (hand to lower arm, lower arm to upper arm, etc.).

  Then animate the rotation of each part to make the stick figure walk.

  You could animate the position and scale of the head or maybe use the puppet tool to get the facial expression you want.

  Hope that helps.

  -E
• 

  Adam Ellis

  February 3, 2008 at 12:37 am

  Hey folks,

  Thanks for the help. This puppet tool thing is very cool. I’m going to have to spend some time with it. You will have to forgive me because it seems an obvious answer now. I’m still relatively new at this. I am a sound designer trying to spruce up my portfolio – making it look a little better. The tutorials on cow are fantastic. I’ve gotten through a few of them but I’ve a ways to go.

  Thanks again for the help.

  Adam

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