Assigning Animations [Animation]

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  • Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
  • In the Animation category, I'll be sharing some of the tricks we use to express character movement.
    In this episode, I'll talk about how I communicate my vision for a character's movements to the art team when directing a game. You might even catch a glimpse of some Super Smash Bros. Ultimate design documents!

КОМЕНТАРІ • 767

  • @MegaKirbySuperstar
    @MegaKirbySuperstar 2 роки тому +3004

    I love that he shows the paper work and lists because so many ppl don't think of game design as legit work. It's legit time consuming paperwork, list making, and direction. Games are fun but game development is a job that not just requires the knowledge of games but the actual skill and endurance to do the actual work.

    • @Ertain1
      @Ertain1 2 роки тому +130

      You are correct. There is not just planning. There's also a bunch of pre-planning, as well.

    • @psychokinrazalon
      @psychokinrazalon 2 роки тому +99

      Exactly. People talk a lot about games, usually things they don’t like, not realizing that nothing comes automatically. Everything, even things we take for granted irl like gravity, have to be manually inputted into a game.

    • @silverrakhsh34
      @silverrakhsh34 2 роки тому +102

      The reasons why many people(not me) think game developement is not an actual job is the same as people thinking being a youtuber is not a legit job;
      1: They haven't seen or experienced enough of that environment IRL compared to other jobs.
      2: These jobs are in the entertainment category which makes it hard for people to take it seriously.
      3: These kind of jobs are relatively new to humans' society so it will take some time until it is fully realized.

    • @vennril
      @vennril 2 роки тому +34

      Game design is a full-time job. And with a bad design (decision, plan, written concept), the entire game project can be cursed from the beginning.

    • @ollie_r8162
      @ollie_r8162 2 роки тому +46

      @@Ertain1 I love this Kirby to Kirby communication

  • @ochain224
    @ochain224 2 роки тому +1371

    His pause to look at the figure was EVERYTHINGGGG

    • @galahadxv6917
      @galahadxv6917 2 роки тому +196

      He was like "don't look at me like that, you know what you did"

    • @Nekotaku_TV
      @Nekotaku_TV 2 роки тому +6

      What? No.

    • @Schimnesthai
      @Schimnesthai 2 роки тому +29

      Reminds me of the non-especified action figure from one of the old Wii U trailers lol (The one that Iwata talked to in a one-off video too)

    • @lennyface5314
      @lennyface5314 2 роки тому +42

      He hit that figure with a clean 🤨

    • @frds_skce
      @frds_skce 2 роки тому +9

      Masahiro(ck) Sakurai

  • @col.choros3966
    @col.choros3966 2 роки тому +771

    70-80 pages per character? No wonder the SSBU DLC took so long. Got to give major props to Sakurai-san.

    • @_Just_Another_Guy
      @_Just_Another_Guy 2 роки тому +113

      That workload is divided up usually between 2-3 animators. Having one animator do 80+ pages of animation would literally be torture and produce crunch.

    • @Yamartim
      @Yamartim 2 роки тому +149

      and also this is just animation for the character, nevermind modeling, texturing, recording voice and sound effects, programming, balancing... and doing all of these again and again iteratively until it looks and plays good and without bugs

    • @Nekotaku_TV
      @Nekotaku_TV 2 роки тому +33

      And that's just the DESCRIPTION of the ANIMATIONS.

    • @psychokinrazalon
      @psychokinrazalon 2 роки тому +39

      You’d be surprised exactly how much work goes into games in general, but especially Smash Bros. It’s what you don’t see, the coding, that really requires dedication and focus. I took basic game design and the first thing you learn is that quite literally nothing comes automatically. Every minute *thing* that can happen in a game needs to be planned.

    • @Eichro
      @Eichro 2 роки тому +10

      When you look at the phenomenal work the Smash team did with the animations you realize they would *need* these 80 pages.

  • @Yitzu640
    @Yitzu640 2 роки тому +1356

    I'm one of the designers behind Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, and we also used spreadsheets with attack and frame descriptions like this! So cool to see that the GOAT does this as well!
    Thank you so much for creating this channel and teaching us mortals Mr. Sakurai!

    • @FunkySpaceAlien
      @FunkySpaceAlien 2 роки тому +60

      I'm curious, how do you guys plan out the frame data from writing alone? As in like "This amount of wind up, attack frame, and end frame". I feel that's challenging to do

    • @Yitzu640
      @Yitzu640 2 роки тому +228

      @@FunkySpaceAlien I usually took the most neutral character in the game as a template, so in the beginning of a new character's creation, they will have the same frame data as that template character. Then we think about which archetype we want that character to fit into, so for example, if it's a heavy, then I already know the wind ups will be longer. Of course you have to take into consideration the attack's concept, animation, balance, etc. It's a very case by case task. Also, I wouldn't say the design is done from writing alone, we always have someone from the art team helping us sketch out whatever ideas we have, to make them more concrete and actually see if they can work out or not. Finally, we test out whatever frame data we ended up assigning to the character, tweak, and repeat, until it feels like the concept the team had in mind. I guess the real challenge comes from designing that first neutral template character, but I wasn't around for that so I would be lying if I gave any answer for that specific case.

    • @iKiwed
      @iKiwed 2 роки тому +32

      Now it's like seeing a crossover between smash brothers

    • @abcdefg98765
      @abcdefg98765 2 роки тому +6

      What were your thoughts upon hearing that the game would launch without voice acting?

    • @LegionIvory
      @LegionIvory 2 роки тому +8

      I've heard of you, Mr. Villalobos. You have quite the reputation. Don't worry; it's a good one. lol

  • @teero121
    @teero121 2 роки тому +551

    Sakurai legit showing us the creation process of a Smash character. This is the best timeline.

    • @mariotheundying
      @mariotheundying 2 роки тому +1

      And a weird one too tbh, humanity went from life without any technology to... all of this! If you think about it, it's pretty weird

  • @ShallBePurified
    @ShallBePurified 2 роки тому +398

    Animations is why a lot of platform fighters aren't nearly as satisfying to play as Smash is. The animations for Smash are so meticulously well crafted.

    • @TeruteruBozusama
      @TeruteruBozusama 2 роки тому +31

      Every character feels unique

    • @rosestrohm7986
      @rosestrohm7986 2 роки тому +9

      I think multiversus really sticks out too. There's a ton of character in their attacks

    • @saricubra2867
      @saricubra2867 2 роки тому +26

      @@rosestrohm7986 I would say Sonic from Brawl 14 years ago, still has more character and depth than every single Smash inspired 3D game.
      You cannot compare budgets and decades of experience too, it's unfair. Maybe compare Ultimate against other AAA games...

    • @rosestrohm7986
      @rosestrohm7986 2 роки тому +8

      @@saricubra2867 Tom and Jerry's animations are leagues better than brawl sonic animations lol

    • @thedapperdolphin1590
      @thedapperdolphin1590 2 роки тому +25

      @@rosestrohm7986 They still don’t really sell the animations though. You need to pay enough attention to anticipation frames before the attack and follow through frames after the attack. Combine that with the hit stun Sakurai talked about in the other video. This way you’ll be able to react to an opponent’s attacks and comprehend what you got hit by.
      It’s hard to follow along with what’s happening in games like Multiversus because it’s lacking in these areas. It seems like characters are just flying across the screen, and it’s hard to tell why they got there.

  • @RickachuCXVI
    @RickachuCXVI 2 роки тому +912

    I love that there are whole channels dedicated to just breaking down the animations of a lot of different games. So much work goes into a single animation that I'm sure devs are happy people appreciate the work that goes into something that most people just see as apparent and obvious

    • @morz2094
      @morz2094 2 роки тому +5

      Can you recommend me a couple of those channels pls?

    • @ImNotGoodAtAnimation
      @ImNotGoodAtAnimation 2 роки тому +17

      @@morz2094 you should check out new frame plus!

    • @GhomAnimation
      @GhomAnimation 2 роки тому +9

      ​@@ImNotGoodAtAnimation And don't forget Video Game Animation Study, can't have Dan without Dan

    • @Shremlock
      @Shremlock 2 роки тому +6

      Mockrock does a lot pf smash animation rankings

    • @gafhs1235
      @gafhs1235 2 роки тому +2

      @@morz2094 sugar punch has a series about animation

  • @spooderman6312
    @spooderman6312 2 роки тому +1054

    I swear, if every game design class was taught by this man there would be a lot more good games than there ever was

    • @moosesues8887
      @moosesues8887 2 роки тому +12

      Game design class 🤨

    • @CRawr
      @CRawr 2 роки тому +89

      Has more to do with the corporate/budget side of things more than lack of game design knowledge.

    • @kaleenar963
      @kaleenar963 2 роки тому +52

      @@moosesues8887 Those exist

    • @psychokinrazalon
      @psychokinrazalon 2 роки тому +34

      @@kaleenar963 I took one. It sucked compared to Sakurai.

    • @smt3
      @smt3 2 роки тому +17

      @@psychokinrazalon yeah. He has a better class than most game designers do.

  • @NathanielBandy
    @NathanielBandy 2 роки тому +314

    This is really fascinating, I'm not sure if this is common practice for fighting games or not but it's really clever!

    • @decknightlmao
      @decknightlmao 2 роки тому

      @@thefastcommenter7774 i thought Inkling

    • @ZeUbermeinsch
      @ZeUbermeinsch 2 роки тому +20

      It's common practice for games in general. Having everything in a list makes internal names consistent, task delegation efficient, and referencing easy. While game engines can show what assets are in the project, referencing those in scripts is still a hassle cause you'll need to know which animation is which and might have to change it manually if the name gets changed. With lists like what got shown, there's a single unique name for every animation and everyone sticks to it to make changes in the middle of development easy.

    • @notpetch
      @notpetch 2 роки тому +4

      Hold up? Ain't you Nathaniel B?

  • @LeftToMemory
    @LeftToMemory 2 роки тому +759

    Still can't believe this legend made this channel. Such an honor to hear insight on his design ideas.

    • @ladynikkie
      @ladynikkie 2 роки тому +33

      Yeah and in just three weeks of opening his channel. He's nearly at 500,000 subscribers

  • @Spyder-Marth
    @Spyder-Marth 2 роки тому +1483

    I never realized how simple this was to communicate to the animators. I write down attack animation descriptions for fun, but looking back, what I did was actually very good for designing actual animations. Thank you, Sakurai!
    Edit: Yo dad, I think people like me!

    • @spikerthedragonbear
      @spikerthedragonbear 2 роки тому +93

      not only for animating but for coding them aswell! writing stuff before hand is almost crucial even if you're a solo dev, since it can prevent hiccups of "And what i wanted to do here?" or "for how long this should go on?"

    • @tigerrace9989
      @tigerrace9989 2 роки тому +40

      Writing is rlly good, I am not great at sketching animation ideas so a good description is crucial. Having an image is very beneficial but if u can visualise from text that will help a lot

    • @choboy46
      @choboy46 2 роки тому +8

      *write

    • @neoriders
      @neoriders 2 роки тому +6

      To be fair animator dont really read attack description 😅. Most of the time they just want a good mock-up of the movement with a small description 👍

    • @JorgetePanete
      @JorgetePanete 2 роки тому +2

      right down?

  • @BrigColby
    @BrigColby 2 роки тому +316

    70 pages per fighter!? Imagine another director of anything being this hands on with each aspect of a project. It really demonstrates his commitment to the projects he works on and just how much vision he has. Hope this series can inspire more of us to work as diligently!

    • @lucaantinori4834
      @lucaantinori4834 2 роки тому +30

      That worries me a bit
      Because it means that the moment smash is no longer directed by sakurai, it will be the moment that the series's quality might drop pretty significantly

    • @SareuoueMado
      @SareuoueMado 2 роки тому +48

      @@lucaantinori4834 If Sakurai drops smash, the series will go back to be mainly produced by Hal Labs, which means that current Kirby director Shinya Kumazaki and his team would now be in charge of the next game
      Sure, Kumazaki isn't Sakurai, they have different visions about their games, but Kumazaki believes thoroughly in Sakurai's game design vision and that is clear with the more recent Kirby games
      Planet Robobot and Forgotten Land are absolute gems that are thoroughly polished in every single aspect, from animation, to soundtrack, to artstyle, those games know what they are trying to achieve
      That's why I'm not as skeptical in the future of smash, because it most likely will fall in the right hands

    • @asprinjuice425
      @asprinjuice425 2 роки тому +13

      @@SareuoueMado I have faith in HAL because they always make amazing quality games with great attention to detail

    • @GuyWithAnAmazingHat
      @GuyWithAnAmazingHat 2 роки тому +6

      Yea people have no idea how much work, pre-planning, pre-production and even negotiations between studios and rights owners to even get a character into a game in the first place. Which means there are no characters that took away slots of other characters last minute, no DLCs that are made to grab a quick buck post release, every single character has undergone years of meetings and production before they're even announced.

    • @lucaantinori4834
      @lucaantinori4834 2 роки тому +2

      @@SareuoueMado
      I don't know
      HAL made awesome games, but it also made some games that feel unpolished or lazy, for example star allies, which at launch was underwhelming to say the least and it wasn't until the dlc ended that it became a decent kirby game
      There's also kirby battle royale, though this one is kinda understandable because the 3ds was about to end his cicle
      And also kirby's 3ds deluxe games, fighters deluxe was OK, but the rest... drum dash only has very few songs, team kirby clash deluxe only starts to feel enjoyable after paying 20 dollars to upgrade the tree, a F2P surely, and blowout blast only starts to be fun if you play it with the goal of getting platinum trophies, which sucks because it means that casual players who don't care about that will be bored pretty quickly

  • @Foervraengd
    @Foervraengd 2 роки тому +42

    for anyone who is curious: the doll he is using in the video is commonly sold under the label "Body-kun" and is super popular among artists! :) theyre great for posing!

    • @squeegeemcgee
      @squeegeemcgee 2 роки тому +6

      every resource i find says they were a limited release, and are permanently discontinued. do you know of a good way to find them, or if it's even possible?
      seems like a super useful tool, but all i can find are bootlegs.

    • @Chan-zn7wb
      @Chan-zn7wb Рік тому

      ​​@@squeegeemcgeeI know it's super annoying as the market is FLOODED with Chinese bootlegs. I was researching this question and the website AMIAMI came up at the top of everyone's list one of the most reputable sites to get anime figurines. I checked once before in the Body-Kuns/Chans were sold out. However, I checked last week though and the sports editions come in. They were released in Japan at the end of June. I ordered the male and female sports double set and the boy Pokémon version that's on sale.
      I'd run a grab one or two now, before they sell out. I got my package a day sooner than expected at three days. They had the right labels on them, they came from Japan and the figures are sturdy so I know that are legit. I would definitely recommend the website. ☺️

  • @kylelux8740
    @kylelux8740 2 роки тому +40

    I kinda love how these videos are formatted almost like a corporate training, especially with that music during the wrap up at the end. This series feels like something you'd watch during your first week working at Nintendo.

  • @dylanku0625
    @dylanku0625 2 роки тому +296

    More wisdom from Sakurai, always a pleasure.

  • @BriefCasey795
    @BriefCasey795 2 роки тому +37

    2:53 From assuring he was originally intended as playable to making him appear as much as possible, even on his Twitter screenshots, I really love the detail on how Sakurai used another spec for Pyra/Mythra to also include Rex here too. He really seems to be throwing a bone to those who wished he were playable.

  • @Charriii5
    @Charriii5 2 роки тому +49

    This one is my favorite. I've often thought about using a figure like that as reference material, but as an artist, always felt like it might cheapen the process. Having a list of things you'd like to have is super useful as well so you can have a much better idea of all the things that need to be done!

  • @Limit02
    @Limit02 2 роки тому +26

    1:32 this part is so amazing

  • @Mario1080p
    @Mario1080p 2 роки тому +77

    Always been fascinated with the animation of Smash Ultimate in particular. Before Min min became a fighter, I remember really liking Spring Man's body animation when he punches in contrast in how it works in their own game.

    • @themarioking7127
      @themarioking7127 2 роки тому +12

      Yeah, now it just reminds you that *Min Min exists.*

    • @Mario1080p
      @Mario1080p 2 роки тому

      @@themarioking7127 Actually, it reminds me of her Down Smash where she does a little breakdance as a way to get back up.

  • @ChrisC11231998
    @ChrisC11231998 2 роки тому +74

    I appreciate idle animations in games cause out of all the animations each character has, it’s when they’re idle animations play that they show the most life like characteristics whether it’s Link flexing his muscles in Breath of the Wild, Samus calibrating her arm cannon in Metroid Prime, Kazooie pecking at Banjo’s Head, Mario dreaming about Spaghetti. Sometimes I even wait in games just to see them.

    • @artemis1993
      @artemis1993 2 роки тому +4

      In every game i play, i *always* take a moment every now and then to just stand still and appreciate the idle animations. Usually, i'll stand by a window, cliffside, beach or something like that, and pretend my character is appreciating the sights, just so i can see their animations (i do this *A LOT* in Genshin)
      Of course, when a game doesn't have any idle animations, i do this far less (and it's sad too :/)

    • @artemis1993
      @artemis1993 Рік тому

      @@pomelo9518 Hell yeah lol

  • @TheHylianBatman
    @TheHylianBatman 2 роки тому +58

    Wow. He's doing a lot of the heavy lifting, that's awesome.
    The more pre-production you do, the easier production will be.
    I deeply respect that.
    I wonder if Sakurai will ever make a small game just exhibiting the stuff he's showing on this channel. I think that'd be neat at some point much, much later down the line.

  • @shoelariat
    @shoelariat 2 роки тому +23

    This really shows to me how much knowledge a director needs to have to communicate with their whole team and make a cohesive game. I really want to strive to be so reliable.

  • @SPRidley
    @SPRidley 2 роки тому +7

    Im a videogame art director, and that doc animation list has give me vietnam flashbacks of the way Ive done it for animators in one of our latest projects. Is incredibly clean the way that Sakurai does it, even when im using the same principles. Gonna really use a doc like that in the future for animations, instead of the way I do it now.

  • @DenkyManner
    @DenkyManner 2 роки тому +10

    I hadn't realised Sakurai was so hands on. An insane amount of work from just one person.

  • @cloudgaming927
    @cloudgaming927 2 роки тому +20

    Even outside of game development, it is absolutely critical that you can communicate your direction/ideas to people who need to implement them. People can have really strong skills and expertise, but if the communication bottleneck isn't addressed, then the overall product won't reach its full potential. It's a tricky problem, even at the level of college/university projects (where I'm at right now), and it's cool to see an expert's solution when dealing with animators that clearly has worked well.

  • @accuratememin
    @accuratememin 2 роки тому +8

    This man might be the most wholesome UA-camr I have ever seen.

  • @juanmonreal4014
    @juanmonreal4014 2 роки тому +72

    This shows all the work that goes into a masterpiece, I admire the work of Mr sakurai and the time he takes for the small details.

    • @svenbtb
      @svenbtb 2 роки тому +1

      Smash especially is pretty ridiculous with how many little details there are. There are SO many small touches and subtle references in the animation.

  • @JediMaestr0
    @JediMaestr0 2 роки тому +14

    Seeing the posed figure for each fighter made me realize how much personality the idle stance gives the character, which I’d never noticed before. The way Sephiroth’s knee is kind of bent, making him slump a little, shows how he’s kind of aloof and bored. I’ll have to pay more attention to how the way each character stands reveals some insight into their personality

    • @nyon7209
      @nyon7209 2 роки тому +5

      Also, look at the difference between Pyra and Mythra up taunt. Their personalities are so distinct, despite the fact that they're the same basic pose.

    • @svenbtb
      @svenbtb 2 роки тому +2

      That's the beauty of animation and posing! Every single character's idle (not to mention numerous other poses) are all used to convey character.

  • @Manimal14
    @Manimal14 2 роки тому +10

    It really makes you appreciate all the animations of every fighter

  • @thatpurpleperson2149
    @thatpurpleperson2149 2 роки тому +17

    The inkling’s spec sheet for the side smash being a brush on nail polish on a gun is just too hilarious! Thank you Mr Sakurai for being such a legend. It’s really an honour hearing your insights on UA-cam.

  • @cronosdimitri4584
    @cronosdimitri4584 2 роки тому +3

    That's the goat right there my friends. An honor to peek into the work of a master of the craft.

  • @UltimateTS64
    @UltimateTS64 2 роки тому +6

    70 to 80 pages of notes and images for just one character is crazy and it only gets crazier when you have more detailed characters that have extra accessories like capes, long hair etc. That's crazy to even think on where to start for describing something like that

  • @Stormkyleis
    @Stormkyleis 2 роки тому +11

    Possibly the most interesting episode yet, it was informative while also giving a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Smash Bros.

  • @Rubberman202
    @Rubberman202 2 роки тому +13

    This just goes to show how important it is to communicate your ideas and what you're looking for effectively with other members of the development team.

  • @TigeriPlaysGames
    @TigeriPlaysGames 2 роки тому +8

    speaking as an artist, solid guidance and reference like sakurai provides here makes a WORLD of difference

  • @_Just_Another_Guy
    @_Just_Another_Guy 2 роки тому +160

    These animations also had to be doubled for Kirby when he inhales other fighters. That essentially doubles the workload, especially for every Smash DLC characters.

    • @stevep9177
      @stevep9177 2 роки тому +21

      During development of one of the SSB games, they first drew his positions with a generic humanoid and then referenced that for kirby. Yes that includes the inflated flying pose, and yes it looks weird on a humanoid.

    • @ArendAlphaEagle
      @ArendAlphaEagle 2 роки тому +51

      Well, technically, only the Neutral Specials have to be doubled, as Kirby can only copy those in Smash, not entire movesets nor unique moving/idle animations.

    • @benjaminshields9421
      @benjaminshields9421 2 роки тому +17

      Less doubled and more like an added animation for every character. From an animation standpoint, it would be like if characters had forward/ backwards specials

    • @TokuWaffle
      @TokuWaffle 2 роки тому +1

      @@stevep9177 so if all of Kirby's animations have action figure references... What about Pikachu? Is that modded version with the Bayonetta skeleton the logical midpoint of this process?

    • @stevep9177
      @stevep9177 2 роки тому +3

      Wait I take that back, I was thinking of Kirby Super Star

  • @arogustus3984
    @arogustus3984 2 роки тому +10

    This is definitely going on the "should know" list. It's nice to see that writing down a descriptor of how the attack looks like is actually really helpful. Plus that little model is a great visual aid. Love that guy.
    I'm always gonna be fun of non-humanoid animations, though. You really have to get creative with them, and it always makes me smile seeing so much personality on something that doesn't convey it normally.

  • @uniplane8004
    @uniplane8004 2 роки тому +3

    This may have been the coolest episode yet. It's awesome seeing how even the little aspects in smash are designed!

  • @ValhallaKingdom
    @ValhallaKingdom 2 роки тому +72

    I gotta like animation in games. From looking videos of people movements for references to animating the thing all together. It's a tough job but you gotta do what you gotta do.

    • @hotuka
      @hotuka 2 роки тому

      the guy from Twitter?!

  • @MrKing_MC
    @MrKing_MC 2 роки тому +5

    1:31
    The Comedy Gold is making me love this man even more.

  • @freezeboy13
    @freezeboy13 2 роки тому +64

    Seeing the figure posed for ssbu animations is so cool. I knew that was done for melee but it's cool to see it still used!

    • @spikerthedragonbear
      @spikerthedragonbear 2 роки тому +10

      I belive this is common practice in animation, tho sometimes animators pose the animation themselves, Its cool to have the figure infront of you

    • @jjk5693
      @jjk5693 2 роки тому

      It looks cool

  • @solidskullz5736
    @solidskullz5736 2 роки тому +10

    I remember when I was learning animation in high school. I have respect for anyone that can do that consistently because it’s hard and takes FOREVER

  • @TriforceZard
    @TriforceZard 2 роки тому +8

    The animations of Smash Ultimate are all beautiful. Glad there’s a video on this.

  • @CosmicEternityCD
    @CosmicEternityCD 2 роки тому +8

    This is so interesting! I just recently bought a similar figure for art reference, and this really helped me feel inspired to start using it more often! But, this is also very cool for getting some insight into how Smash especially has such strong pose to pose animation! I've always been curious about how all this got communicated, and it's wonderful to see it all laid out!

  • @jokx4409
    @jokx4409 2 роки тому +2

    This might be by far the best. Seeing those images behind all those animations is SOOO great and explains so much about why the animation in Smash is so perfect. You can actually tell it was all planned by someone with a stick figure somehow. The way the bodies move, everything is just so precise and expressive. And wow so much care and work put into the figure pictures for the animators, WOW.
    and that pause where Sakurai just looks at his stick figure made me laugh so much, I think I rewinded 3 times. This channel is such gold.

  • @pastapastajfollower2919
    @pastapastajfollower2919 2 роки тому +94

    As a person getting into animation as of recently, this can be helpful when I could potentially be part of an animation team *doubtful* . It is the truth that one of the hugest parts of projects with teams is communication.

    • @The_WIll_OF_D99
      @The_WIll_OF_D99 2 роки тому +12

      You'll get there. Just keep at it. I believe in you

    • @pastapastajfollower2919
      @pastapastajfollower2919 2 роки тому +11

      @@The_WIll_OF_D99 dear me, that’s so nice of you sir, thank you. :)

    • @The_WIll_OF_D99
      @The_WIll_OF_D99 2 роки тому +2

      @@pastapastajfollower2919 😊 no problem. You got this 🔥

    • @deadpanjelly2913
      @deadpanjelly2913 2 роки тому +8

      Keep practicing your silhouette/gesture drawings and your timings. A clear silhouette is a clear key pose :)

    • @moosesues8887
      @moosesues8887 2 роки тому +1

      @@pastapastajfollower2919 squash and stretch and smear frames

  • @penitente3337
    @penitente3337 2 роки тому +1

    Love the "(Is this feasible?)" at the end of K. Rool's Up Throw, made me laugh.
    Likely makes paperwork more fun with those smll details.

  • @Firestorm2900
    @Firestorm2900 2 роки тому +1

    I can't help but to feel like this helped inspire the change from the Fighting Polygon Team to those wireframe characters in later titles.

  • @Astropicsky
    @Astropicsky 2 роки тому +2

    All that work for each and every single one of those characters. Wow... it leaves you with an even greater sense of appreciation for what all of these people do in the games they work on!

  • @superrobotfish6701
    @superrobotfish6701 2 роки тому +3

    didn't know Sakurai was this talented. Just using that figure to make good poses takes a lot of skill and knowledge.

  • @certifiedjuicer6894
    @certifiedjuicer6894 2 роки тому +44

    Yes indeed I would like to see these ideas put into *motion* 👀

    • @stareatmyprofile9872
      @stareatmyprofile9872 2 роки тому

      Man of culture I see

    • @nightday2030
      @nightday2030 2 роки тому

      Ah yes, probably one of the reason why Overwatch was popular...because of a certain Rule

    • @themarioking7127
      @themarioking7127 2 роки тому +1

      @@nightday2030 why is it capitalized wait oh no

  • @gabrielbalderas1123
    @gabrielbalderas1123 2 роки тому +11

    Making a good, perfect and clean animation in 3d and 2d. Super Smash Bros. Series

  • @ARDIZsq
    @ARDIZsq 2 роки тому +2

    The photos and notes going over different key poses is incredible. I'd LOVE to see more of exactly this, heck, even all the pages for a single character if that was possible.

  • @nsi8loucontenunintendo921
    @nsi8loucontenunintendo921 2 роки тому +3

    Hello, mr Sakurai
    My name is Louis, i will have 15 years old this month and I'm in a highschool
    I looove Smash ultimate and every smash games and since almost 10 years, i would become a game programmor because when i had 5 years old, i played at Mario kart Wii and i enjoyed this game but i was also frustrated because i wanted MORE characters and i said that : "later, i will create MY video games"
    and today, i watched the videos of Masahiro Sakurai, a legend of the video games
    Thanks Sakurai, Thanks for showing the right way to the future video game programmor and designer.
    Thanks for Everything
    PS : if my setences are don't very good, it's because i'm a French people

  • @thatmadman6870
    @thatmadman6870 2 роки тому +3

    And for the figure's neutral special, he wields a gun.

  • @definitelynotshanque
    @definitelynotshanque 2 роки тому +2

    This channel is so fascinating, I never imagined Sakurai or game directors in general to be this hands on with animations.

  • @RaidenRkD
    @RaidenRkD 2 роки тому +4

    If anyone's curious about the figure that Sakurai used in the video, it's called "Body-kun" and you can grab it from Amazon for cheap these days. There's also a female variant called "Body-chan", and there's a "DX" version for both that include multiple hands and objects such a sword, a gun, computer and tablet. I recently ordered a pack with both for roughly $32.
    Great for a drawing reference as well, but extremely delicate, not the best built, and definitely have to work with them a bit. I'd keep the reviews in mind if you're considering about ordering any. There's a good chance most places are selling knockoffs than the real deal.
    (I only got mine a week ago and the boxes were beaten to hell if it's any indication how much care they have. At least everything inside was fine.)

  • @SharonisCarin321
    @SharonisCarin321 2 роки тому +10

    Sakurai thank you so much for your videos!
    I'd love you doing a video of different genres of games and what you find fun in them!

  • @RebelliousTreecko
    @RebelliousTreecko 2 роки тому +13

    It's great to see something related to Smash Bros development. :>

  • @Lugbzurg
    @Lugbzurg Рік тому +1

    I remember doodling some of these for fun when making game concept art as a kid. I even had a phase where I draw up entirely movesets for tons and tons of videogame characters, including my own and some non-game-characters, and this even included *three final smashes!* 🤣 I believe I called them "Standard Final Smash", "Alternate Final Smash", and "Dark Final Smash".

  • @SageAsuka
    @SageAsuka 2 роки тому +2

    This is fantastic and definitely explains why the animation in the smash series is so good! That level of communication and direction is something I'd love to have as an animator.

  • @AlfredKamon
    @AlfredKamon 2 роки тому +13

    Wow I thought I was just a noob for making all this paperwork in my game direction, but seeing how Mr. Sakurai still uses legit paperwork too instead of some alien software gives me a confidence boost, hahaha. This was really interesting to watch. I will also try getting one of those figures for easier reference. The "is this feasible?" at 2:03 sends me, so relatable hahaha. Sometimes Directors come up with the weirdest ideas and ask themselves if the animators can keep up (they usually can).

  • @Neoxon619
    @Neoxon619 2 роки тому +37

    This could actually pretty useful for whenever Sakurai eventually retires & someone else takes up the mantle of directing Smash. I understand that he already tried finding a successor & failed, but I’m thinking more in the long-term.

    • @r.u.s.e3586
      @r.u.s.e3586 2 роки тому

      When was this?

    • @MegaKirbySuperstar
      @MegaKirbySuperstar 2 роки тому +13

      It's hard to probably match his work ethic also. I mean the guy types out so much, sets up presentations, and makes crazy lists. He's worked himself to collapse in the past. Not only does his replacement have to be knowledgeable about games but has to have his level of drive. That combo for getting a game out is not easy to find for such a demanding franchise like Smash too.

    • @skunthundler
      @skunthundler 2 роки тому +4

      @@r.u.s.e3586 Before smash ultimate's development. He tried to get someone else to direct the game and it was disastrous.

    • @SpinyPuffs
      @SpinyPuffs 2 роки тому +2

      @@skunthundler source?

    • @SadFace229
      @SadFace229 2 роки тому +6

      @@MegaKirbySuperstar To emphasize his work ethic, Samurai is ALWAYS playing new games. When he gets home from work, he's watching some recorded TV show at x2 (which ain't half bad if you get used to watching videos at x2) while playing games, while on a stationary bike. Most developers don't have the COMPLETED game library he has, let alone the discipline to build so.

  • @VeritasUnae
    @VeritasUnae 2 роки тому +1

    This feels like the sort of video that you never think about until you actually get to the meat of a project, but makes so much sense once you hear how it’s done. Incredibly insightful!

  • @MB-nw8wu
    @MB-nw8wu 2 роки тому +4

    As a college student enetering his first year in video game design your videos have been extremely interesting to me. Thank you for your hard work Mr Sakurai.

  • @cranesalvation8391
    @cranesalvation8391 2 роки тому +5

    Love to see all the Smash Bros character motions!

  • @jraymark7739
    @jraymark7739 2 роки тому +1

    One of my favourites parts in games, the animations and how they make the characters feel alive.

  • @darkshadowrift7652
    @darkshadowrift7652 2 роки тому +3

    Obviously he is the game director and he is bound to guide the general direction of the game, but I couldn't have imagined he was this ridiculously involved in every single step like this. Amazing work Sakurai!

  • @kane6472
    @kane6472 2 роки тому +4

    I love the animations in SSBU. It's amazing to see how much hard work goes into each character, item, stage, etc.

  • @bedescarlet
    @bedescarlet 2 роки тому +5

    I don't know what to add to the point of the video so I'll say something random about SSBU animations:
    The walk and run animations have a pretty interesting property. In the file, the character's physical position actually moves, instead of staying still. This is because their "Trans" bone is moving.
    Every fighter has a "Trans" bone, for Transform. On every move, there's a flag that dictates the bone's function. By default, nothing happens, and the bone acts like every other bone. However, if the flag is on, the character's position will be updated to the position of the Trans bone.
    Walks and runs aren't the only ones that use this. Moves like Megaman's Up-tilt, Joker's Down-tilt, and all dash attacks have this flag on too.
    I assume this was done because animating a character moving is way easier if you actually animate the moving. So by implementing this functionality, the animators have more creative freedom.

  • @FoxMcCloud3173
    @FoxMcCloud3173 2 роки тому +1

    In case anyone’s wondering, that figure is called “Body Kun”, from the SH Figuarts line

  • @Tufukins
    @Tufukins 2 роки тому +1

    It's really relieving to see that the tools many people use are used by Sakurai as well!

  • @Tahldon-kun
    @Tahldon-kun 2 роки тому +1

    I really found the notion of writing down all of the animations to be incredibly helpful. Just doing so much up-front I hadn't considered.

  • @obi-onekenerdi
    @obi-onekenerdi 2 роки тому +1

    YO! Sakurai is a true action figure fan!! Seeing him talk about his Smash collection and then him using figures to help with production of the game makes me exceedingly happy!!

  • @Brick_Eater_
    @Brick_Eater_ 2 роки тому +2

    1:32 *has a flashback to every moment of his life leading up do this moment*

  • @andrealair6192
    @andrealair6192 2 роки тому

    I am in love with all this detail. When I saw the extensive animation assignment list I was in awe at the meticulous planning. I appreciate all the work that goes into simply communicating a vision for the animation. Thank you for sharing!!!

  • @yourMoonstone
    @yourMoonstone 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you for sharing all of this!! This will help so many game devs for years to come.

  • @MasterArchfiend
    @MasterArchfiend 2 роки тому +1

    I never actually thought about how much work goes into just explaining something as common as an idle animation. I guess that I should take even the simplest ones with more gratitude because a lot more work than I realized goes into them.

  • @nathanpark
    @nathanpark 2 роки тому +3

    I admire Sakura's meticulous commitment to animations. Smash has some of the most polished animations I've seen and it goes a long way in making the game feel alive. :)
    Also, fun fact: Sakurai has a frame 17 jab

  • @eddmower2297
    @eddmower2297 2 роки тому +2

    The fighters in Smash being figurines makes so much sense now.

  • @juanrodriguez9971
    @juanrodriguez9971 2 роки тому +3

    Interesting way on how you tell your animators what you need, I always see videos explaining how to animate but not how to communicate your ideas to your animators outside of storyboards.

  • @AltimeterAlligator
    @AltimeterAlligator 2 роки тому +2

    For awhile I've wondered if I put too much effort into my animation planning and organization, but not enough effort animating. It's really exciting to hear Sakurai's documentation style is similar to what I do. Now I just need to polish my skills for another 35 years.

  • @Quetzal00358
    @Quetzal00358 2 роки тому +3

    The fact that Sakurai showed Joker's gun when talking about neutral special

  • @thegreendude2086
    @thegreendude2086 2 роки тому +1

    I have never considered planning out an animation with a figurine
    I always rely on sketches and reference, but in the end a figurine is much more intuitive in finding what you are actually looking for and you can work visually instead of relying on imagination that might be limited

  • @luqmanazeem6251
    @luqmanazeem6251 2 роки тому

    Even for an experienced designer watching, this video is filled with so much insights that they can learn from. Learning the delivery of art requirements from design has been confusing me tons lately, so this was perfect timing. And to learn of a AAA game's process is just finishing it with sprinkle on top.

  • @brandonwilliams6119
    @brandonwilliams6119 2 роки тому +60

    Incineroar is literally the most soulful character in Smash, he taunts you after hitting you with his attacks, my favorite one is where if his Alolan Whip gets interrupted, he just shrugs🤷‍♀️

    • @jjk5693
      @jjk5693 2 роки тому

      This video made me feel empty somehow

    • @AzureSwiper
      @AzureSwiper 2 роки тому +1

      @@jjk5693 Uhhh ok?

    • @jjk5693
      @jjk5693 2 роки тому

      @@AzureSwiper It made me feel empty because I dont necessarily want to know the creation behind smash ultimate and it kinda ruins the way I see video games

    • @gosucab944
      @gosucab944 2 роки тому +4

      @@jjk5693 Then why are you watching these videos? Nodbody forces you to learn more about the creation process. It was pretty clear from the beginning that Sakurai would talk about various games but also Smash, Kirby or others he worked personally on. For me it just further increases the appreciation I have for games. Then again I might have a different lookout on games. I like getting to know the intricacies of a game. I optimize builds in Monster Hunter using spreadsheets and create my own spreadsheets when playing a new persona game to schedule my time as best as I can.
      But why does it ruin the way you see video games? Or why do you get less enjoyment out of a video game knowing the creation process behind it?

    • @jjk5693
      @jjk5693 2 роки тому

      @@gosucab944 In short: it changes my perspective on games like Im the developer

  • @EvanPrower
    @EvanPrower 2 роки тому +1

    This stuff makes me wish we could get a Smash Ultimate art book. Even aside from more of these poses for the animations for each character, I'd love to see more on the effort that went into visually overhaulling old stages like Brinstar Depths, and cohesively realizing new locales from old games, like Northern Crater. Legally speaking, I imagine a Smash art book would be difficult to assemble, but it is a longtime wish of mine.

  • @aprendendocomgames
    @aprendendocomgames 2 роки тому +44

    Animation is key to create a good game.

  • @fredrickgamer9128
    @fredrickgamer9128 2 роки тому +3

    I'm an inspiring animator so I'm so happy Sakurai has a whole category where he'll be talking about animation.

  • @frogturtle
    @frogturtle Рік тому

    I didn’t major in animation but some of my friends from college did. We see things move all the time and experience animation daily but we don’t always take time to *observe* just how detailed and expressive it is, nor think about how it was “built.”
    Smash is one of those games where you really feel the animations. It all looks so natural while being filled with personality. It is very hard and time-consuming to achieve such a result, especially on a strict production schedule.
    Thank you Mr. Sakurai for sharing your wisdom.

  • @MozillaVulpix
    @MozillaVulpix 2 роки тому +5

    Those model pictures look amazing for meme potential

  • @Adamski-
    @Adamski- 2 роки тому +1

    This video was SUPER GOOD! Love to see behind the scenes like this!! Good work Sakurai & team!

  • @alexhiind
    @alexhiind 2 роки тому +1

    I was waiting for Mashiro to do a video on animation, as it's the most fascinating aspect for me of video games. When he said 70-80 pages of animations are done for a single fighter, it put everything into perspective for me. Mashiro, you are truly a master of your craft, and you've worked so unbelievably hard. Thank you.

  • @Ishmokin
    @Ishmokin 2 роки тому +1

    Amazing! No surpise why Smash Bros is such an amazing game franchise

  • @AussieGameTrip
    @AussieGameTrip 2 роки тому +12

    It's fascinating to get to peek behind the curtain into the development process for a game as loved as Super Smash Bros. Thank you for the overview Mr Sakurai!

  • @artemis1993
    @artemis1993 2 роки тому +1

    This channel has become my daily drug. Nothing like starting the day with a good cup of coffee and some marvelous insight from our charming gaming master Sakurai ❤

  • @AISlopForHumans
    @AISlopForHumans 2 роки тому +2

    I absolutely no desire to torture myself and be a game developer but these videos are so interesting

  • @ferinzz
    @ferinzz Рік тому

    Always love the fact that you bring up the need to include others and listen to their opinions on matters. Heard so many stories of this not being the case and things going wrong.

  • @ZeroJinKui
    @ZeroJinKui 2 роки тому +1

    1:30 the way the music went quiet after this and sakurai looked at the figure was... hilarious, for some reason. XD

  • @Austar7
    @Austar7 2 роки тому +1

    That music at the beginning is really relaxing.