Depending on what program you are using to export the frames as a video, it may be a little different. But either in the "rendering" preview settings, or in the settings on the export page (like wmm) you can set the video type, size, and rate there...

If you need more help, I could upload a tutorial for Windows Movie Maker. (not live)

As for animation, it is really good. (Choppy in some places, but other then that, really good) Is it 15fps or 24fps? (or even 20) I'd like to know, because in some parts, it's REALLY smooth!

Well, first of all, unless it was intended, "i" before "e" except after "c".  You misspelled Deceived.

Rule of thumb, credits should not be longer than the film itself, even if it's a thank you letter.  We get it, people helped, 3/4 of a film thanking them isn't much of a film, even if it's a teaser.

Interesting that your walking animation is smoother than the rest of the animation (arm and head movements are all jerking).  Smaller increments is the key.

You asked for a review, so here it is in all it's super-long glory.

YT video running length: 2:24. Brickfilm's running length without titles: 45 seconds-ish.

Something that would cut a lot of that down would be a "Special thanks" credit, with the names, and just the names, of the guys that you want to thanks. You can explain everything in the description, but generally you don't ever want to go over a 1:1 credits/titles-to-animation ratio. 

HD equals 1280 X 720, and if the captured photos are 640 X 480, you can't make them HD. If you blew them up the that size, they'd be all fuzzy. To get HD, you need to capture at least at the aforementioned resolution, and then you'll need to be sure to render the video at that size.

My first impression isn't that great. It had a number of things that I don't like: Background music with lyrics, unnecessary and uncalled-for cursing, unneeded gore, and a 3:1 credits/animation ratio. It's too bad that the overall quality wasn't good enough to compensate for any of those things.

And now on the the film itself....Finally.

The very first thing that I noticed was the music. It just doesn't fit the tone. I know that people complain about it being overused, but incompetech.com really is a great resource. Especially for younger/newer brickfilmers.

Sound-wise, it was nothing special. The footsteps are fine for a big, empty warehouse, but the voices were quite static-y. The animation was choppy, and there wasn't much easing-in/easing-out. The walk-cycle at 0:44 was good, but the rest were....Not so good.

And why would the shooter have to be the one to kill the guy? How was his being a friend make him the one that has to shoot him? And what did the guy mean by "Closed"? Is it a store, a warehouse, a super-market, a tanning parlor? No props and no signs mean a lot of confusion. Good sets can almost tell the story by themselves, so go try and see what your creative mind can think up.

Bottom line: Whatever you did on that one walk cycle, keep doing that. Small increments combined with easing-in/easing-out are what will smooth out your animation.

Wow, that review just exploded on me. Oh well, I guess it can't hurt. And sorry about getting a little grumpy there at the start.

Here's how I would have done the credits:

Written & Animated by Addrian Nedanovski

Logo by Dylan Studios

Special thanks to:
HoldingOurOwn
MouseDroid
Pritchard Studios
Repelling Spider
Smeagol Studios
...and everyone else on BricksInMotion.com who helped!

"Faded War" performed by Josh Woodward

Sound Effect Credits:
Gun Sounds: soundbible.com
Door Sounds: freesfx.co.uk
Walking Sounds: Unknown source

(c) 2013.  A General Brick Production.

[END]

By the by, I only have my name at the top of the Special Thanks because when not in order of importance, aBC order is fairest, and it's implied when seen that way that all names are equal.

And I would NEVER EVER put anything in the credits asking people to comment, rate, subscribe, etc., because it's so unprofessional.  That's what 14-year old girls do at the end of all their bedroom "what I did today" videos.  People will comment if they wish to.  Actually, there is one video last week where I DID do that, but becuase I was making a video in the bedroom style and was mocking the process.  It's at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALKPBHSk … mp;index=2

You can skip to 5:46 in the video if you want to pass on watching me make a fool of myself.  Also watch the credits, becuase I spoof the credits version of it too, and you can also hear an actual radio jingle that I wrote, composed, and sang.  Well, there's a downside to everything!

Anyway, The walking was stellar, but the sounds didn't seem to match the steps.  I'll check again.  When I use Vegas to animate, I go frame-by-frame with the cursor and find the same spot in the cycle where the foot just touches the ground, then drag the sound to the cursor.  I actually back up a frame or two before inserting the sound.  In the hand animation, it's a bit jerky, but reminiscent of Joe Brickmond series, which gave me a lot of inspiration to write my own series.  When my characters talk, I move the hands 90 degrees in 6 frames of animation, with the first and last movements the slightest. 

I also agree with Pritchard about the violence being excessive.  Having written a script for you, I know you're interested in producing crime dramas, but it can be done just as effectively without being so graphic.  An excellent example is the Lord Of th eRings trilogy.  The fight scenes are intense, powerful, yet bloodless.  Watch the shower scene in the original "psycho".  not one frame of an actual act of violence is depicted, yet it resonates so strongly that many people have recollections of this black-and-white scene in color!  Things can be just as strong without being graphic.  Stronger, sometimes, since the mind fills in the rest.

I know it seems like a lot of criticism, but it's not.  We're all offering our own suggestions on the same things.  But it's a great 1st film, and you've got the potential, with practice, to produce some steallar animation!

Hey holdingourown thanks for your review and reply, I appreciate it, Yeah I know the credits was long, but as I stated, it won't happen again, as for me being my first real film you know with the voicing and sound effects and the editing all in one it was a big step for me, even though it was 45 seconds long (Animation itself).

But thanks for your idea for the credits, I'll use your idea next time.

I'm still confused with the hand animation what do you guys mean by when you say choppy? Is it to slow? Should it be faster?

And the excessive violence, whats wrong with using a bit of clay or playdoh? I mean look I understand when you say it can

be done without it, and still be perfect, but for me I feel its hard to express the emotion without a bit of blood, I mean I

wanted it to be as realistic as I was going to get it, But thanks for the movie and your insight.

I'm glad everyone can agree the walking was smooth and as you said steller, the great news is, I have no problem with my

walking technique and its something, I can keep doing just the same so thats good.

Its alot of helpful criticism, and I really appreciate it, I'm glad you and Dylan think its a great 1st, I'm glad you think I have

Potential, it motivates me to improve, but so does the criticism, its what makes people better.

My passion is making brickfilms but also making sure the viewers enjoyed it, is my passion, I want people to enjoy and

appreciate what I make, But I still have alot to show for it!

Kind regards generalned

Last edited by Generalned (January 25, 2013 (11:34pm))

Hand movements:

If you watch my Holding Our Own videos, you'll notice that it's very dialogue heavy, so moving characters' hands is important in my cartoons to indicate who's speaking.  My characters have a distinctive way of moving when they speak.

The speaking character will raise his or her arm.  There is a lot of hand movement.  Before animating a scene, I put the hands in what I call "First position", where the hands are completely vertical (or horizontal).  When I animate at 15 fps, I will make the characters move their hands 90 degrees back and forth while talking, and I shoot 6 frames, moving the hand slightly, until on the last frame, the hand is moved 90 degrees.  I reverse the animation to move the hand back.  It's actually 7 frames, since the hand is in first position on the keyframe (frame 0).  When I animated at 10 fps, I did the same thing but using 4 frames of animation instead of 6.

Frame 3 was the halfway point between keframes.  Frames 2 and 4 were 1/4 the way moved.  Frames 1 and 5 were actually nearly unmoved from the keyframes (0 and 6), like 1/12th the way from the original positions.  This makes the movements look smooth as the hands ease into position.

Keep in mind that this works for me for the type of cartoon that I make, after trying out some experiments.  You can try this, and it does look good using this technique, but you may find something that works even better for your own projects.

Looks good very interesting so far. Look forward to seeing more of it.