How works complicated 2D animations

[rXp]

Hello,

I have a simple question but I cannot find a satisfying answer :
How works 2D animations of a character with a side view (like platform games).
I've already worked on 3D animations so a character is modeled and rigged and you animate the skeleton with a library... But what can I do for complicated 2D animations ?
An animated GIF for every animation ?(jump, run, walk, swim, etc...)
A rig system like 3D animations but for 2D animations ? (Does is exist ?)

Because I would like to be able to manage the multiple body parts without having to create 50 animated GIF.

Thank you for your help,

Best regards,

rXp>!<

[danman]

you could use technologies like SVG .

http://neuronspew.wordpress.com/category/svg-game-engine-project/

[Spodi]

You can still use a skeleton. If its a side-scroller, you can get away with using just a 2d skeleton and slapping sprites onto the joints instead of having to deal with skinning. Otherwise, you'll have to create a 3d model and render it in a 2d plane.

[AlexM]

another option if you're more comfortable with 3D is to animate it in 3D then render a series of orthogonal frames.

[rXp]

another option if you're more comfortable with 3D is to animate it in 3D then render a series of orthogonal frames.

I'm not familiar with this option, could you elaborate or maybe post a link ?

[AlexM]

another option if you're more comfortable with 3D is to animate it in 3D then render a series of orthogonal frames.

I'm not familiar with this option, could you elaborate or maybe post a link ?

do you use 3dsMax? If not it's pretty much the same for any 3d modeling program.

basically you make an animation, then render from a non-perspective viewport. In your render settings, set it to render to a sequence of images rather than a movie file.

After that you can take that sequnce of images and make a spritesheet.

Here's a classic example.

http://tsgk.captainn.net/?p=showgame&t=sy&sy=8&ga=261

[rXp]

another option if you're more comfortable with 3D is to animate it in 3D then render a series of orthogonal frames.

I'm not familiar with this option, could you elaborate or maybe post a link ?

do you use 3dsMax? If not it's pretty much the same for any 3d modeling program.

basically you make an animation, then render from a non-perspective viewport. In your render settings, set it to render to a sequence of images rather than a movie file.

After that you can take that sequnce of images and make a spritesheet.

Here's a classic example.

http://tsgk.captainn.net/?p=showgame&t=sy&sy=8&ga=261

Ok That's what I was going for, it will be much easy for the animations.
I use blender, I have the version 4 of 3dsmax but it's getting old and cost way to much to buy the last one
Blender is great, and with the beta version you can really find yourself more easily of you come from 3dsmax

[AlexM]

another option if you're more comfortable with 3D is to animate it in 3D then render a series of orthogonal frames.

I'm not familiar with this option, could you elaborate or maybe post a link ?

do you use 3dsMax? If not it's pretty much the same for any 3d modeling program.

basically you make an animation, then render from a non-perspective viewport. In your render settings, set it to render to a sequence of images rather than a movie file.

After that you can take that sequnce of images and make a spritesheet.

Here's a classic example.

http://tsgk.captainn.net/?p=showgame&t=sy&sy=8&ga=261

Ok That's what I was going for, it will be much easy for the animations.
I use blender, I have the version 4 of 3dsmax but it's getting old and cost way to much to buy the last one
Blender is great, and with the beta version you can really find yourself more easily of you come from 3dsmax

yeah I do need to learn blender. I worked as a 3d artist for many years so I'm trained in 3dsmax. Definitely too expensive to afford on my own though