My very first attempt at animation and a very newbie question!

[Raffix]

Hello animators!
I try to draw quite a lot but have only very recently become interested in animation. Here is my very first effort, but I would like any advice offered.

I produced this very clumsily, just by drawing from scratch each new frame (8 altogether) and only being able to try to align the pose by measuring and guessing.

So, if anyone has any ideas, how do I create reliable hand-drawn animation without the image jumping around the screen? I have heard something about peg-bars, but it all sounds rather confusing...thanks

[egerie]

For a first attempt, it's a damn good one. Peg bars are there to "reference" your sheets together. Basically to have your sheets always aligned so your drawings won't jump about all over the place when you a) animate and b) shoot or scan your sheets.
When animating, we usually "roll" sheets. After a 2 minutes search on google, I found this video which shows what it means.
If you don't want to use a peg bar with animation paper, you can start with a tight notebook or flipbook. Just start from the back and draw your way forward in straight ahead.

Keep on it!

[AlexEh]

Keep at it. I suggest torrenting Richard Williams The Animators Survival Kit Animated he goes through all the basics!

[Xlade]

I can't see the video (I'm at work), but I can tell you that peg bars are awesome. They tend to work best with the paper they're made for (translucent paper specially punched for the type of peg bar they match) and with a lightbox underneath (I have one of the ones you can find at Michaels craft stores, not perfect but usable). But those are for when you're really ready to sink the money into learning the work, at least the special paper is. I'd suggest the same book Dy suggested. There's a reason instructors use it. Also just study and keep at it and keep asking questions!

[egerie]

FYI, Richard Williams has the book and the DVD set out. The set is based on the book.

[Raffix]

thanks a lot guys, feel really good now about starting to learn as much as i can about animation

[Smashed_Pumpkin]

"Character Animation: 2D Skills for Better 3D" by Steve Roberts is a pretty good book for learning some of the fundamentals of animation in a very easy to read and understand format. It's a pretty good bridge between 2D and 3D animation too.