FL Studio plugin "Fruity Dance" animation replacement project

[dai]

YES, another long-ass pet project for me on top of everything else. (but it's for my animation class, so it's worth while)

To the point- FL studio 8, as I have just discovered upon upgrading to it, has a plugin called "Fruity Dance". Basically, it's one of those desktop widgets of a dancing character, but with a twist- you can program it to dance specific ways during different parts of your song.

only problem is, it's a heavily overdone chibi character with an eyesore of a color problem.

(they get some really fancy stuff going halfway through)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-d7Fg-EGYU[/media]

Now, I started thinking to myself, "hey, that's cool, but doesn't fit MY taste. How do I solve this conundrum?"

Customize it, of course.

I searched long and hard around the internet, but being such a new item, it's pretty much non-existant. I Got more results searching for replacements for this FL-chan of people living in FLorida with the last name of Chan. :mad:

Why, what do I do now?

Dammit, why do I always forget I can do this stuff?! I'll just make new ones, but what? *hmmm* ...what dances or moves around, in an interesting fasion... then it hit me. I knew I shouldn't have, but... (avert your eyes, all who can't take overly cutesy anime- lord knows I can't :uhoh:
)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViEH57xQu1c[/media]

for those of you scared out of your wits by the amount of sheer what-the-fuck-cuteness, [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Y7TNH0Uis][U][B]this short video[/B][/U][/url] will make up for it (probably only if you're a deathnote fan, or like j-rock)

ANYWAYS, given the fact that I had already been up for approximately 24-30 hours and had energy to spare, I got straight to work.

several hours later (being now), I have... 16 frames of animation. that's only two animation sets for the program, but are actually one particular movement-

[url]http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/AnimeMarshmallow/32-1.gif[/url]

Here's some screens, taken within eachother because they stay on top and I wanted some variation in the positions-

[IMG]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c133/daijitsu/luckystardancerdemo.jpg[/IMG]
(100% scale images there)
Sorry for the rough quality, when you have to draw a total of 80 of these things to finish a single sheet, you don't really revert to refined vexel art.

Another note, as you can see, I've only got one character down. The reason for the lack of frames and characters is quite simply TIMING. Does anyone know how fucking hard it is to look at full video running between 15 and 24 fps (anime runs slower, you know), and guesstimate the timing on that, then transfer it one frame at a time by hand into photoshop? and ON TOP OF THAT, I had to make sure there were definite hit-points for them to follow along with the beat of a song. THAT was the killer right there.

To be honest, when you put that animation to some trance, it's actually pretty damn cool.

Oh, one last note- IF YOU HAVE REASON 8 AND WOULD LIKE TO TRY THIS, I have a re-edited version of the demo song "Deadmau5- That's not true" that accompanies the existing animation seamlessly, and you REALLY have to try it.

feel free to download, but only if you promise to tell me what you think of them so far.

[url=http://dump.no/files/848c0a0ae16f/dance.png][B][U]the current image file[/U][/B][/url]
[url=http://dump.no/files/848c0a0ae16f/that%5C%27s_not_true_%28edited_for_new_FDs.flp][B][U]the current flp file[/U][/B][/url]

navigate to C:\program files\Image-Line\FL Studio 8\Plugins\Fruity\Generators\Fruity Dance\Artwork\, and overwrite the existing file "dance.png". If you want the original back for some reason, either save a copy, or go to the homepage where you can re-download it pick up all your cheap merchandise, here- [url]http://www.flstudio.com/documents/flchan.html[/url]

I intend to, once I have slept for a while, put together the other 3 characters and fit them all on the same animation sheet with the jumping animation. It should be a bit easier, since I have the timing down finally.

ALSO, I will be offering re-colors soon after completing because I can't stand the baby blue and pink, as well as offering special orders to various members of FP who I KNOW (or can prove) that they have the program and USE it. No more freeloading, 'ye random FP'ers who want free drawings because I said you can ask :argh:

The ipod version is a given, and would probably be a major update, but I think that deserves me making a FULL moveset for one character instead of one bounce for all of them. Rawr, Extra credit.

[aero1444]

Haha, cool, although the default FL one in the first video is cute :3

[Trapper]

This is going to be

[quote=lulz]hawt[/quote]

Also, LS intro is hypnotizing.

[darkedone02]

I wonder when they going to make the popotan dance (aka Caramelldensan dance)

[Xenocidebot]

Problem is, it's lacking the same "chibi" feel to it, which some people actually like, although with that style, popotan seems like a given next step.

[shaunyboyy]

In fruity loops I don't bother with the video making crap that's in it, only for music production.

[dai]

-just woke back up-

-Shauny-
I DO do a lot of live production, so having what at some point will be a COMPLETELY custom little dancer at the bottom will prove useful if I start using FL for performances.

-xeno-
Really, the FL Chan chibi is ok, but I couldn't stand the animation set, nor the colors. I actually tried just recoloring it to get my mind off of it, but it just went snowballing from there... plus despite the anatomical difference between the two, I doubt anything can get much more chibi than Lucky Star :v:

-Shauny again-
also, it isn't so much video production as a toy to mess with when you can't make a song. If I have several themes made, or different animations at least in the same one, I can load one up and just watch it to a basic beat. The new animation I've put together actually has a punchy personality to it, since I had to speed it up and essentially SMACK the beat-line, and the animation would probably inspire my music to be a bit harder :D

the basic FL chan would probably be good for easy music like in that first video, but not much for me :/

[SauceHelmet]

Fruity loops is so god damn fruity.

[Lord Ned]

You posted the wrong intro!
[media]http://youtube.com/watch?v=hfSr4M4xSbA[/media]

[dai]

I remember my friend did crazy subtitles like that to the entire movie Advent Children... but much more inappropriate :ninja:

[NegaZomBuste]

I think the thing itself is stupid, but you did a pretty good job on it.

[dai]

Well, yeah, but it's still fun doing it. Besides, like I said, it applies to my animation class homework so I'm happy doing it.

Also, it doesn't suck as much now as it did before I started modding it :v:

[spyk]

Weaboo!

Also, this is pretty damn awesome.

[dai]

[QUOTE=spyk]Weaboo!

Also, this is pretty damn awesome.[/QUOTE]

Haha, thanks. Just FYI, I'm going to start work on the other characters to go along with it later on today... I'm going for breakfast... or dinner. As par usual, I haven't slept in a LONG time.

Nights are very productive. You can be lazy all you want and there's still time to do everything anyways :v:

[spyk]

[QUOTE=daijitsu]Haha, thanks. Just FYI, I'm going to start work on the other characters to go along with it later on today... I'm going for breakfast... or dinner. As par usual, I haven't slept in a LONG time.

Nights are very productive. You can be lazy all you want and there's still time to do everything anyways :v:[/QUOTE]

Yeah Nights Can be Very productive :keke:

[As long as you're not being productive for someone, (Namelezzz) :ninja:]

[b]Edit:[/b]

[QUOTE=daijitsu]
ALSO, I will be offering re-colors soon after completing because I can't stand the baby blue and pink, as well as offering special orders to various members of FP who I KNOW (or can prove) that they have the program and USE it. No more freeloading, 'ye random FP'ers who want free drawings because I said you can ask :argh:[/QUOTE]

Do i count? :3:

[dai]

[QUOTE=spyk]Do i count? :3:[/QUOTE]

well, do you have v8 of FL studio? I think that's all that's needed to qualify :D

[spyk]

[img]http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2160/dpmf7.jpg[/img]

:uhoh:

[b]Edit:[/b]

[QUOTE=daijitsu]well, do you have v8 of FL studio? I think that's all that's needed to qualify :D[/QUOTE]

I sure do.

[dai]

[QUOTE=spyk][img]http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2160/dpmf7.jpg[/img]

:uhoh:

[b]Edit:[/b]

I sure do.[/QUOTE]

Sweetness. Did you have anything in mind? I could at least do some research into getting the character posed for at least one cel by the end of the day.

[spyk]

Like The lucky star one, but with this;

[img]http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6532/testgl2.gif[/img]

:D

You know, Bold up the lines and bold-color it, like the Lucky Star one.

[dai]

Yeah, that should do.

I wonder how many frames are in that particular animation... I might be able to rip it straight out and work from there.

Also, as you may probably know already, there obviously will only be two clips, the smile/blink pika (left), and the basic one on the right. It should let you do a LITTLE bit of variation, but not much. If you can find a few more pik-animations, I could put more in there for you and keep them looking the same style.

...Which reminds me, anyone have a good idea where I could find animations of some iPod dance people?

[TH89]

I want to murder that thing in the first video

[dai]

[QUOTE=TH89]I want to murder that thing in the first video[/QUOTE]

...Which is why I'm doing this :v:

I hate the chibi of this thing to death, but I guess they make up for it by doing some 'normal' anime art...

They've covered everything from:

SUPER CHIBI
[img]http://www.flstudio.com/documents/flchan_mini_Thumb_.png[/img]

to Standard Chibi
[img]http://www.flstudio.com/documents/flchan_chibi_complete_Thumb_.png[/img]

to standard anime girl in awkward generic pose
[img]http://www.flstudio.com/documents/flchan_Thumb_.png[/img]

oh, and the gi-fucking-gantic png and psd versions of those files are found here- [url]http://www.flstudio.com/documents/flchan.html[/url] . . . Why do I need a 3,000 pixel tall FL Chan?!

[B]Edit:[/B]
this is probably why-
[img]http://www.flstudio.com/extimages/p_fl_chan3_ezg_1.jpg[/img]

[TH89]

[QUOTE=daijitsu]...Which is why I'm doing this :v:[/QUOTE]

I guess!

I think part of the problem is that I've never found those anime things cute at all, like I can see how it's supposed to be cute but it's so self-consciously so that it just comes off as creepy

[spyk]

[QUOTE=daijitsu]Yeah, that should do.

I wonder how many frames are in that particular animation... I might be able to rip it straight out and work from there.

Also, as you may probably know already, there obviously will only be two clips, the smile/blink pika (left), and the basic one on the right. It should let you do a LITTLE bit of variation, but not much. If you can find a few more pik-animations, I could put more in there for you and keep them looking the same style.

...Which reminds me, anyone have a good idea where I could find animations of some iPod dance people?[/QUOTE]

I think it is 29 frames.

[dai]

Almost done with that pikachu- I'm adding a few extra bits like an idle standing animation and a picked-up one for when you're dragging it around. I'm doing this on here-and-there time, so it may be later in the day when I finish. ;D

[spyk]

Cool :D

[dai]

I haven't been ignoring you, spyk- there've been a few problems trying to get the damn animation to NOT jump around on the screen... here's what I have so far, so you can see where I am as of yet-

[IMG]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c133/daijitsu/dance.png[/IMG]

as mentioned in the OP, overwrite the fileC:\program files\Image-Line\FL Studio 8\Plugins\Fruity\Generators\Fruity Dance\Artwork\DANCE.PNG

if you want, re-edit the names of each set in the txt file at that location to suit your needs.

I haven't tested this version yet, hopefully it works better than it did before. it moves a bit fast, though :/

I believe if you scale down the image, it will still work just fine, and the size of your pikachu will change to the new size with no problems. (aside from what problems are already there)

[the music city]

fl 9 is cool :) try z3ta+ and vanguard

[editline]07:56PM[/editline]

fl 9 is cool :) try z3ta+ and vanguard

[Re-Con]

[QUOTE=the music city;18282185]fl 9 is cool :) try z3ta+ and vanguard

[editline]07:56PM[/editline]

fl 9 is cool :) try z3ta+ and vanguard[/QUOTE]

okay