Looking for easy way to make blocky video game characters

F

firehawk

Veteran
I'm going to create an animation that looks like an old Nintendo game. Plan is design the characters in Photoshop and each of their frames and then animate it all in After Effects.
I'm looking for advice on a fast way to draw the characters where they are made up of blocks (pixelated). I do not want smooth looking characters. I don't want to build them using the rectangle tool a bunch of times, either.
What would be great is if I had some type of grid and I could just paint in the blocks as needed, kind of like graph paper.
Rather than create it all in low res 320X240 or 720X480 I *think* I want to create the video in HD 720X1280 to give me a little resolution room. So it won't truly be as low-res as the blockiness will make it appear.
Ideas?
 
Years ago (when I did pixel art for video games), I used an Amiga and Deluxe Paint (in the 90's). When everything moved to PCs, the software of choice was Pro-motion... I remember the last version I used was back in 2003.

Just did a quick Google - it's still around and has been vastly updated (as pixel art is in resurgence due to mobile etc)... here's a link - https://www.cosmigo.com

I'd just use this program to work on your elements (maybe even the full project), as it'll give you all the tools needed (overlay sprites, working on sprite grids, limited background colours, animation cycles etc).

Hope that helps :)
 
Thank you Derek!
Very helpful. I didn't even know Pro-Motion existed. Since you told me about it, I've been looking at it and watching tutorials. Very affordable too!

I remember back in the last half of the 80s, the Amiga was the WOW system with the stunning graphics. And I guess about 1989 256 color VGA came to PC and evened things out somewhat. Back in the 90s I used to love computer games.

I looked at your website and you guys do impressive work.

Now I've got to decide whether it's faster to get and learn Pro motion or just work with what I have.
 
No problem firehawk - glad to help and thanks for the positive comment (we do need to update the site and Showreel thankfully, that's not my department :)

Honestly, I remember Pro-Motion as being very simple... you just defined a sprite box (ie 64x64) and then used a simple interface to add pixels/create a character - it was very easy to create animation cycles and backgrounds. Back when I used it, it didn't have automatic style tools to help with tiles and map making (you had to do that by hand).

If you understand After Effects (or similar) and Photoshop, I think you'll find Promotion (or whatever they call it now!) very (very) easy. Why not download the trial and spend an hour or so with it? I think you'll grasp it easily... you might even get what you need from the trial (I don't know what features are held back in this version).

One thing is for sure, you'll get something that will look far more authentic this way - as you can even use modes to simulate old 90's machine limitations (ie simulate a Snes or Genesis palette and Gfx set etc)... and you'll have fun - honestly, if it's anything like the old version, it's really easy.

Post a pic or some links when you're done, it'll be interesting to see :)
 
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