Fight scene

[Bluebug]

I've got another fight scene I need help with. Much like my last initial sketch, these characters are also devoid of weapons at the moment. That bothered a few people last time, but I'd rather not add them in until I have the characters downpat. For reference, they're both carrying swords. The dude in the air is actually carrying an extremely long sword that's flexible like a whip.

I consider this the fight scene from hell because while I love the first character (the one on the ground), I can't for the life of me figure out how to arrange the second character.

Basically I'd like the second character to be facing the viewer as well, but I can't figure out a good attack/defensive move that would involve him facing away from his opponent.

To rationalize this version picture, I was thinking that the airborne guy is actually standing on the other guy's sword (a la crazy Asian movie martial arts move). Any better suggestions?

(And if it's not too much to ask, can you do a quick and dirty stickman sketch? Fighting poses are rather hard to describe and even harder to understand in written format.)



Thanks in advance.

[Mobi]

Just a thought, have you considered the 2nd character to be in mid-backflip?

i.e, The first character is in mid swing (low, sword sweeping close to the ground), and the 2nd dude is in the middle of the backflip (maybe with one hand on the ground to keep it all "earthed").

That way, their both facing the front, but ... in a "believable" fight situation.

If you didnt understand that, but were interested in the idea, I suppose I could whip up a sketch of what I mean...

[ChainSaw]

I love the lineart first off. very good.

really I wouldn't know where to tell you how to do it. but what I would do if I was stuck like you are, is just spend a few hours drawing stick figures fighting in their little stick world untill the perfect idea just came to me.

thats what I would do. but maybe I just like stick figures too much.

[Komiyan]

Just as a quick thought, the guy in the air- his hands look a bit too small.

[ChainSaw]

kindof a cool idea I just had. without changing anything in that particular drawing. you could split the frame diagonally, add some crazy action lines for background to make them look like they're going light speed. that way it looks like they're charging eachother, but you make the reader connect the dots. you know, classic anime style frame split faceoff style...


it sounded good in my head.

[Black Sparrow]

Byakuya's head looks a little too big.

As usual, you have some cool stuff going with perspective, but I have a hard time imagining just where the sword is supposed to go. Renji's feet just aren't postioned so that both of them could be on the blade.

There's although the option of Byakuya using his speed to come up behind Renji, so that you get a good look at both their faces.

[Warofwinds]

To me, this image looks as though the guy in the air did a jumping back kick inside the other dude's guard. It's a move we practice a lot in karate, because you immediately come back around usually to head. The kick is extremely incapacitating when done correctly. Called a "donkey kick" for fun That's how I rationalize their positions at least, but I've never been able to make a good "anime" fight scene. Dunno if that helps at all.

[Pencilears]

i'm going to suggest putting in the swords at the stick figure posing stage.

this is so you can figure out where everybody is and how they are fitting together, its really awesome line art but it kid of looks right now like the two figures have just been drawn next to each other as they don't seem to be affecting one another's pose.

also, if your having trouble with poses, i always find a bit of sculpting helps me to feel whats going on, i usually use twist ties because its easy to get a good stick figure out of them. (and they're cheap)

[Bluebug]

I hope reviving my own dead post isn't a big no-no. Thanks for all the comments, everyone. Sorry I didn't reply to anyone's suggestions. I was a bit discouraged because it looked like I would have to redraw the whole thing. I managed to get a pose that I liked (even though it wasn't the pose I envisioned). The attack is a bit off, but I think it works better than before.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/51770538/[/url]

[Bluebug]

Phew, after many hours of coloring, here's the finished piece. I welcome all constructive crits.

The one thing I couldn't figure out was how far the pink light would reach. So I used artistic license. I'm not sure if there's some sort of rule to determine how far light will reach. The shadows on the ground and the back wall were a bit tricky too, but I hoped I managed to pull them off. Same goes for the pink reflection on the ground.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/51868836/

[Fabio Ciccone]

Well, the only advice I could give to anyone drawing a fight scene is:

Read Dragon Ball. If you don't like the manga style, well, read it anyway. The guy kicks ass.


Toriyama is my hero

[Jameslong]

one of the most important lessons i've learned is this: never try to make something work. if it's not working, there's probably a reason for it. That's what 'rough' sketches are for.. to get the positions/perspective right and frame the scene.

I'd say about the only thing you could do with the airborn character is change his hands and make him pre-swing... the sword-blade over his right shoulder... but that would leave the lower right character just standing there with his sword out for no reason.

i may be way off here, but what it seems like is instead of drawing a scene, you've drawn 2 separate characters and tried to mash them together... only thing that's going to do for you is cause serious trouble in your composition.

I will say this: minus a few minor problems with hands, your lines are very good. However, don't ever allow your comic to suffer just so you don't have to redraw something.