2D Animation at Klei Entertainment

In this 2014 GDC session, Klei Entertainment's outline Klei Entertainments specific goals in relation to animation quality, some of their core inspirational material and how we strive to achieve our visual goals.
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[@awesomegamedev]

As a developer I am always astounded at how much content and (very importantly) consistent content animators can produce.

[@lukasvantilburg3943]

All hail Klei

[@tomsentaylor1268]

1:01 FINALLY! I've been waiting for someone to do that!

[@A1denPlay]

The 2D, the style, and especially the characters made Don't Starve so interesting for me that I've finally bought it, no regrets (really ironic since I don't really like survival games, but it is just so damn good).

[@just2pale]

This is typically how I work. I create all assets in Flash, then export the animations into our game engine.

[@rmcdaniel2424]

just2pale flash is still viable?

[@DOT107]

@@rmcdaniel2424 now called Animate, but yeah if you want. It falls down to preference.

[@Gatitasecsii]

Classic high quality 2D animation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pixel sprites

[@Chronomatrix]

Learned some useful things from this talk, the artist is great.

[@MrDanielMikos]

i wish sugar rush made it to a full game, i loved that beta back in the day

[@alperozgunyesil]

i'm pretty about "flash still with us" (OK OK animate!)

[@dmitrygreenshift9175]

Soo, I still can't get what the runtime for animation do they use... Nice video, but obvious and not enough information

[@EndPuppet]

I think they use Spriter. On the website of this tool, Don't Starve Mod Kit is listed under a section dedicated to customers. But could also be separate. But there are so many similar tools to choose from.

[@artvandelay8830]

Late answer xD homemade runtime. It's sad not having one available for everybody. Wish Godot got that kind of animation. Bones are not that good. Inbetweening is so cool. I'd use opentoonz if I could.

[@justahuman4862]

i love those games

[@fisheyes9744]

I'm still waiting for a Mark of the Ninja 2

[@zetetick395]

I wish. I was hoping it might come to PS4 - maybe with some extra content. Aach well.... :/

[@OnPoin1]

In the meantime you could take a look at "The Siegen and the Sandfox" looks like a promising mix between Prince of Persia and Mark of the Ninja in Pixelart ;) /watch?v=4tV-NxBPf5U

[@luksgar97]

Well, now they are bringing back MotN to PS4

[@Shin_shinchan]

Shank 3

[@johnx140]

KLEI BEST COMPANY

[@Shin_shinchan]

I'm still waiting shank 3

[@mdshahidaneday8733]

Nice guy

[@theclassyviking7351]

I just started *TRYING* to use flash, it's a nightmare to learn

[@artvandelay8830]

You've got alternatives like opentoonz or Synfig.

[@Paputsza]

Idk, I'd go with more joints to actually look traditional. 4 times as many joints about. Lovely games though.

[@w0mblemania]

Do you have a showcase of your work we can see?

[@TheMemoman]

Yay 2D!

[@Gutsybird]

There are no shortcuts in animation. If you're tweening then people will be able to tell.

[@isillor529]

maybe in an isolated showroom, but in games, dozens of animations are running at once. and the eye does have fundamental limitations.

[@Gutsybird]

Indeed, the famed game Shank, where literally DOZENS of enemies (two, sometimes three) are on-screen at once. You're right, the eye can only see fifteen frames per second and only in primary colors. Games such as Metal Slug, Earthworm Jim, and boatloads of 2D fighting games put simply too much effort into their animation while us cool insiders know that we can put 1/4th of the amount of effort into the visuals and gain just as much respect as those games. WE know what's up ;)

[@Mikefiser]

Colors have nothing to do with animation and yes, of course that when an eye is focused on one object, it easily misses the imperfections on the other one. It is only a matter of good design, whether the player notices or not. Shortcuts are taken, on every project. You just wouldn't make it in time without them.

[@justinward3679]

Color theory is pertinent to all fields of art.

[@Gutsybird]

you're right, I meant 12 fps and only in black and white.