Hello and welcome, Tama-Zone members! This is my first in a series of tutorials on how to make Tamagotchi animations, as well as the basics on making your very own character and bringing it to life!
...not bring it to life as in putting it onto an actual Tamagotchi, but graphic-wise, yes.
Before we get started, if you read through all the tutorials and cand still can't complete an animation, I'll make one FOR you.
Okay, wetting started!
All modern-day screens for Tamagotchis are exactly 32 by 30 pixels wide. This is relatively small compared to other virtual pets (outside Tamagotchi, I mean, because there have been MUCH smaller Tamagotchis).
Since there is not a whole lot of room, Bandai worked out a system for all Tamagotchi characters. I discovered it and dubbed it the 'Tamagotchi Size-Color Arch'.
The Arch consists of 3 colors: Red, Light Blue and Bright Yellow. They can be any other color though.
The Arch is 16x16 pixels wide, and each color represents a different Tamagotchi age group. The smallest in the middle is for babies, and is 8x8 pixels in size. The second one is 12x12 pixels and is used for child AND teen characters. (Exceptions are seen on the V2 and V3) The final color is the full-size 16x16 pixel color, red, and is for all adult Tamagotchi characters.
Here is an example of how the Arch works, using Tsubutchi, Hitodetchi, YoungMimitchi, and Paparatchi:
Notice how none of them go anywhere outside their color.
Now the most important part of any Tamagotchi character is their animations. I will use Mametchi as an example of an 'Animation Chart'.
The chart follows a pattern:
Frames 1 and 2 are the character's 'idle' poses. IT's how they float around on the screen.
Framed 3 and 4 are eating poses. The first appears when the food touches the ground and the second when the food starts to disappear. Some characters, like Tensaitchi and ShiroTeletchi have the two poses switched.
Frames 5 and 6 are running poses.
Frame 7 is the 'head-shaking' pose. Simply try feeding it when it's not hungry or medicine when not sick to see it.
Frame 8 is the ever-important happy pose. Win a game and this pose appears along with the happy sun.
Frame 9 is the 'facing away' pose. Sometimes your Tama does this when he/she has 0 happy hearts. Sometimes your Tama will spin in the air, and this will appear briefly. This also appears when putting on a costume.
Frame 10 is the unhappy pose. It appears before it cries or gets angry, and also when it sleeps.
Frame 11 is the crying pose. Usually appears after losing a game.
Frame 12 is the angry pose. It's much more difficult to see on the Entama/Uratama and V4, as the 'discipline' option has been removed.
Frame 13 is the pleading pose. Usually appears when your Tamagotchi has had no hungry hearts filled for a while, or when your Tama uses a Love Potion.
Frame 14 is the upset pose. It usually appears when you feed your Tama some food it doesn't like, or make it play with a toy it doesn't like.
Frame 15 is the blushing pose. It appears when your Tama plays with a toy it DOES like.
Frame 16 is the jumping pose. It appears when your Tama plays with any toy.
Frames 17 and 18 are sitting poses. They appear when your Tama is playin with a toy or when it's on the toilet.
Frame 19 is the screaming/yelling pose. So far, it appears only on the Entama and Uratama, and maybe the V4.
Frame 20 is the dizzy pose. It usually appears when your Tama is standing on a ball or if you catch a big fish (both on v3). It also appears on an Entama/Uratama game with paper balloons. I'm not sure about other versions.
Frame 21 is the kissing pose. Japanese Tamagotchis kiss when mating, while other Tamas kiss after connecting and drinking love potion.
Any other animations not listed (such as fallen over) go after Frame 21. Under that is bed poses, bathing, and brushing teeth.
Baby, child, and teen charts are smaller, as they do not have as many animations.
In my next post, you'll learn how this is all used to make Tamagotchi animations, and how you can make your own!
~OM21