Re: Velociraptor Animation

["dinotracker" <dinotracker@earthlink.net>]

    David Marjanovic commented of the Velociraptor animation, saying, "And
why doesn't it have feathers on its head?"

    David may have said that tongue-in-cheek, because of what was on the
heads of 'Velociraptors' in the recent installment of Jurassic Park; but
kidding or not, it seems to me that an animal which might be, for example,
sticking its head into a ripped-open abdomen might get along better without
much in the way of feathers on its head.

    As to whether a Velociraptor might stand up so vertically as does the
one in the animation, the animal has just arisen from a sitting position.  I
doubt the animal would maintain such a position, but if it is for a moment,
I don't see anything unlikely in that.  I suspect that was the artist's
intention, rather than suggesting it might carry itself so vertically.
Also, note that just prior to this, the digit II 'killer claw' lifts.  I
suspect that the artist may have intended this as being just prior to
bending the legs for a quick spring-up leap onto prey.

    I'm no expert, but my 'gut' response is that the artist has done a
rather good job in researching this, and that the result is reasonably
credible.

Ray Stanford

"You know my method.  It is founded upon the observance of trifles." --
Sherlock Holmes in The Boscombe Valley Mystery

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>
To: "The Dinosaur Mailing List" <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 12:13 PM
Subject: Re: Velociraptor Animation


> I'd be curious to hear any feedback.
>
> http://kyoht.com/images/art/Meso/getup.html

Great! But why does it get so far up that it almost stands like a kangaroo?
Just curious. (And why doesn't it have feathers on its head? But that has
nothing to do with the animation, of course.)

> but please don't tell her I gave you the
> address.

:o) Then make sure she never ever finds the archives at
www.cmnh.org/fun/dinosaur-archive... good luck :->

>          I want to be the master of time and space, a living god,
>                             ...and then I'd like to visit Europe.

See Naples and DIE!!! :-)