character and weapon advice

[kunglao]

I am currently currently a character for an art test.The requirements are that he has a 2 handed axe and i am to create a 20 frame animation of him swininging the axe.
I am using biped 3d studio max 2008.

Should i attach the axe to the models hand,weight the axe to the hand and by posing during the key frames bring the other hand over to hold it aswell.
The animation is to start idle and end idle.
I would really appreciate any help.

[kodde]

So going from and idle pose -> swing the axe (attack?) -> back to idle? And all this in 20 frames? At what frames per second?

Seems awfully fast to me. Even at 24fps that's less than a second.

[rooster]

i would simply parent the axe to the hand bone, personally

[kodde]

Rooster> I would probably do the same. With this method you want to be careful with what you are doing with the hand bone. A slight twitch or unwanted rotation will be very apparent on the axe, especially at the end of it, as it is parented to the hand and follows its every motion.