3D Animation 101

Walk Cycle

Felix Junior, the character in this animation, is a simple rig with a big focus on leg anatomy. The top half of the body is simplified into a sphere, and an antenna creates additional biology. 

Bent knees suggest motion and weight, it is clear the joints are at work. The first keyframe shouldn't be static and perfectly straight and this isn't natural.

Adjusting the root rotation shows a response to leg movement. It is important to show a whole-body response to the walk cycle. 

The antenna helps create interest, which is necessary since the character is extremely simple. The bouncing antenna helps alleviate simplicity and boorishness. 

Smoother motion can be achieved through the graph editor; kinks can be flattened out and remove any jagged and jittery movement. 

Car Skid

The goal of this animation was to experiment with movement response. Its important to have an understanding on how this object's components will respond and retaliate to the motion e.g Shock absorbers. 

The core movement is very simple for this animation. The objects reaction to the movement is what makes the animation compelling. 

Motion Paths

The aim of this animation was to animate a spaceship prop using keyframes and spline curves.  The keys on the spline must be evenly spaced in order to create a linear and clean animation. 

The object (spaceship) needs to be attached to the spline curve in order for it to follow its path.

Making the in and out keyframes linear removes any ease in’s and out’s, creating a constant motion.

Numbers will appear on the curve as additional keyframes are added to the animation.

MEL Scripting

This animation is to be carried out through coding rather than keyframing.  Script editor reveals a depiction of the coding which is happening behind the scenes in Maya. The script editor allows you to write your own script to apply to the scene. 

Adding a minus sign before ‘sin’ creates a negative action. This is the same code as the body, but it will move in the opposite direction because of the negative added.