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Basic rigging

For this lesson, we built a simple human figure and then delved into how to build a rig. The rigger is a vital part of 3D, I realised with this class that without rigs there would be no way to animate characters. A good rig must have flexible and intuitive controls, capable of realising any animation.

Outcome:

Weight shift and walking cycle

What is a walk cycle?

A walk cycle is an animation technique using illustrated frames stitched together to create a sense of movement. The series of frames contains consecutive drawings of a walking figure. When combined together, the animation appears to walk.

In this lecture we saw how walking cycles are a good way to visualise the basics of human movement. They are also an effective way to animate the act of walking. Once the cycle has been made, one can simply repeat it, instead of animating each new walking scene again. However, making the movement of walking look natural can be difficult without the right method and a lot of practice. This is where walk cycles come into play.

The way a character walks conveys much more than the movement. From body language, gait and pace one can tell a lot about a character. It is therefore important to ensure that these elements are reflected in your work.