skeletal rig your character|Course hero helper

Posted: March 7th, 2023

By now your characters are built, attached, textured, and you have even created a set of morpher targets to serve for facial animation.

The next step is to build your character a skeletal structure we refer to as a rig. Build a rig on the inside of your characters with custom bone shapes that fit your particular character like a glove.

Remember that the CAT rig system is fully customizable to allow you to create rigs for creatures with 2, 4, 8, or even 100 legs or more. Much like the images below, which have wings, you can add extra arms, legs, fingers, and even extra heads. With CAT you will be able fit the bones of your rig specifically to any character shape in all of your wildest imaginations.

This week you are responsible for initiating the construction of your character’s rig. You will be required to complete roughly 50% of the total rig you will need to complete. Remember, doing more NOW will help you finish LATER as well as receive more meaningful feedback from your instructor.

SOLUTION

• Start with the spine: The spine is the core of your character’s rig, so it’s essential to get it right. It should be flexible enough to accommodate the character’s movements while still providing enough stability. Use IK (Inverse Kinematics) where necessary: IK is useful for animating limbs, especially if they need to reach for objects or move in a particular way. Add controllers: Controllers make it easier to manipulate the rig and animate the character. Make sure to use custom bone shapes that fit your character.