Animation Process

Step 1: Reference

First I research and gather various videos to get inspiration and animation reference. If I can film myself acting out the animation, I will prioritize that method. If not, I will compile various videos to create the reference I need.

Step 2: Sketches

After I edit the video to contain the reference I need to complete the animation, I draw overtop the video with notes and sketches of pose adjustments to take note of while I animate.

Step 3: Setting Up Scene

Before I begin animating, I go through Maya and prep my work scene. I will reference in the rig and test the limitations of each controller and learn the features included. Then I will go through and setup quick select buttons for each controller, set up animation layers depending on the complexity of the rig, and save specific poses I know I will need in a pose library.

Step 4: Blocking

I always start each animation in stepped mode where I will block out the key poses and breakdowns of the animation .

Step 5: Spline

After I have blocked out all movements for the animation then I transfer the animation into spline mode and begin cleaning up major graph problems.

Step 6: Polish

After cleaning up the animation in the graph, I begin adding in unique features of the rig into the animation, in this case: earrings, ear twitches, cloth, etc. I then go through the graph on every controller and make sure it is clean and all movement is as intended.

Step 7: Finalize

Once all unique features of the rig are animated and the graph editor is cleaned up, I add in a set camera and lights to display my work.