How To Import Live Action Reference Into Maya

The video above explains how to import live action reference into Maya.  There are two basic methods; importing a series of individual frames, and importing a movie file. Both can be fiddly - watch the video to see how it is done.  To see more detail on  how to use live action reference to create animation in Maya, read this blog post. 

Quadruped Run Tutorial

Horse gallop by Mark Lawson-Hall

In this animation tutorial we show how to animate a quadruped running - in this case a horse.  Every animator needs to understand how to animate quadrupeds in motion; these are the basic "scales" of animal and creature animation.  

The basic gait for all quadrupeds is more or less the same, allowing for anatomy (herbivores generally have less flexible spines than carnivores), so this tutorial can be applied to any four-legged creature, but the easiest way to follow the tutorial is to use the free horse rig - available for download from the Mothman TD website. 

Spider Animation Tutorial

Spider Animation by Mark Lawson-Hall

In this new animation tutorial we show how to create a locomotion cycle with a spider, demonstrating how to take an apparently complex action and, by breaking it down into simple components, we can make the animation much easier.

A spider's walk looks complex, but is in fact very easy to animate, by following this simple tutorial.

Crow in Flight Tutorial

Animate a crow in flight

Our latest animation tutorial shows how to animate a bird in flight - specifically a crow. The tutorial covers how to animate a flap cycle, add refinements, add the animation to a motion path, import a set, and then create an interesting and inventive scene. 

Birds are one of the many kinds of creatures that animators will be expected to know how to animate; this tutorial demonstrates a simplified approach that gets a strong result in a short amount of time. 

Animate Dialogue with "Monty" - "Smokin!"

Monty: "Smokin!"

In the simple animation tutorial below we show how to animate a character with no mouth ("Monty") speaking a line of dialogue.  

But how can you animate dialogue and lipsync - with no lips?  The answer is - it's all in the acting and the performance. 

 

If the body language is working, then the audience will believe that the character is speaking - even if the character itself has no mouth. 

Animate a Military Walk With "Monty"

One thing every animator needs to learn is how to animate a character walk.  In this latest tutorial, we show how to take a basic walk cycle using the "Monty" rig (free for download from highend3d.com) and make Monty march like a goose-stepping soldier on a parade ground.  

The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners. 

No Audio in Maya Playblast?

Autodesk Maya Playplast Options - select QT

What should you do if you are getting no audio in your Autodesk Maya Playblast? 

If you make a Playblast in Maya and there is no audio, try opening up the Playlist settings and tinkering with the output. 

By default, Maya tends to choose a .avi file, but if you go under Format and change the output to QT instead of AVI, you will often be able to get audio playback.

Animate "Monty" Singing "Oh Yeah"

"Monty" sings "Ohhh Yeahhh". 

In the simple animation tutorial we show how to animate a character with no mouth ("Monty") singing a line of dialogue.  

But how can you animate dialogue and lipsync - with no lips?  The answer is - it's all in the performance.  If the body language is working, then the audience will believe that the character is speaking - even if the character itself has no mouth.  

In this tutorial we animate "Monty" saying (well, singing) a line of dialogue - "Ohhh Yeahhh". 

Animate a Run Cycle with "Monty"

"Monty" runs for the bus

In this beginner's tutorial we show how to animate a simple, basic run cycle with "Monty". 

The tutorial uses the excellent "Monty" rig (which you can read about here), and which you can download for free from highend3d.com.

Every animator should know how to animate a basic walk and a run cycle - these are the "scales" of the animator's skillset.  

Animate a Cartoony "Take" with "Mr Buttons"

Reaction shots are the bread-and-butter of junior animators.  On a feature film, once an animator has graduated from walk cycles and crowd shots, they get given reaction shots.

In this series of video tutorials, we show how to go about blocking out an animated scene, in this case a reaction shot, or "take", with the cartoony cat rig "Mr Buttons" by Keith Osborn.

Animate a "Manly Walk" with "Monty"

Cowboy walk with Monty

One thing every animator needs to learn is how to animate a character walk. In our latest tutorial, we show how to take a "plain vanilla" walk using the "Monty" rig (free for download from Creative Crash) and make Monty walk in a masculine way - with just a few clicks.

The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners. 

Animate an "Angry Walk" With "Monty"

Angry Walk with the "Monty" rig

One thing every animator needs to learn is how to animate a character walk. In our latest tutorial, we show how to take a "plain vanilla" walk using the marvellous "Monty" rig (free for download from Creative Crash) and make Monty angry and grumpy - with just a few clicks.

The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners. 

Animate a Slow, Sad Walk with "Monty"

Animate a sad walk with "Monty"

One thing every animator needs to learn is how to animate a character walk. In our newest tutorial, we show how to take a "plain vanilla" walk using the marvellous "Monty" rig (free for download from Creative Crash) and make Monty sad and depressed - with just a few clicks.  

The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners. 

Animate a Basic Walk with "Heavy"

Animate a Basic Walk with the "Heavy" Rig

One thing every animator needs to learn is how to animate a character walk. In our newest tutorial, we show how to animate a simple walk cycle using the "Heavy" rig. (free for download at Creative Crash). The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners. 

The tutorial is designed to be easy to follow, and to use simple thumbnails that show all the main poses in the walk, and can be easily broken down and interpolated. 

"Double Bounce Walk" With "Monty"

Monty Double Bounce Walk

Every animator needs to learn how to animate a character walk.  In this simple tutorial, we show how to take a "plain vanilla" walk using the marvellous "Monty" rig (free for download from Creative Crash) and give it a sunny, upbeat personality with just a few clicks.  

The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners.