Procedural Rigging with Construction Kits using Voodoo by Matt L Derksen

Procedural Rigging with Construction Kits using Voodoo from Matt L Derksen on Vimeo.

Links, enlaces et liens - GDC 2017 Edition

www.animstate.com/free-gdc-2017-animation-talks/
A list of all animation talks from GDC2017.

http://www.animstate.com/animation-exchange-2017-recording-feedback/
The link above contains links to each section of the excellent #ANIMX talk that was held during the latest GDC. Below is the full stream (8+ hours!) in case you want to watch the whole thing (as I did).


Watch live video from TwitchOffice on www.twitch.tv

Links, enlaces et liens

http://boutique23.com/
Some cool rigs on sale!

This is the gif we should be showing new maya animators pic.twitter.com/AnQUunl2j0

— Janel Drewis (@the_jan_man) March 15, 2016

https://vimeo.com/groups/gameanimFollow this group for some cool demo reels!

http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/deadpool-visual-effects-breakdown-by-atomic-fiction/
Nice breakdown from the Deadpool film

http://ryanwoodwardart.com/animation/
I think I've shared this before but it doesn't matter, still worth the reshare! :)

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/3DSMax/files/GUID-75E03BAB-0D94-43E0-B281-3AE3299BD2B9-htm.html
Some alternative options for those that are using 3ds max

https://www.iamag.co/features/disney-real-time-skeletal-skinning-with-optimized-centers-of-rotation/
Cool tech for skinning. From Disney, nonetheless :P

http://thinkinganimation.com/new-free-rig-mr-buttons/
Free rig!! Check a test run done by Kyle Kenworthy below...

Mr. Button's Bow Tie from Kyle Kenworthy on Vimeo.

Tips and Tricks for Multiple Space Switch in Maya - By Manoanim

Maya Tutorial - Tips Tricks Multiple Space Switch Using SDK from Manoanim on Vimeo.

Animation tips from Twitter and the GDC Tricks of the Trade talk

Rigging Dojo Animation Tips from Twitter and GDC Tricks of the Trade from Rigging Dojo on Vimeo.

Below is the link for the Trick of the Trade talk that happened on the last GDC (2016):

http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023479/Animation-Bootcamp-Tricks-of-the

 Enjoy! Tons of info in this post :)

Allright Rig For Unreal Engine 4

This is the future of animation for video games.

NewView tool for 3ds max - by Boomer Labs

NewView Preview 1 from Boomer Labs on Vimeo.

Change rotation curve colors in Maya

When I was working with mocap data at Ubisoft, one useful thing that I found when I was using Motionbuilder was that it was possible to change the colors of the curves in the F-Curve editor. You could change any curve color, either it was a custom parameter or the X rotation axis.

The most important benefit for doing this is that by changing the color of the most important parameters, they automatically become more recognizable.

Since working at Larian Studios here in Quebec I've been working exclusively in Maya, and I missed having this option. Not really because I have tons of custom attributes, but when I see the Graph Editor, it's hard for me to quickly recognize which curves are Translation and which Rotation. For example, in the image below, you can't really tell which is which.

Lucky me, there is a way to change the colors in Maya.

The only thing you have to do is (in the Graph Editor) select the attribute you want to change and then click on Edit and select "Set Curve Colors..."

This option will open a dialog with to panes or sides: One contains the attribute you selected and the other one the new color. Click on the color picker and select the color that you want for that attribute.

If you want to modify the color of additional attributes, just select them in the Graph Editor and click on the "Add" button in the Curve Colors dialog window.

Once you have change the colors, just close the dialog. In my case, after changing all rotation attributes, the result looks like this:

As you can see, now I know which are my rotation curves just by looking at the Graph Editor.

Some remarks:

• These changes are part of your Maya environment now. This means that, in my case, the rotation curves will always show this colors, no matter the object selected or which scene I'm working on.
• In the case of the rotation colors, I recommend changing to something similar than the precious red green and blue colors. This because the rotation manipulator will not change the colors to match this new setup, so in order to keep some link between the curves and the manipulator, is better to things similar.

I hope this helps.

Cheers!

P.D.- The rig shown in the images is the Joe Rig. You can find it here.

LMPicker - Controller Selection tool for Maya

This tool just changed the way I see Marking Menus! Really cool idea!

Cuts & Transitions 101

Links, enlaces et liens

https://www.toolchefs.com/?page_id=225
Some really good tools for Maya.

http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/creating-the-illusion-of-speed/
Cool read with some tips about motion blur and how to create the illusion of speed.


http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1021791/Animation-Bootcamp-The-Animation-Process
The animation process behind Ori and the Blind Forest video game.

http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/making-of-uncharted-4-a-thiefs-end/
A brief behind the scenes look at Uncharted 4 video game.

http://ow.ly/Wbjrd
DreamWorks pipeline explained by Skipper

http://www.twitch.tv/finespline/profile
Ben Sanders Twitch channel. He has A TON of hours of content about animation. Worth to check it out.

https://www.patreon.com/morganloomis?ty=p
Morgan Loomis has created a Patreon page to support him create tools!  
 

Creating Pixar anition controls by Harry Houghton

Maya - Creating Pixar Animation Controls Tutorial from Harry Houghton on Vimeo.

Instance Along Curve - Maya API Plugin

Really nice tool for 3D artists to create environments. Fully animatable and it's free!

Maya 2012 : Namespace and prefix tips and tricks

Links, enlaces et liens

http://techartsurvival.blogspot.ca/2015/01/just-put-one-foot-in-front-of-other.html
Great tutorial on some technicalities about walk cycles.

http://blog.animationmentor.com/animation-as-visual-music/
Carlos Baena and another excellent post about using music for animation.

If your Persp camera starts orbiting around the wrong point in space, View>Pre Def Bookmarks>Persp #animTip #mayaTip pic.twitter.com/KTknW7UIKK

— Kiel Figgins (@KielFiggins) August 19, 2015

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-general/camera-clipping-problem/td-p/4887914
Great tip for orthographic cameras in Maya.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/12/why-birds-can-sleep-on-branches-and-not-fall-off/281969/
A good ready about the intricacies of the birds feet (espacially good for riggers).

Animation Workflow with Christopher Cordingley (CGTarian Animation Masters)

Max Script For Character Rigging by Paul Neale

Hand Setup from Paul Neale

Smooth Scrubbing for Maya

Great tool if your working for video games animation in Maya!

http://lesterbanks.com/2015/04/script-for-smooth-scrubbing-animation-in-maya/



tb tools demo - smooth scrubbing from Tom Bailey on Vimeo.

Links, enlaces et liens

http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020639/Technical-Artist-Bootcamp-Hacking-MotionBuilder
Great tips and trick for Motionbuilder by Brad Clark. You will need a GDC Vault user to watch it though.

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/filmmaker-transforms-nintendo-power-glove-into-awesome-1679408095
Cool gadget!! Not sure how it will be useful for a 3D program like Maya, but cool nevertheless.

http://www.cgmeetup.net/forums/files/file/67-pink-panther/
Pink Panther rig!!

http://www.3dfiggins.com/writeups/fastAction/
Great breakdown on an action shot by Kiel Figgins.