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This article is an overview of my online animation course called “3D Walk Cycle Animation using Autodesk Maya”. It’s an 4h self-study training course presenting the workflow and theory behind a 3D walk cycle animation in Maya.
How long does it take you to get familiar with the 3D animation workflow for locomotion? How do you get started with a human walk cycle animation? How to animate a smooth motion? How to clean the motion graphs?
This 3D animation course answers all these questions and more. Let’s get started!
About this course
First of all you’ll get the following resources:
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4 hours on-demand video with 100% real-time animation workflow
- 1 JPG as animation planning sheet
- Character Rig called “The Punisher“
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Maya project where each animation lesson and animation pass is being saved as new Maya File
3D Walk Cycle Animation using Autodesk Maya is an intermediate 3D Animation course that teaches how to animate a generic human walk cycle.
The aim of the course is to showcase the animation pipeline of creating an organic and well-balanced 3D walk cycle. This workflow is the base for both 3D films and games.
I created this course for anyone interested in having a strong and inspiring start with human bio-mechanics for animation.
Prerequisite:
- Prior experience with Maya Interface and Maya Navigation
- Prior experience with the Maya’s major components for animation: Timeline, Graph Editor, Channel Box, Auto Keying
- Prior experience with 3D keyframe animation
- Prior experience in using a character rig but not necessarily a human rig
I designed this course for:
- Intermediate users of Maya Animation
- 3D Animation and Game Design students
- Anyone with a desire to learn how to animate a walk cycle in Maya
- Anyone with a desire in learning character animation
I’m using free resources:
- Autodesk Maya – https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/free-trial
- Character Rig – https://animprops.com/product/the-punisher-free-rig/
- Ghosting Script – http://www.graphite9.com/MayaDownloads.html
What you’ll learn
- How to animate a human walk cycle in 3D
- Maya framework using Timeline, Auto-keying, Ghosting, Graph Editor
- Maya Keyframe animation
- How to create and set a Maya Project
- How to reference a rig
- How to install and use a Ghosting Script
- How to create mirrored poses of a walk cycle
- How to connect information between the real science of bio-mechanics and the animation workflow of a walk cycle
In this course you’ll learn how to animate a believable human walk cycle. We’ll be doing 1-second of animation made out of 2 walking steps at 24 FPS.
Besides the apparent swing of the legs and arms, there are many other details which are building up a convincing walk cycle, like:
- the shift of the body weight from one side to another
- the overlaps of the palms and toes
- the chest as a whole
A human walk cycle it’s all about finding the harmony between all the body parts.
This is a course designed for intermediate users of Maya for Animation, meaning that you need the fundamentals with character animation, with the software but also manipulating rigs in general.
However, I’ll take you step by step into the keyframe animation and by following this course you’ll gain a strong knowledge of human locomotion which is without any doubt the basis for bio-mechanics animation.
Introduction lecture on human locomotion
Understanding the mechanics behind the real human locomotion is crucial for any type of walk animation. Therefore, this course offers an insight into human locomotion concepts in connection to the animation pipeline.
Throughout the 30 min introductory animation lecture I’ll present main community resources such The Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams or the photo-collection of Humans and Animals in Motion by Edward Muybridge.
I’ll explain the mechanics of the human walk cycle known in bio-mechanics as a gait cycle where each walking step is built up from 4 key poses: the heel contact, the squash pose, the passing pose and the stretch pose, after which we walk back into the second step.
This lecture on human locomotion will help you to develop critical thinking and observational skills about the key aspects of what makes a good walk animation.
Course modules and lessons
Throughout this 3D animation course, I’ll build the mechanics of the walk cycle through several and progressive animation passes. You will develop a strong foundation on how to build up the animation from blocking the first key contact posses, to cleaning the motion graphs, to adding the final body overlaps.
The course is being divided into several sections covering all the necessary tools with a 100% real-time animation process and explanations. The workflow is a progressive where each animation pass is being saved as a new Maya scene.
The course modules are:
- Welcome
- Introduction Lecture
- Setting the Maya Project
- Animation Pass 1. Heel Contact Postures
- Animation Pass 2. Foot Pass Postures
- Animation Pass 3. Squash Postures
- Animation Pass 4. Stretch Postures
- Animation Pass 5. Cleaning the Motion Graphs
- Animation Pass 6. Arms Overlaps
- Animation Pass 7. Head Overlaps
- Animation Pass 8. Feet Grounding and Orientation
- Animation Pass 9. Final Cycle and Good Bye
Check out the following GIFs, is the step-by-step process of my 3D animation workflow in how the walk cycle is being build-up.
After you complete this 3D animation course
Remember, the walk cycle animation is an extremely knowledgeable process in learning character animation, with a functional rig and the right application of animation principles this course gives you a very solid foundation for bio-mechanics animation.
This course it’s an insight on how to bring that spark of life into a human character. Once you understand the mechanics and workflows of a generic human locomotion, you’ll get a huge boost of confidence and skills.
With a strong knowledge of human locomotion you’ll then be able to animate any type of animation human walk cycle, any type of personality walk, using any type of 3D rig.
You can find here more of my animation clips with the Punisher Maya Rig.
My students’ work
Have a look over some of the student work from my previous teaching. These teaching reels are on different levels, from a beginner to more advanced animations. Just remember that we all start as beginners and everyone took their first step into this journey by learning the basics.
Check-out these student reels below:
Hi Cristina
I’m Mridula here I want to become indestry level animator so can you pls talk me which animation should I learn,
Write now I am learning from udemy Walk cycle in there mechanic animation too but I also want to learn Adobe animation so pls talk me how much time it will take or what will be the cost of the course.
Hey Mridula,
When it comes to learning 2D vs 3D animation, the technical ground is quite different since the software comes with its own tools and workflows. In the industry there is a place for everyone which grows so as a beginner don’t start with a fixed idea which medium is better now.
My advice, start with what you feel you can be constantly active in your learning path! Try it for a couple of months, see how it feels and then shift to a different medium. But if you do start a course, my advice is to finish it! this way you can have a full view of the process and then you’ll be able to decide the next step.
If you enjoy drawing in general and you are an artsy individual always with a sketchbook, then 2D animation (Adobe animation as you say) will come more naturally to you since drawing in general is not scary to you.
But if you don’t draw at all, then 3D animation can be learned without any drawing skills. Drawing helps to plan and visualize but is not a key ingredient in the process. But keep into account that the 3D medium is much more technical than 2D.
How much time? And money? This answer is a hard one since I don’t know you. In general, Udemy courses are not expensive at all, they are very affordable, at your own pace and short in length.
But it depends on how fast you learn, how independent you are, how motivated you are, how many hours a week you can dedicate to your learning journey … I can only say, be generous with you and give yourself 6-12 months of constant learning to become a confident beginner and then you’ll be able to design your own learning.
I really hope my answer helps you.