Greta's Uni Animation Blog

With the bug (formative) modelled, it was time for rigging, but as the bug models are being checked and graded, we were provided a perfectly modelled model to rig, the crash test dummy. Using the rigging mode on Maya, I began adding joints and bones to the model, creating a basic skeleton the begin the rigging process. Naming it all accordingly.

With the skeleton and joints made, I then started on the controllers (what would actually move the skeleton). Using the curve tool to create shapes for the controllers, then colouring each of them according to position on the body and left or right. As well as sizing and naming appropriately.

*The model with full skeleton, joints, and controllers.*

With the skeleton and controllers made, it was time to actually join them to each other and make them functional. I began with the legs, using the rigging mode to join joints together using IK handles, and parenting the minor joints to the major controllers. The knee targets connecting using Pole Vector Constraints.

It was a similar process for the spinal segment of the rigging. Including a lot of parenting the minor controls to major ones (as well as their corresponding joints).

I began the left arm FK, adding attributes to allow the fingers to curve, and using the Animation mode to set a driven key to add restraints to how the fingers were allowed to move.

It was a similar process for the right arm, except I did it IK. This meant the process was the same as the leg, with the mix of added attributes and yet again the driven key for allowing the fingers to bend.

I made a Maya Project file to begin my modelling.

I followed the provided tutorials, using smoothed cubes and combining to create a torso, legs and feet.

I selected half and deleted it, then made an arm from a cylinder.

Using a cube and six sided cylinder, I made the palm and the beginning of the fingers, I also combined the torso, arm, and leg and named the other components.

Using cylinders and the sizing tool, I made 3 fingers and a thumb and combined and connected them to the palm and the hand to the arm, named accordingly.

Using a smoothed cube, I made the head, using extrusion to make the crater for the eye, and the rim around it, before chopping it in half (to later mirror).

Started off with a shortened cylinder, used a Bezier curve to form the shape of the horn.

Used an edited smoothed cube to form the basic shape of the ear, before combining and connecting it to the head. As well as naming previous components.

Using the mirror tool, I mirrored the head, horn, and ears and combined it all together (named accordingly).

Using a smoothed cube, I formed an eyeball, duplicated it, and named them both.

I modelled a sword using 2 cubes, a smoothed cube, and a cylinder, as well as a bag. I then UV mapped all of these components, using photoshop for the bug's design.

UV mapped bug.

Bug skin png file.

I used a circle to make a floor, added lights and a camera, used a circle and mapped said camera onto it, and set it to 24 frames. I then rendered it using Arnold. Everything named accordingly.