Learn the complexities of mechanical rigs
This course is an exploration of solving various mechanical rigging challenges in Maya. Topics include model preparation, rig organization, joint hierarchies, rig controls, dynamic rigging setups, and much more! Students will work with 3D assets provided by the instructor and put everything together in a final project, and will have the chance to learn this key aspect of VFX from a long-time industry professional.
Registration Now Open
Registration Period
Oct 09, 2024 -
Jan 28, 2025
Course Start
Jan 23, 2025
Course Format
Standard
Skills Level
Intermediate
Duration
8 weeks
Q&A
Once a week
Feedback
Individually recorded
Lecture Type
Pre-recorded
Assignment
Due each week. Expect to spend 10-20 hrs/wk viewing lectures, Q&A, and time on assignments.
PREREQUISITES
Intro to Rigging ; a working beginner's knowledge of how to rig
MATERIALS
Lectures created in Maya 2018.4. Student software requirement: Maya 2017 or later
The more you know, the better.
Week #1
Introduction and Course Overview | Mechanical Rigging Foundations 1
Inspiration and reference
Week #2
Mechanical Rigging Foundations 2
Questions to ask before you start rigging | Model review and preparation (clean model, handling model changes) | Rig organization (model, anim controls, and rig nodes) | Transforms, joints and hierarchies (world/obj/local spaces) | Pivot point strategies (ways to find pivot points) | Creating pivot utility scripts and your own tool script library | Working with joints (orients, euler/gimbal, rotation order)
Week #3
Industrial Robot Arm Rig 1
FK, IK, and FK/IK | Creating animation controls | Connecting animation controls to rig | Attaching geometry to rig (parenting, constraining, skinning) | Cleaning up the rig | Packaging and versioning the rig
Week #4
Industrial Robot Arm Rig 2
Model check and rig prototyping | Creating rig and joint hierarchy | Pistons | Control creation | Attaching geometry | Testing, troubleshooting, and cleaning up
Week #5
Industrial Robot Arm Rig 3
Questions to ask before you start rigging | Breaking down the rig | Model prep and organization | Quick rig prototyping | Base skeleton and rig controls | Main body skeleton and rig controls | Attaching geometry
Week #6
Mechanical Rigging Scripts/Tools | Cambot Rig 1
Head and neck skeleton and rig controls | Leg skeleton and rig controls | Replicating the leg rig | Attaching geometry
Week #7
Cambot Rig 2
Antenna | Tubes/cables | Dynamic rigging setups | Attaching geometry | Motion testing | Final rig cleanup and organization
Week #8
Cambot Rig 3 | Class Wrap Up
Final rigs
Real heroes don't wear capes they teach.
LECTURES BY
Tim Coleman
Course Start: Jan 23, 2025
Martin L'Anton is a rigging artist and pipeline technical director with a decade of experience in the entertainment industry. He has always been drawn towards animation and video games. Later, while studying all aspects of animated movies and visual effects, he decided to settle for the puzzles and problem-solving challenges posed by rigging and technical art in general, leading to a focused interest in comparative anatomy, mechanics, and software development. His favorite part of production is finding elegant and efficient ways to simplify workflows and rigs, to "Keep It Simple Stupid", in order to make for more intuitive tools, rigs, and workflows.
Martin has worked on a wide range of projects, from animated TV shows like Angry Bird Stella, to video games like Luigi's Mansion 3, visual effects movies like Guardians of the Galaxy or Okja, and to animated feature films like Adams Family, Superpets, and many other projects.
Martin has worked on a wide range of projects, from animated TV shows like Angry Bird Stella, to video games like Luigi's Mansion 3, visual effects movies like Guardians of the Galaxy or Okja, and to animated feature films like Adams Family, Superpets, and many other projects.
Instructor's Gallery
PRICING SCHEDULE
Even though our courses are the most affordable for the quality of education, these finance options allow you to focus on your goals instead of the barriers that keep you from reaching them.
3x Payments
$233
2x Payments
$349.50
Full payment
$699
Winter TERM REGISTRATION
Now Open
Oct 09, 2024 -
Jan 27, 2025
COURSE BEGINS on Jan 23, 2025
What makes this learning experience unique?
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
Receive personalized feedback on all assignments from the industry’s top professionals.
LIFETIME ACCESS
Enjoy lifetime access to the spectrum of course content, including lectures, live Q&As, and feedback sessions.
CERTIFICATION
Show off your Certification of Completion when you turn in 80% of course assignments.
FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace with flexible, online course scheduling.
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