3D Character Animation

How To Do 3D Character Animation

One of the basic things that you will learn as you study 3D animation is 3D character animation. Learning 3D character animation is one of the first things you will learn at every 3D animation school and this topic is also the very first thing that is covered in every 3D animation software tutorial e.g. when you get Illusion Mage. Along with developing your characters with their individual appearance, personal traits, qualities and many other things that make a 3D character unique, you must definitely need to master how to make your characters move and come to life. Y

There are many ways to learn how to do 3D character animation. Although this is a major component in most animation courses, you can also do your homework and study 3D animation on your own. Here are some strategies to find creative ways and techniques on how to do 3D character animation:

Tips

1. Learn from the experts in the field of 3D animation like Stephen David Roberts with his site called Character Animation 2D Skills for Better 3D. This site is perfect for learning the basics of 3DS Max, LightWave, Maya and SoftImage. This site has a link to purchase a download a fantastic book to learn of all of these character animation basics. There are also sites that help beginner and intermediate 3D animators like Jeff Lew’s site called Learning 3D Character Animation. This is a 3 part DVD or a downloadable version that has no specific 3D animation software to use. You will learn everything there is to know about animation from traditional to 3D technical and creative skills.

2. Aside from online sites, you can also learn 3D character animation through books. There are great resources for animation in books; you may try The Art of 3D Computer Animation and Effects by Isaac Kerlow. This considered an animator’s survival kit with amazing step by step guides and illustrations on 3D animation which includes games, commercials, VFX and techniques that you can learn from the masters like Blue Sky, Disney, DreamWorks, Pixar, Sony Imageworks and Weta to name a few.

Another great book to read is Creating 3D Animation by Peter Lord. The author is a founder of Aardman Animation with popular animations like Wallace and Gromit and Gumby.

Best Books On 3D Character Animation:

3. Seminars and conventions that showcase animation may also feature 3D character animation. These venues are a great way to meet and interact with animators, 3D animation enthusiasts and learn software and hardware tools that you can use to perfect your craft. As you study in animation schools, you may also improve your work by attending these conventions and learning all you can.

4. Aside from personally attending seminars, reading books and looking for resources online, you can also learn 3D character animation through trial and error. Make your own 3D animation film, collaborate with your own production crew in class and make a sample flick. This will truly enhance your skills and talents! If you wish, you can upload it to video sites and ask for comments and creative suggestions to improve your work.

There is so much to learn in 3D character animation and you may not have enough time to learn them all. Do regular research on the best and popular techniques in 3D animation to keep abreast in the different styles.

In case you just get started making 3D animations, there is one great (and very affordable) 3D animation software available. It is called Illusion Mage. You can find my detailed review at Illusion Mage Review. This 3d animation software only costs $47 and comes with a great tutorial. It is the perfect software for anyone who wants to get started creating 3D animations, but does not want to spend a fortune on 3D animation software.

3d Animation Software

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