I would like to create a free resource for people to learn 3d character animation. Lets post here all 3d character animation tips and tricks. Character animation principles and methods as well as best practices used in Character 3d animation are welcome here.

OK. I will start:

Importance of Animation
The animation is one of the most important thing when creating a 3d movie... The rendering and even the 3d model or texture might have glitches and unfinished parts that will be less noticeable in an animated, motion blurred, movie where everything is dynamic while the tiniest glitch in animation, like a jerky or unnatural movement, will instantly be visible in the same movie. The rendering and the models can be perfect if the animation is not smooth and realistic all the work done by the 3d modeling and texture artists will be spoiled by bad animation. While a totally unrealistic character if animated well will look very interesting.

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Andyba, 3d artist
skills: 3d modeling, texturing, rendering, 3d character animation, compositing
3d software experience: 3ds max, Maya, Softimage XSI, Deep Paint 3d, Body Paint 3D, Wings 3D, Z Brush
2d software experience: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After effects, Macromedia Flash, Freehand

Arc movements in 3d character animation
In human and other organic characters almost all the motions are following arcs otherwise the character will look too robotic. There are almost no straight or linear motions in the movements of a living organism.
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Andyba, 3d artist
skills: 3d modeling, texturing, rendering, 3d character animation, compositing
3d software experience: 3ds max, Maya, Softimage XSI, Deep Paint 3d, Body Paint 3D, Wings 3D, Z Brush
2d software experience: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After effects, Macromedia Flash, Freehand

The Integrity of Character
The character body is an integral system so even seemingly separate movements involve the motion of other parts of the body. For example during a head turn in dependence of the situation the character will slightly move his shoulders and his centre of mass. During a walk the entire body will be involved in the animation not only the hands and the legs, even the head will have specific movements.

Acting the 3d Animation to show Personality
The animator is first an actor and only then a technical guru that knows how to put 3d models in motion. With present animation tools, animating a 3d model of living being is relatively easy from a technical standpoint, but showing a distinct personality that has a long history and character that's where the art starts. That's why it is called Character Animation and not Human or Creature Animation.

When animating try to understand your character personality and feelings.. Spend time acting the animation you work on in front of a mirror until you can achieve believable results only then start animating your character... This is the way to create appealing and interesting 3d animation.

Using Traditional Animation Principles
Generally a good idea, especially if you want to create expressive 3d character animations, is to use Traditional Animation Principles in your work. But be careful, when creating ultra realistic animations with photo realistic characters these principles should be applied in a very subtle way to avoid the cartoony feel of the characters. If you want to study the animation principles used in traditional animation I would recommend reading "The Illusion of Life" by Disney.
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Andyba, 3d artist
skills: 3d modeling, texturing, rendering, 3d character animation, compositing
3d software experience: 3ds max, Maya, Softimage XSI, Deep Paint 3d, Body Paint 3D, Wings 3D, Z Brush
2d software experience: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After effects, Macromedia Flash, Freehand

Rigging the Limbs of a Human Character
Everyone is rigging the Humanoid Characters in a T pose but few know why this is the best pose to rig a human character.
The answer is simple the arms and legs of the character ideally should be rigged in a position that is in the middle of the limb motion amplitude. This way you will have less unwanted distortions on your model during animation. Also it is a good idea to create the 3d model in a relaxed and natural pose so that you could bulge the muscles in extreme positions.
It is wise to choose a motion range for your character that you will be really using in you animation. If in your animation the hands will not move above the shoulder it may be helpful to rig your 3d model with the hands slightly lowered like this: /T\

Bellow are some images illustrating this concept.

arm_rigging_position_top.jpg 67.64 KB Views: 6304 Description: Arm rigging position top view

arm_rigging_position.jpg 27.22 KB Views: 6304 Description: Arm rigging position

Pose to Pose method of animation

This is a classical method used in traditional animation where the animator will create the key poses and the assistant will fill the gaps between them.
Don't confuse this with computer filling the gaps between key frames. The animator assistant does much more than that. The idea is to create the key poses that will tell the story without the in-betweens. Unless the poses are good enough to tell the story it is not worth continuing the animation.

This method is really good for fast and predictable results.

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Andyba, 3d artist
skills: 3d modeling, texturing, rendering, 3d character animation, compositing
3d software experience: 3ds max, Maya, Softimage XSI, Deep Paint 3d, Body Paint 3D, Wings 3D, Z Brush
2d software experience: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After effects, Macromedia Flash, Freehand

3D Animation Masterclass: Acting Tutorial Highlights
This is not a step by step tutorial (that's why I did not post it in the 3d animation tutorials section) but it is an amazing overview of advanced 3d animation creation process containing mostly an effective strategy of creating 3d character animations. I enjoyed it very much and found it very useful. I hope that many new animators can learn a lot from it.



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Andyba, 3d artist
skills: 3d modeling, texturing, rendering, 3d character animation, compositing
3d software experience: 3ds max, Maya, Softimage XSI, Deep Paint 3d, Body Paint 3D, Wings 3D, Z Brush
2d software experience: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After effects, Macromedia Flash, Freehand