Rigging and Scripting Examples

Character Picker

To ease selection of character controls for animation, I created a Python based picker (originally based on a video tutorial by Jeremy Ernst). I added the ability to use the same picker for different generations of our characters that had different controls, handling of namespace and non-namespace characters, the ability to switch character type from within the picker (see Universal Shapey Rig below), and cleaned up the code into more modular functions.

Character Picker controlling 4 namespaced rigs

Universal Shapey Rig

Originally the Shapeys for My Math Academy had four separate and distinct rigs, one for each shape type. To reduce the amount of animations needed and speed up production, I combined all four characters into one Maya rig. Character type could be switched using the picker. Script within the picker compensated for differences in size and location of limbs, facial features, etc. In Unity, each shape type had a separate, simpler rig that would be used to play back the animations.

Single Universal Shapey Rig in Maya switching characters

Animation applied to four separate rigs in Unity

Stretchy Sprite Face Blurt Rig

For the My Reading Academy "Blurt" characters, I created a stretchy spine rig and a sprite based face system that could be animated in Maya and exported to Unity, getting around the usual complications of bringing sprite based animations from Maya to Unity.

Blurt Rig in Maya