How can you develop a strong understanding of rigging and character animation?

I feel this should start at topic 2 - "Basics of character animation." When you truly know how you want a character to move, you can determine the type of rig you need to make this happen. There are many comparison videos online that show the pros and cons of various character rigging plugins and software. See what matches your creative style and dive in.

Hands-on experience: Practice rigging by working on various projects. Start with simple characters and gradually move to more complex ones as you gain proficiency. Study anatomy: Understanding human and animal anatomy is crucial for creating realistic rigs. Study anatomy books, attend life drawing classes, or use online resources to enhance your knowledge.

Basics of a good rig is keeping in mind that it will be handed to Animation and then they will have to deal with it. It's easy to want to go all in and create a rig that can use head tilts, deformers left and right, and all kinds of neat tools, but you have to remember that while you might know the tool, there's a chance an animator might not. A good idea is to follow guidelines given from a supervisor for the project, or if you are the supervisor, talk to Animation Sups, and have them explain to you what they want to accomplish. This will lead to high quality rigs. Take the time to go over said rigs with the sups, maybe even record the meeting so they can reference how tools are used and pass it on to their teams. Good synergy is key.

To excel in character animation, I embrace a hands-on learning approach. Enrolling in online courses for Maya and Blender hones my foundational knowledge. Through diverse animation exercises, I refine skills in timing, spacing, and weight distribution, progressing from basic movements to complex performances. Studying real-life movements and anatomy enhances the realism of my character animations. Active engagement in online communities and seeking feedback from experienced animators contribute to my continuous improvement. Staying updated on industry trends and techniques ensures my portfolio reflects proficiency in character animation, emphasizing my commitment to growth in this dynamic field.

When you think of a character, you will picture it moving. You will picture expressions, exaggerations, and body language. Add animation fundamentals like anticipation, squash, stretch, and distortion, and you will identify the tools you need to make this character authentic. This will impact your choice of rigging technology.

These days, there is an online masterclass and community for everything. Rigging has become easier over the years. Finding a nice group of peers has become even more accessible. Dive in, build some strange rigs, and appreciate the horror shows and setbacks. This is where the lessons are.

If you're working under a Rigging Supervisor, always pay attention to any notes given after a rig is handed in. Make sure you hit the revs, and if any doubt exists, reach out. A good rigging sup should always make time to explain notes, as the goal is to have the team grow. If it's a personal project or rig, then my suggestion would be to have peers or friends you know that do animation to try out the rigs, they can provide feedback so you improve. Rigging is fluid in that different shows will have different requirements. Doesn't hurt to try different things and, when possible, bring in new things to the table in a project. Go mad scientist on your personal rigs, you learn cool new things and in the end the experimenting part is fun.

Many forums and communities exist. The people who answer every question there will be responsive when you need some troubleshooting or accelerating. I once learned that the best animators are the lazy ones. The ones that think 'this should be easier' and search for expressions, tutorials, or plugins to make stuff work. Don't be afraid to accept help; it's a beautiful trait and it will make you a stronger animator.

Always keep a list of things you want to learn on your own. I do this on my own downtime between projects or if there's a gap because production is in a bit of a lull. I'll usually check the documentation for whatever version of Harmony I'm using, and if I see a tool that isn't being used for the current production, I write it down and experiment when possible on a personal rig. Documentation helps a lot, and it's fun to pick away a tools I would have never used. And not just for rigging, try them out for Compositing as well. When practicing rigging, remember to have fun with it. Some people say no one likes rigging, but that isn't true. Rigging is a bit more technical, but I find it really rewarding when I figure out a new tool.