Autodesk Series
Creature Animation
Release date
2024
Mastering Creature Animation in Maya
Imaginary Globe collaborated with Autodesk to create Creature Animation, an in-depth video series designed to help animators bring creatures to life using Maya. Hosted on the Autodesk Media & Entertainment YouTube Channel, this series provides a structured approach to creature animation, covering both workflow optimization and animation techniques.
The lessons guide animators through the entire animation process, from gathering reference material to finalizing polished animations for lighting and rendering.
Episode Breakdown
⦾ Building Your Animation Reference Library – Understanding the importance of references and how to gather the best materials for creature animation.
⦾ Adding Tools for Productivity – Exploring useful Maya tools and settings to streamline the animation workflow.
⦾ Creating Key Poses – Establishing strong foundational poses that define the creature’s movement and character.
⦾ Breathing Life into Your Creature – Blocking – Laying down the first animation pass to establish movement and timing.
⦾ Blocking Plus with the Graph Editor – Refining animations with controlled adjustments in the Graph Editor.
⦾ Spline and Polishing – Smoothing out movement, adding secondary motion, and finalizing realistic creature behavior.
⦾ Exporting for Lighting and Rendering – Preparing the finished animation for the next stage in the production pipeline.
Imaginary Globe credits
In Service Of Autodesk
"From key poses to final polish, great creature animation is all in the details."
Advancing Creature Animation Techniques
The Creature Animation series provides animators with the skills to refine their workflow, create dynamic movement, and develop lifelike performances. By blending technical expertise with artistic storytelling, this series helps animators achieve professional-level results.
We are proud to have worked with Autodesk on this educational initiative and look forward to sharing more knowledge with the animation community.