3-Step Guide For Great 3D Character Animation - mages

Is your creative head filled with fun, quirky and lovable characters? Do you dream of breathing life into them and make them believable?

Art and motion have always been fascinating to humans. We love images and we love them more if they’re beautiful and moving.

Our fascination with imagery and movement has fuelled the rise of a million-dollar industry that’s thriving even more with technology. Animations are everywhere. Whether it’s films or video games or commercial advertising. The demand for animators is high.

But in a world where access to technology and learning material is wide and pervasive, how do you stand out as an aspiring animator? How do you ensure you make it big in this highly coveted and extremely competitive industry?

Here’s our 3-step guide to ensuring you stand out as a 3D animator!

1.   Observe, Observe, Observe

Bringing drawings to life is one thing. Making them believable is another!

Making 3D animated characters is not an easy task and making them convincing is a whole different thing. Observing real-life beings in detail helps add nuance to your character.

Observe how people talk and interact. How they walk and move and run. How they display emotions to one another. Real-life examples show us what brings depth to human interactions and activities.

They are important in learning about timing, movement, weight and other things essential to adding depth to your character. It makes your character relatable, credible and amazing.

Consider this to be the research aspect of your work. If you want to make really convincing character animations, you have to get your research done and dusted thoroughly!

2. Choose The Right Software

Choosing the right software is amongst the most important things as far as making awesome character animations is concerned.

There’s no dearth of animation software in the 21st century (MAYA, Blender and so on).

But this makes it difficult to decide which one suits you best. So before you make this utterly important decision, always be mindful of your:

  • Style
  • Budget
  • Skill level (beginner, intermediate, pro)

Think along these lines and try to come up with a quick decision to get started. There’s no “single best” animation software out there. You have to decide which one works for you best.

3. Don’t Rush

Doing things in haste can lead to a colossal waste of time and effort. Things get rushed when you don’t plan ahead.

Creating an awesome 3D animated character is a long and detailed process. There are plenty of things to think of. Most of them involve:

  • Storyboards and concepts
  • 3D models
  • Lighting
  • Rigging
  • Texturing
  • Rendering
  • Compositing
  • VFX

…and other edits.

From choosing your team to delegating tasks, managing details of your character (or characters) to bring them all together to a successful culmination – your work demands patience and great attention to little things.

Final Thoughts

As simple and understated these steps might sound, they’re not easy to follow.

Sometimes animators don’t give enough attention to real-life figures around them. Sometimes they base what they wish to create a little too much on their imagination. Which reflects in their work in the form of “zero depth and zero believability”.

Sometimes animators try to ignore their needs and level of skill and go for whatever the internet says is the best 3D animation software. Which makes the character-making process difficult.

And sometimes they try to do everything in a hurry. Which just messes things up eventually.

To stand out, doing simple things efficiently matters a lot. Along with passion and of course, the right guidance!

Having a hard time figuring out how to begin your journey in animation?

You don’t have to learn things alone. At MAGES, industry professionals help you take your first steps as a 3D animator. Check out MAGES’ 3D Animation Diploma Course to begin your creative journey now!

Related Posts

Transitioning to Product Management: A Journey of Growth and Discovery Taking Your Concept Art to the Next Level Tricks to Improve Composition in an Environment for Concept Art Workflow Effective Composition in Concept Art Environments Introduction to AI-Paired programming Exploring Social AR Marketing: Engaging Consumers with Immersive Experiences The 7 Essential Steps of Game Development The best VR Titles made in Unreal Engine Using AI in Media and Games Production 3 Reasons Cloud Gaming will Take Off, and 3 Reasons it Won’t Top 6 Data Science Skills Required in 2023 Should you take up a Python Course in 2023? What will Web 3.0 be good for? Tips for Success in Character Design The Benefits of Cloud-Based Game Development The Future of Data Science and AI How Do Different Industries Use Data Science Unreal Engine and Virtual Production 12 Unity Terms to know before starting Game Development Full Stack Web Development – A Guide For Beginners Data Science and Analytics Trends of 2022, So Far The time is right for a Virtual Reality Course, Here’s Why A Day in the Life of a Concept Artist Business Tips to make your Indie Game a Success Tips on Navigating the Art World Why You Should Care about Real-Time 3D Rendering & How it will Affect the Workflow of Production Pipelines What’s in store for the future of game development? Metaverse and Virtual Reality – Intersection and Differences A beginner’s guide to Data Science using Python and its libraries Best Resources for Learning Game Technology AAA Game Development facts – Get a look at behind the scenes Best Resources for Learning Concept Art Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix are looking for artists like you Anatomy of a full stack developer: Everything you need to know How is analytics used in game development? Is Game Art a Viable Career Option in These Changing Times? How do you find the best jobs in the animation industry? 5 Reasons Why Motion Graphic Design Is In High Demand Top 5 High-Paying Data Science Jobs for Beginners in Singapore! 4 Data Visualization Tools to Master in 2021 5 Tips Every Python Beginner Should Follow How is XR Technology Changing the Landscape of Advertising? 7 common interview questions for AR Developers Mixed Reality and the future of enterprises Top 5 High-Paying Technology Career Paths in 2020 Why You Should Study Data Science in Singapore Jobs in Creative Industries in Asia How These Top 3 Artists Began Their Creative Journeys 5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Taking Up Game Technology How To Become A Game Artist While You’re Still In School? Why Is Singapore The Best Place To Study Games And Animation? Skill-Based Institutions vs Big Universities – Everything You Need To Know How To Make Your First 3D Model From The Comfort Of Your Home – Part 2 5 Questions You Should Ask Before Taking a 3D Animation Course How To Make Your First 3D Model From The Comfort Of Home – Part 1 How Jon Blow Inspired and Shaped the Indie Game Development Industry – and Made Millions with Braid 5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Choosing A Career As An Animator Top 5 Creative Jobs That Pay The Most Inborn talent or Acquired Skill: What makes artists tick? Animation and the modern world: The new avenues that have opened up Advancement of the gaming industry Career opportunities in Multiplayer Game Development The 5 Step Guide to Creating Your First Piece of Concept Art What is the purpose of concept art in films? 7 tips for making an awesome game development portfolio How to avoid bad writing in games Can you make a living selling video game art? The role and work of a Game Artist in the Games Industry Roles, jobs, and disciplines – What can you study or excel in to become a game developer? How to make your first game from the comfort of home – Part 2 – Tips for making your first game 5 Programming Subjects that Every Game Developer Should Master How to make your first video game from the comfort of your home – Part 1

SPEAK TO AN ADVISOR

Need guidance or course recommendations? Let us help!

    Mages Whatsup WhatsApp Now