Linking and Posing a Character
The preceding exercises in this book have all been leading up to this point. You are now prepared to learn how to animate a character!
What is a character? In literature, it’s any person or being whose actions, thoughts, or words are expressed in the text. In filmmaking, a character is anyone portrayed by a cast member. In real life, it might be your uncle. He’s such a character!
In 3D animation, a character has a more specific definition: a 3D model controlled by an armature. Bearing many analogs to an actual skeleton, an armature is a special object consisting of multiple bones, which, when moved, transform or deform the associated model. Together in one collection, the armature and all the objects it controls comprise the character or character rig. Character animation is the work of making the bones in a character’s armature move in concert to make the character walk, jump, dance, or anything else we would have them do.
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