Chapter 5. Retargeting Animation
In Chapter 4, Working with Motion Capture Data, we used Mecanim to create two unique walk cycles from an imported motion capture file. This chapter will demonstrate how motion sequences such as these can be reused for different characters.
Mecanim's robust animation toolset allows users to reuse animation sequences in different characters. Provided that both characters use the Humanoid animation type (specified in the Import settings), a great deal of variation within skeletons is possible. Mecanim will identify and convert animation sequences based on the bone's position in the skeletal hierarchy, eliminating the necessity of identical (and identically named) rigs.
If you are creating animation sequences from scratch using traditional keyframe animation techniques, it does not take much extra time to animate extra bones, such as ponytails and accessories in a character's rig. However, when it becomes necessary to use pre-made animations...
