3D Walk Cycle Animation using Autodesk Maya

🚀 Course Title:
3D Walk Cycle Animation using Autodesk Maya 🎓

Course Headline:
Master the Art of Human Locomotion in 3D with Autodesk Maya! 🧑‍🚶‍♂️🎉

Course Description:

Welcome to our intermediate 3D Animation course designed to teach you the intricacies of animating a human walk cycle using Autodesk Maya, a powerful tool for 3D artists. This course aims to guide you through the animation pipeline to create an organic and well-balanced walk cycle, which is essential for both 3D films and games.

🎯 Objective:
Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of human locomotion as it applies to 3D animation. By following this workflow, you'll be able to animate a convincing human walk with any type of rig by grasping the fundamental principles that make up the animation process.

Course Breakdown:
The course is meticulously structured into several sections, covering all the necessary tools and providing a real-time animation workflow. Each step of the animation process is saved as a new Maya scene for ease of learning and reference.

⏫ Animation Passes:

1. Introduction Lecture - Setting the stage for your walk cycle journey.
2. Setting the Maya Project - Preparing your workspace and tools.
3. Animation Pass 1. Heel Contact Postures - The first key pose of the gait cycle.
4. Animation Pass 2. Foot Pass Postures - Continuing the foot movement with each step.
5. Animation Pass 3. Squash Postures - Adding dynamic motion to the body.
6. Animation Pass 4. Stretch Postures - Expanding on the squash phase with stretch poses.
7. Animation Pass 5. Cleaning the Motion Graphs - Refining the motion for smoothness.
8. Animation Pass 6. Arms Overlaps - Adding realistic upper body movement.
9. Animation Pass 7. Head Overlaps - Bringing the head motion into harmony with the body.
10. Animation Pass 8. Feet Grounding and Orientation - Ensuring proper foot placement and orientation.
11. Animation Pass 9. Final Cycle and Good Bye - Polishing up your walk cycle for a flawless finish.

What You'll Learn:
This course will delve into the four key poses that form the foundation of a human walk cycle: heel contact, squash pose, passing pose, and stretch pose. We'll also cover the science behind bio-mechanics for human locomotion to ensure your animations are both accurate and believable.

Course Resources:
You'll have access to a range of resources, including:

• 1 Maya project with 10 different *.ma files, each representing an animation pass.
• 1 JPG file as a walk cycle planning sheet.
• 1 Ghosting Script for enhanced workflow (free resource).
• 1 Character Maya rig with texture files (free resource).
• 4 playblast Videos showcasing the final Walk Animation from various angles.

Animation Tools and Frameworks:

• Mastering the Maya Project and File Referencing for efficient project management.
• Utilizing Timeline, Auto-keying, and Graph Editor to refine animations.
• Customizing your shelf with shortcuts and tools to speed up your workflow.
• Installing and using a Ghosting Script to enhance your animation process.

After the Course:
Upon completion, you'll have a solid foundation in understanding the mechanics of human locomotion, making you well-equipped to create any type of walk cycle with confidence and skill. Whether it's for a game character or a cinematic production, this knowledge will elevate your 3D animation capabilities.

🛠️ Skill Upgrade:
By learning the specific principles and workflows taught in this course, you'll be able to apply these techniques to any character rig, ensuring your animations are as realistic as they are captivating.

Get ready to walk the walk and talk the talk of 3D animation with Autodesk Maya! Enroll now and take the first step towards becoming a master animator. 🌟