This lecture is an introduction to character animation as it relates to video games and interactive media. Robert takes you step-by-step through the basics of Maya, its animation tools, the graph editor and dynamic character posing. He guides you through the animation of simple, yet expressive game-style assets, demonstrating simple loops and transitions and creating a run cycle. As an added bonus, this DVD also includes a professional quality character rig so you can follow along and get started animating in Maya right away.

400 Minutes of Lecture.

Topics Covered
Maya Preferences
Tools for Animation
The Graph Editor
Saving and Manipulating Keys
How to use the Character Rig
Dynamic Character Posing
Simple Loops and Transitions
Creating a Run Cycle

Chapters
01: Preferences, Tools and the Character Rig
02: Dynamic Character Posing
03: Graph Editor and Saving Keys
04: Loops and Transitions: Part 1
05: Loops and Transitions: Part 2
06: Loops and Transitions: Part 3
07: Loops and Transitions: Part 4
08: Loop and Transition Movie
09: Blocking a Run Cycle: Part 1
10: Blocking a Run Cycle: Part 2
11: Making Changes to a Run Cycle
12: Final Run Cycle Movie

Instructor Bio
Robert Coddington is a Lead Animator at Electronic Arts Los Angeles. Formerly a lead AI Animator on Medal of Honor, Robert now provides animation direction for an unannounced science fiction project at EALA for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360TM. Credits include: The Medal Of Honor: European Assault, Pacific Assault, and Rising Sun, Knock Out Kings (2001, 2002), X-Files and Fugitive Hunter. Robert attended The Academy of Art University in San Francisco and has been teaching character animation at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California for the past three years.