Advanced character rigging in 3D

Abstract

Rigging refers to the process of creating a digital skeleton (or rig) for a character or object. This skeleton is then used to generate the movement and deformation of the character or object throughout the animation process. Rigging involves creating a system of joints, controls, movement systems and deformers that allow animators to pose and animate the character, which can be exported to other software tools for example game engines. This project will be focused on the methods to develop a body rig, following the professional workflow, which focuses on all the steps a rigger needs to take to create a rig that can be used in game engines, more specifically Unreal Engine. Moreover, this involves the steps to ensure compatibility between the rig developed in Maya and Unreal Engine skeletal mesh system. The objective of this project will be to develop the body rig for Tom, from the Tom & Jerry series, which will include various systems which are common for this type of cartoonish characters, while also developing a prototype in Unreal Engine to showcase the compatibility of the rig, while also serving as an introduction to complex rigging.