Unity Cutscenes: Master Cinematics, Animation and Trailers from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Level up your game dev skills by crafting cinematic cut-scenes that wow players.
Craft jaw-dropping camera moves using unity's cinemachine wizardry.
Build smooth animation sequences with unity's timeline and animation tools.
Design interactive cut-scenes that blend seamlessly into your gameplay.

Develop epic boss fights with dynamic cameras and awesome effects.
Master the art of crafting cinematic trailers that captivate your audience.
Unlock next-level post-processing tricks for cinematic polish.
Supercharge cut-scene interactivity with animator and navmesh magic.

Level up your game dev skills by crafting cinematic cut-scenes that wow players.
Craft jaw-dropping camera moves using unity's cinemachine wizardry.
Build smooth animation sequences with unity's timeline and animation tools.
Design interactive cut-scenes that blend seamlessly into your gameplay.
Develop epic boss fights with dynamic cameras and awesome effects.
Master the art of crafting cinematic trailers that captivate your audience.
Unlock next-level post-processing tricks for cinematic polish.
Supercharge cut-scene interactivity with animator and navmesh magic.

Syllabus

Introduction & Setup

In this video (objectives)…

Welcome to the Unity Cut-Scenes Course

In this video (objectives)…

We create a new Unity URP core project and install all the packages for the Cinematic Studio. We also import the asset pack and give a quick demo.

In this video (objectives)…

I give an introduction to the Animation Window in Unity and animating Humanoid Characters.

In this video (objectives)…

I give a full introduction on how to work with Mixamo animations incuding downloading animations and importing the files into Unity

In this video (objectives)…

I break down the Post Processing Stack I created and we also build a 3 point character light rig.

In this video (objectives)…

We create a simple animation rig for the wizard to modify the wizard walk animation.

In this video (objectives)…

I give a full introduction on how to animate the wizard in the timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

A full introduction to the use of Cinemachine and Virtual Cameras in Timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

Any time we change our project during a lecture we will commit that change to a public source control repository for students to access. In this video, we show you how to access that content.

In this video (objectives)…

We introduce the ways that you can get help, support and contribute to the community.

Cinemachine Basics

In this video (objectives)…

Welcome to the Cinemachine Basics Section.

In this video (objectives)…

We'll learn about all the Virtual Camera settings and how to frame our shots for maximum impact.

In this video (objectives)…

We create a Camera Rig for our Wizard Cams and animate the rig and the cameras for that perfect angle

In this video (objectives)…

We create a Dolly track and cart to help prototype the movement for our character.

In this video (objectives)…

We begin creating an interactive cut scene with a simple NavMesh Agent Controller and a Cinemachine Dolly Camera and Track.

In this video (objectives)…

We dive deep into the Dolly Camera’s settings and fine tune our Dolly System for a more cinematic scene.

In this video (objectives)…

We'll demystify the magic behind Clear Shot, revealing how it intelligently selects the ideal camera to activate.

In this video (objectives)…

We'll add 2 Dolly Tracks for our Clear Shot Cameras to expand the field of view and add a more cinematic experience to our interactive scene.

In this video (objectives)…

We’ll add our 1st Target Group camera and prepare our scene for the boss fight.

Boss Fight Cut Scene

In this video (objectives)…

Welcome to the Boss Fight Cut-Scene Section!

In this video (objectives)…

We design and implement the camera system transitions for our Boss Fight.

In this video (objectives)…

We set the destination of our player to start the Timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

We dynamically set the rotation of our NavMesh Agent to capture a great camera angle for the start of the Boss Fight Timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

We dive deeper into Unity’s Animator component and setup our transition animation for the Boss Fight Cut Scene.

In this video (objectives)…

We create our base walk and attack animations for our Scorpion Boss.

In this video (objectives)…

We start the creative process of designing a Boss Fight intro sequence.

In this video (objectives)…

We add a new player camera and add animations and movement to our Ninja.

In this video (objectives)…

We add animations and VFX to the NInja. We also start designing final showdown.

In this video (objectives)…

We design and prototype our Showdown pose for the Ninja and the Boss.

In this video (objectives)…

We implement the necessary functions to transition from interactive gameplay to our Boss Fight Timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

We create an animation event and an animation event helper class to smooth out the transition from interactive gameplay to the boss fight timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

We go over our first fine tuning checklist and make changes to our scene, bringing us one step closer to completion.

In this video (objectives)…

We dive deeper into the Animator component and the transition animation for the Scorpion Boss.

In this video (objectives)…

We fine tune the transition from Interactive Gameplay to our timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

I share some tips on how to create custom SFX in the timeline and we create a SFX track for the scorpion boss.

In this video (objectives)…

We create a new Unity Event for the end of the cutscene. We also create a new camera for the boss fight gameplay.

In this video (objectives)…

We're putting the finishing touches on our player's VFX and animation transition, guiding our player back into the heart of gameplay.

In this video (objectives)…

Get ready to add a touch of VFX magic to the Boss's tail stinger and create a custom light rig to illuminate those accent colors.

In this video (objectives)…

We introduce a sleek low-poly environment, work our VFX magic, and set the stage aglow with scene and accent lighting. Get ready for a thrilling fine-tuning adventure!

In this video (objectives)…

We'll explore a variety of overrides to intensify our scene's visual impact. Get ready for an eye-popping journey!

In this video (objectives)…

Section wrap up and we create our last interactive camera for the Boss Fight

Character Select Scene

In this video (objectives)…

Welcome to the Character Select Section!

In this video (objectives)…

We breakdown Asset Pack #2 and begin the initial setup of the Wizard character select timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

We bring the Ninja Game Objects into the Character Select scene and get the scene setup for prototyping.

In this video (objectives)…

We setup the logic for the UI so we can start prototyping the camera angle and action of our scene.

In this video (objectives)…

We get the basic scene positions for our characters and Cinemachine cameras.

In this video (objectives)…

We begin prototyping the ninja’s animation sequence using the timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

We prototype the wizard’s animation sequence using the timeline.

In this video (objectives)…

We start building the interactive animator controller for the Ninja and the Wizard.

In this video (objectives)…

We begin prototyping the aerial flight path for our Dragon using a cinemachine dolly track.

In this video (objectives)…

We add Timeline animation tracks to our Dolly Carts so we can begin prototyping the paths for our Beasts.

In this video (objectives)…

We start fine tuning our Dolly Cart Track for Cinematic impact.

In this video (objectives)…

We add VFX & SFX to our sequences to further the cinematic impact on our player.

In this video (objectives)…

We choose the final animation for both characters to exit the animation sequence. We also finish off the UI functions with SFX and Event triggering.

Cinematic Trailer Sequences

In this video (objectives)…

Welcome to the Cinematic Trailer Section!

In this video (objectives)…

We enter the prototype and concept phase of our Cinematic Trailer. Focusing on narrative design and camera concepts.

In this video (objectives)…

We begin the journey of fine tuning our Cinematic Trailer. Focusing on maximizing the impact of our camera angles and shots.

In this video (objectives)…

We meticulously refine each frame to enhance cinematic impact and storytelling precision. Get ready to see your vision shine in this pivotal stage of our journey.

In this video (objectives)…

We wrap up the course by importing our Trailer Timeline back into the Character Select Scene and connect the dots.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers Cinemachine, Timeline, and Animation, which are industry-standard tools for creating high-quality cinematics and cutscenes in Unity-based games

Teaches how to create cinematic trailers, which is a valuable skill for marketing and promoting games effectively to a wider audience

Explores post-processing effects, which are essential for achieving a polished and professional look in game cinematics and trailers

Requires familiarity with game objects and scenes in Unity, which may necessitate prior completion of introductory Unity courses or tutorials

Emphasizes the use of Timeline for animation, which may require learners to adapt to Unity's specific workflow for creating and sequencing animations

Relies on the Universal Render Pipeline (URP), so learners should be aware of the differences between URP and the Built-in Render Pipeline

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Unity Cutscenes: Master Cinematics, Animation and Trailers with these activities:

Review Unity Animation Basics

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of Unity's animation system before diving into advanced cutscene techniques. Refreshing these skills will make learning Timeline and Cinemachine easier.

Browse courses on Animation

Show steps

Review the Unity documentation on animation.
Practice creating simple animations with Unity's animation window.
Experiment with different animation curves and keyframes.

Read 'Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding Techniques for Live Action and Animation'

Show steps

Learn storytelling and storyboarding techniques used in both live-action and animation. Understanding these concepts will help you create more engaging and effective cutscenes.

View Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Directing the Story' by Francis Glebas.
Read the chapters focusing on visual storytelling and camera composition.
Practice creating storyboards for short cutscene sequences.

Read 'Game Feel: A Game Designer's Guide to Virtual Sensation'

Show steps

Learn how to create satisfying and impactful game experiences. Understanding these principles will significantly enhance your ability to create compelling cutscenes and trailers.

View Game Feel (Morgan Kaufmann Game Design Books) on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Game Feel' by Steve Swink.
Read the chapters focusing on camera control and animation.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Cinemachine Camera Drills

Show steps

Practice camera movements and transitions using Cinemachine. This will help you develop muscle memory and improve your camera work.

Show steps

Create a simple scene with a character and some props.
Experiment with different Cinemachine camera types (FreeLook, DollyTrack, etc.).
Practice creating smooth camera transitions between different shots.
Adjust camera settings (field of view, aperture, etc.) to achieve different looks.

Create a Short Cutscene

Show steps

Apply the concepts learned in the course by creating a short cutscene. This hands-on project will solidify your understanding of Cinemachine, Timeline, and animation.

Show steps

Plan a short narrative sequence with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Create or acquire the necessary 3D models and animations.
Use Cinemachine to design dynamic camera shots.
Use Timeline to sequence animations, camera movements, and audio.
Add post-processing effects to enhance the visual appeal.

Analyze Cutscenes from AAA Games

Show steps

Improve your understanding of cinematic techniques by analyzing cutscenes from popular games. Pay attention to camera angles, pacing, and storytelling.

Show steps

Select 3-5 cutscenes from AAA games that you admire.
Watch each cutscene multiple times, focusing on different aspects.
Take notes on camera angles, transitions, and character animation.
Write a short analysis of each cutscene, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

Create a Cinematic Trailer for an Existing Game

Show steps

Challenge yourself by creating a cinematic trailer for an existing game. This project will test your ability to capture the essence of a game and present it in a compelling way.

Show steps

Choose an existing game that you enjoy.
Capture gameplay footage and cutscenes from the game.
Write a script that highlights the game's key features and story elements.
Use Unity's Timeline and Cinemachine to create a cinematic trailer.
Add music, sound effects, and voiceover to enhance the trailer's impact.

Career center

Learners who complete Unity Cutscenes: Master Cinematics, Animation and Trailers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cinematics Designer

A Cinematics Designer is responsible for creating engaging cutscenes and in-game cinematic sequences. This Unity course directly addresses this role by teaching the use of Cinemachine, Timeline, and animation tools, all essential for crafting high-quality cinematic content. A cinematics designer relies on tools to create dynamic camera angles, smooth transitions, and synced animations. This course is helpful for a Cinematics Designer because it will teach them how to take full control of the camera, set up dynamic shots, and achieve seamless transitions using Unity's built-in tools.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cinematics Designer

Game Trailer Editor

A Game Trailer Editor is responsible for creating engaging promotional videos that showcase a game's best features. This Unity course directly addresses the skills required, specifically mastering camera angles, post processing effects, and animation to make game trailers look professional. A Game Trailer Editor needs familiarity with tools to craft a compelling narrative through visuals. Learners will benefit from the course's focus on creating cinematic trailers from start to finish, which is a core skill for this role. This course is particularly helpful for a Game Trailer Editor because it guides users on how to make a game trailer look like it belongs on the big screen.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Trailer Editor

Game Animator

A Game Animator creates the movement and actions of characters and objects within a game, often playing a key role in cutscenes and cinematics. This Unity course is beneficial because it focuses on using Timeline and animation tools, which are essential for synchronizing animations and gameplay. A game animator must have a solid understanding of how to make animations flow seamlessly. This course is helpful for Game Animators by offering instruction on how to design smooth animation sequences to elevate cutscenes and overall gameplay.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Animator

Technical Artist

A Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and programming, and often sets up and optimizes animation pipelines, cutscenes, and camera systems. This Unity course is helpful because it provides hands-on experience with Unity's Cinemachine and Timeline, in addition to animation tools, all of which are crucial for setting up dynamic cinematic sequences. This is a valuable course for Technical Artists in that it will teach them how to create seamless transitions and integrate visual effects. A Technical Artist can leverage the knowledge to make in-game scenes more engaging and visually appealing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Level Designer

A Level Designer creates the environments and gameplay spaces of a video game. While not exclusively focused on cutscenes, this Unity course may be useful because level designers often integrate these sequences into their stages to enhance storytelling. Since a level designer is often responsible for the player's experience, it is helpful to know how to make camera transitions and animations smooth. This course may be useful for Level Designers because tools learned in the course aid greatly in making the gameplay experience smooth and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer

Game Director

A Game Director oversees the overall vision and direction of a game, and is involved in all aspects of game development including cinematics and trailers. This Unity course may be useful to a Game Director as a means of gaining practical knowledge of how cinematic sequences are created. Understanding tools like Cinemachine and Timeline can help a director better communicate with the team and fine tune their vision. This course will help provide a concrete understanding of the work needed to ensure smooth cinematic elements in a game, as well as how to create a more engaging trailer for marketing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Director

User Interface Designer

A User Interface Designer is responsible for creating the menus, HUDs, and other visual elements that players interact with. While not directly related to cutscenes, the knowledge of how to use Unity's animation tools this course provides may be helpful in creating dynamic UI elements, and smooth transitions which are crucial for a positive user experience. This course may be useful as it provides hands-on experience using Unity's animation tools. User interface designers can elevate a game's design by making the menus and transitional elements more engaging and less static.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface Designer

Game Producer

A Game Producer manages the development of a game, and is often involved in decisions regarding the game's overall look and feel, including the cinematic components. This Unity course may be useful to a Game Producer since it will help them understand the process behind creating smooth transitions and how to sync animations to gameplay, which in turn aids in managing a team. This course may be useful to a Game Producer in that it will inform their decision making on how a budget is spent when it comes to cinematic elements and trailers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

Narrative Designer

A Narrative Designer focuses on crafting the story, dialogue, and overall narrative structure of a game. While not entirely focused on cutscenes, this Unity course may be helpful because the narrative designer works closely with the cinematics designer. A Narrative Designer should learn what tools are available for the cinematics designer. This course may be useful so that Narrative Designers can better understand what is feasible when designing a game story, and the tools available for creating interactive storytelling cutscenes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Narrative Designer

Quality Assurance Tester

A Quality Assurance Tester is often responsible for identifying bugs and issues in a game, and must be able to spot problems within cutscenes and game trailers. Although Quality Assurance Testers do not create in-game cinematics, this Unity course may be useful to them as they learn about the tools and techniques that are used to create such sequences. This course may be useful for Quality Assurance because it will help them understand the development process behind cutscenes, which will help them become more effective at spotting implementation errors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Tester

Motion Graphics Artist

A Motion Graphics Artist creates animated visual elements for a variety of media, including video games. While this course is centered on Unity, skills learned here can be applied to other contexts. The course teaches how to use timeline, animation, and post-processing effects to create compelling motion. This course may be useful for a Motion Graphics Artist to understand animation in Unity for the purposes of creating cut-scenes as well as trailers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Artist

Video Editor

A Video Editor assembles raw footage into a polished video, a skill applicable to game trailers and cutscenes. This Unity course may be helpful because it teaches concepts that overlap with video editing like camera angles, transitions, animation, and post-processing techniques. This course may be useful for Video Editors as it provides instruction on the process of crafting cinematic sequences, which may give insight on the process behind their production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Editor

Game Writer

A Game Writer creates the story, dialogue, and lore of a video game. While this role might not directly involve the technical aspects of cutscenes, an understanding of how they’re created can help a writer tailor their scripts to fit the tools available to cinematics designers. This Unity course may be helpful to a game writer by providing knowledge of what tools and techniques are used in animation. A game writer can better understand the technical side of cutscenes and write better stories for the medium.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer

Sound Designer

A Sound Designer creates the audio elements of a game, including music and sound effects. While this Unity course does not directly focus on sound design, sound and animation often work together, and it is useful for a sound designer to know how animation and cutscenes are generated. This course may be useful to a Sound Designer as it teaches the animation and cutscene pipeline, for which the Sound Designer creates appropriate audioscapes. The course's animation and post-processing modules can help the Sound Designer understand the visual aspects when determining audio requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Community Manager

A Community Manager is responsible for engaging with a game’s player base, and often shares trailers and in-game cinematics to create excitement around the game. While a Community Manager does not directly create such material, understanding the process can help them better communicate with their audience. This course may be useful to help a Community Manager understand the process behind the creation of cinematic trailers, so they have a better understanding of the material they are presenting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Manager

Unity Cutscenes

Master Cinematics, Animation and Trailers

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses