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Low Poly Characters

Blender Bitesize Course

GameDev.tv Team, Grant Abbitt, and Rick Davidson

Want to learn to make characters quickly and easily in Blender, that you can use in your games, animations or graphics?

Maybe you’ve found Blender hard to learn and don’t have the time for a big course? Or you’re more of an intermediate user but finding character modelling tricky?

In this course, you’ll learn how to navigate Blender and the fundamentals of modelling quickly with a simple step by step approach. All while creating fun, stylised characters. You'll use texture grids, pose characters using basic rigs and add animations to characters with Mixamo.

Read more

Want to learn to make characters quickly and easily in Blender, that you can use in your games, animations or graphics?

Maybe you’ve found Blender hard to learn and don’t have the time for a big course? Or you’re more of an intermediate user but finding character modelling tricky?

In this course, you’ll learn how to navigate Blender and the fundamentals of modelling quickly with a simple step by step approach. All while creating fun, stylised characters. You'll use texture grids, pose characters using basic rigs and add animations to characters with Mixamo.

By the end of the course you’ll have built up the skills to create your own characters, with different styles, hair and clothing. You’ll also be able to adapt asset pack characters that you've downloaded, to create new and different characters.

And you'll know how to quickly and simply add animation to them, which you can then use in your game engine or animations.

All the time, you’ll be benefiting from Grant’s years in the industry as he shares helpful tips and tricks to speed up your workflow, enabling you to create low poly artwork quickly.

This course is perfect for complete Blender beginners to intermediate users looking to improve and learn new skills.

The only course prerequisite is that you're able to install Blender 3.0.

All students have access to the Q&A where our Instructors, Teaching Assistants and Community are ready to help answer your questions and cheer on your success.

So come and create some cool, fun characters now.

Enroll now

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • The fundamentals of the blender interface.
  • Basic modelling techniques.
  • How to follow character references.
  • How to create and build your own characters (with different styles, hair and clothing).
  • Texturing characters.
  • An introduction to rigging & animation (to use in your game engine or animations).
  • Adapt asset pack characters that you've downloaded, to create new and different characters.

Syllabus

Introduction & Setup

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Intro

In this video (objectives)…

  1. How to download blender and find experimental versions

Read more

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Navigating Blender

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Adding objects in Blender

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Adding and moving objects around to make a simple character

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Adding materials to our character

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Changing and adapting our character

Block Man

In this video (objectives)…

  1. intro

In this video (objectives)…

  1. How to import reference images to use as a guide

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Using edit Mode to edit the shape of objects

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Using the extrude tool to make extra geometry

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Using the mirror modifier to make modeling faster and more precise

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Using the mirror modifier to mirror based on other objects pivot points

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Using collections to organise your work

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Consolidating our skills by creating the block female characters

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Continuing your practice by creating and adapting the characters

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Further practice by creating a cyborg character.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Adding a metallic material and glow to our cyborg using the shader editor and the render settings

Full Character

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Section Intro

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Creating the torso of a full character without any gaps

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Creating the head of the character

In this video (objectives)…

  1. An overview of topology and why its important to give it some thought when modelling characters

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Building up our skills in modelling through making hte arms and hand of hte characters

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Continuing your skill development by modifying the shape of the character into a low poly female

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Moving and importing objects from one scene to another

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Creating two unqiue characters of your own

Detailed Character

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Adapting the base male character to create a stylized big muscly man

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Using the knife tool to add new geometry and detail

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Learn how to merge vertices using auto merge

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Learn how to texture your more detailed characters to make them easier to adjust and more compatible with game engines

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Learn how to make the smaller details of the character such as the clothing

Basic Rigging

In this video (objectives)…

  1. section Intro

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Learn the basics of human rigs

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Learn how to use pose mode to pose your characters

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Using weight painting to correct any errors in the parenting

Female Character

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Creating the base mesh for the female characters

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Creating the detail for the female character

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Adding and downloading Mixamo animations

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Adding textures using UV mapping and a simple colour table

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Congratulations

Continuing Your GameDev Journey
Bonus Lecture

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Taught by instructors with expertise in game development and 3D modeling
Provides a solid foundation for beginners in 3D character modeling
Includes practical exercises to reinforce learning and improve skills
Covers the basics of character modeling, including topology, UV mapping, and texturing
Utilizes industry-standard software, Blender, making the skills transferable to professional settings
May require additional learning resources for advanced character modeling techniques

Save this course

Save Low Poly Characters: Blender Bitesize Course to your list so you can find it easily later:
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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 Low Poly Characters: Blender Bitesize Course with these activities:
Review 3D modelling basics
Brush up on the fundamentals, and review the interface of Blender.
Browse courses on 3D Modelling
Show steps
  • Locate and review the official documentation for Blender.
  • Watch tutorial videos on general 3D modelling techniques.
  • Complete a few basic exercises in Blender.
Find a mentor to guide your character modelling journey
Connect with an experienced character modeller who can provide personalised guidance.
Browse courses on Mentorship
Show steps
  • Identify experienced character modellers.
  • Reach out to them and express your interest in mentoring.
Follow tutorials to create your first character
Gain hands-on experience by following along with a tutorial and creating a simple character.
Browse courses on Character Creation
Show steps
  • Search for a free online Blender tutorial that walks through the creation of a simple character.
  • Follow the instructions in the tutorial carefully.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment and make your own variations on the character.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a detailed plan for your character's design
Lay out a comprehensive plan to guide your character creation.
Browse courses on Character Design
Show steps
  • Consider your character's backstory, motivations, and personality traits.
  • Sketch out some different design ideas.
  • Choose a design and start creating a detailed character model.
Practice modelling different shapes and objects
Build your modelling skills by practising the creation of different shapes and objects.
Browse courses on Modelling
Show steps
  • Start with simple shapes like cubes, spheres, and cylinders.
  • Gradually move on to more complex objects like furniture, vehicles, or characters.
Practice posing and animating your characters
Enhance your characters by learning to pose and animate them.
Browse courses on Character Animation
Show steps
  • Learn the basics of rigging and animation in Blender.
  • Practice posing your characters in different ways.
  • Try animating your characters to create simple animations.
Create a portfolio of your 3D character models
Prepare a portfolio showcasing a range of character models you have created.
Browse courses on Character Design
Show steps
  • Choose your best character models to include in your portfolio.
  • Create high-quality renders of your models.
  • Write up descriptions of each model, explaining your design choices and the techniques you used.

Career center

Learners who complete Low Poly Characters: Blender Bitesize Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
3D Modeler
3D Modelers design and create 3D models for a variety of industries, including video games, film, and architecture. A good foundation in 3D modeling is crucial to this role, and this course can provide you with that. You will use many of the same skills you learn here on the job, such as using a 3D modeling program to create characters and other objects.
See salaries and explore the career path for 3D Modeler
Character Designer
Character Designers create the visual appearance of characters for video games, movies, and other media. In this role, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which is an essential skill for a Character Designer. You will also learn the basics of animation, which will help you bring your characters to life.
See salaries and explore the career path for Character Designer
Technical Artist
Technical Artists combine artistic and technical skills to create assets for video games and other digital media. Creating 3D models is a big part of this role, and this course can teach you the essential skills you need to get started. You will learn the basics of 3D modeling, character design, and animation in this course, all of which are in-demand skills for Technical Artists.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist
Animator
As an Animator, you design, create, and manipulate digital models to produce animation sequences. The ability to build and pose your own character models will help you in the field of animation. Designing characters in 3D and learning how to add animation is essential to the field, and this course can set you up for success in this career.
See salaries and explore the career path for Animator
Rigger
As a Rigger, you create the underlying framework that allows animated characters to move realistically. This course will help you develop essential skills for this role by teaching you how to create and pose 3D characters. By creating characters, you will learn how to build the framework for them to move.
See salaries and explore the career path for Rigger
Art Director
Art Directors oversee the visual aspects of video games, movies, and other media. A strong understanding of 3D modeling is essential for this role. In this course, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as an Art Director.
See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director
Game Developer
As a Game Developer, you will work on many types of games, from mobile to console titles. Creating characters is essential to a vast number of games, and the skills to design in 3D you will learn in this course will be highly applicable to the role. Learning Blender will give you the opportunity to grow as a developer by learning how to create assets to place in a game engine.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer
Environmental Artist
Environmental Artists create the environments for video games, movies, and other media. A strong understanding of 3D modeling is essential for this role. In this course, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as an Environmental Artist. You will be able to use the skills you learn in this course to create your own environments.
See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Artist
Game Designer
Game Designers create the overall concept and design of video games. Knowing the technical side of game development can be a strong advantage in this role. Designing characters is a large part of game design, and learning how to create 3D characters can give you an edge over other candidates in this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer
VFX Artist
VFX Artists create the visual effects for video games, movies, and other media. A strong understanding of 3D modeling can be helpful for this role. In this course, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as a VFX Artist. You will be able to use the skills you learn in this course to create your own visual effects.
See salaries and explore the career path for VFX Artist
Concept Artist
Concept Artists create visual concepts for video games, movies, and other media. A strong understanding of 3D modeling can be helpful for this role. This course will teach you the basics of 3D modeling, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as a Concept Artist. You will be able to use the skills you learn in this course to create your own concept art.
See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist
Texture Artist
Texture Artists create the textures for video games, movies, and other media. A strong understanding of 3D modeling can be helpful for this role. In this course, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as a Texture Artist. You will be able to use the skills you learn in this course to create your own textures.
See salaries and explore the career path for Texture Artist
Lighting Artist
Lighting Artists create the lighting for video games, movies, and other media. A strong understanding of 3D modeling can be helpful for this role. In this course, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as a Lighting Artist. You will be able to use the skills you learn in this course to create your own lighting.
See salaries and explore the career path for Lighting Artist
Motion Capture Artist
Motion Capture Artists use motion capture technology to capture the movements of actors and other performers. A strong understanding of 3D modeling can be helpful for this role. In this course, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as a Motion Capture Artist. You will be able to use the skills you learn in this course to create your own motion capture data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Capture Artist
3D Printing Technician
3D Printing Technicians operate and maintain 3D printers. A strong understanding of 3D modeling can be helpful for this role. In this course, you will learn how to create 3D characters, which will give you a solid foundation for a career as a 3D Printing Technician. You will be able to use the skills you learn in this course to create your own 3D models for printing.
See salaries and explore the career path for 3D Printing Technician

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Low Poly Characters: Blender Bitesize Course.
Cover image
Stop Staring
Save
Practical guide to creating low-poly characters for games. It covers all the steps involved, from creating the base mesh to adding details and textures. It also includes a number of helpful tips and tricks for creating characters that are both visually appealing and efficient to use in games.
Stop Staring: Facial Modeling And Animation Done...
Paperback
$$
Stop Staring: Facial Modeling and Animation Done...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Routledge Library Editions: Chaucer
Save
This magazine great source of inspiration for character designers. It features interviews with top character designers, as well as articles on the latest trends in character design. It also includes a number of tutorials and workshops on how to create your own characters.
Routledge Library Editions: Chaucer
Paperback
Check
Routledge Library Editions: Chaucer
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Animation Mini: Runs, Jumps and Skips
Save
Classic guide to animation. It covers everything from the basics of movement to the more advanced techniques used by professional animators. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about animation.
The Animator's Survival Kit: Runs, Jumps and Skips:...
Paperback
$$
Cover image
7 Dayz on 7 Mile
Save
Comprehensive guide to creating realistic facial expressions in 3D. It covers everything from the basics of facial anatomy to the more advanced techniques used by professional character animators.
7 Dayz on 7 Mile
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
Hashtag Danger
Save
Collection of essays by leading character animators. It covers a wide range of topics, from the history of character animation to the latest trends in the field. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the art of character animation.
Hashtag Danger
Paperback
Check
Hashtag Danger
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
After Effects and Photoshop
Save
Collection of tips and tricks for animators. It covers everything from the basics of animation to the more advanced techniques used by professional animators. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about animation.
After Effects and Photoshop: Animation and...
Paperback
$$
After Effects and Photoshop: Animation and...
Paperback
$$$
Cover image
ZBrush Creature Design
Save
Comprehensive guide to 3D character design and modeling. It covers everything from the basics of creating and editing geometry to the more advanced techniques used by professional character designers and modelers. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about 3D character design and modeling.
ZBrush Creature Design
Paperback
Check
ZBrush Creature Design
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Stop Staring
Save
Comprehensive guide to character creation for games. It covers everything from the basics of creating and editing geometry to the more advanced techniques used by professional character artists. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about character creation for games.
Stop Staring
Paperback
Check
Stop Staring
Kindle Edition
Check

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Effort
5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructors
GameDev.tv Team
Grant Abbitt
Rick Davidson
Language
English
Good to know
Taught by instructors with expertise in game development and 3D modeling
Provides a solid foundation for beginners in 3D character modeling
Includes practical exercises to reinforce learning and improve skills
Covers the basics of character modeling, including topology, UV mapping, and texturing
Utilizes industry-standard software, Blender, making the skills transferable to professional settings
May require additional learning resources for advanced character modeling techniques
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