Moho Intro: 2D Illustration, Rigging and Animation with Moho from Udemy

Note that this course is severely out of date. I provide it only for completeness of my course catalog. This course is for Brian Jackson completists only.

I designed a challenge for myself: create an introduction to Moho that would teach illustration, rigging and animation all in under 3 hours. During the course, create a human character and provide an animation demonstration.

Welcome to my introduction to Moho Debut/Pro 12 (formerly Anime Studio). Moho is a 2D vector illustration, rigging and animation package all in one. You can use it to create easy to professional 2D animation (e.g. cartoons and promos).

To meet my challenge I had to:

Address only the most fundamental and important topics
Be extremely organized in my presentation
Keep moving.

The core topics addressed include:

Build Solid Bone Structure

Understanding Pose, Proportion, Perspective, Joints and Constraints
Designing an Optimal Skeletal Structure for Your Character

Illustration

Constructing Perfect Knee and Elbow Joints
Drawing Your Character Torso
Tracing Your Character Head and Face
Cartoon Eyes Option Using Layer Masks

Rigging

Binding Bones to Your Character
Switch Layers and Smart Bone Dials

Animation

Walk Cycle
Lip Syncing
Camera and Background Animation

This course is the first in a series of Moho courses that includes:

Introduction to Moho Pro Illustration, Rigging and AnimationBeginner Moho Pro Illustration, Rigging and Animation

Don't forget the Udemy 30 day no questions asked money back guarantee. If you're not happy with this course, just return it. That makes your decision to enroll a no-brainer, doesn't it?

Click on the Enroll button in the upper right to begin learning the most powerful 2D illustration and animation software in the world: Moho.

I'll see you in the classroom,

Brian

What's inside

Learning objectives

Students will learn how to illustrate character and background images in moho
Students will learn to rig their character for animation

Students will learn to animate a character to produce a video

Students will learn how to illustrate character and background images in moho
Students will learn to rig their character for animation
Students will learn to animate a character to produce a video

Syllabus

Introduction

This introduction provides an overview of Moho and 2D animation and concludes with an overview of the course.

This addendum adds additional introductory guidance for using Moho and revises the course objectives to illustrating, rigging and animating a human male character.

This lecture outlines the requirements of a solid character bone structure and explains how we'll be using these concepts to implement our bone structure.

In this lecture we'll use the concepts of pose, proportion, perspective and joints to create a solid and optimal skeletal structure for our character.

In this lecture we'll add bone angle constraints and target bones to our bone structure to make it even easier to manipulation during animation.

In this lecture I'll demonstrate how to animate and bind arms and legs to produce perfect elbow and knee joints.

In this lecture we'll conclude the creation of our character arms and legs.

In this lecture we'll draw the pelvis and chest for our character.

In this lecture we'll trace our character head and face from a 3/4 view picture of our own head.

In this lecture I demonstrate the creation of alternative cartoon character eyes using a layer mask.

In this lecture I we'll bind our bones to the pelvis and chest.

In this lecture we'll use switch layers to implement our characters hands, feet and mouth.

In this lecture we'll use smart bone dials to rig the movement of our cartoon character eyes.

In this lecture we'll implement a standard Preston Blair walk cycle to have a character walk across the screen.

In this lecture we'll conclude implementing our walk cycle.

In this lecture I'll demonstrate semi-automated lip syncing using the free Papagayo extension from Smith Micro.

In this lecture we'll animate a background and camera angles to enhance our walk cycle animation.

In this lecture I provide an overview of my additional Moho training material on Udemy.

This article provides an overview of additional educational resources you should now check out.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers illustration, rigging, and animation, which are essential skills for creating 2D animations and bringing characters to life

Uses Moho, a 2D vector illustration, rigging, and animation package, which is useful for creating cartoons and promotional materials

Explores pose, proportion, perspective, joints, and constraints, which are fundamental concepts for building solid bone structures in character design

Teaches rigging using switch layers and smart bone dials, which are techniques used to implement character hand, feet, mouth, and eye movements

Demonstrates lip syncing using the Papagayo extension, which is a technique that can save animators time when synchronizing character speech

States that the course is severely out of date, which may be a dealbreaker for learners seeking current industry practices and software versions

Reviews summary

Intro to moho basics (outdated version)

According to learners, this course provides a solid introductory overview to 2D illustration, rigging, and animation using Moho, focusing on the fundamentals of character bone structure, illustration, rigging, and basic animation techniques like walk cycles and lip syncing. While the instructor is generally praised for their clear explanations and organized approach, a significant point raised is that the course utilizes an older version of the Moho software (version 12), making some interface elements and features differ from current versions. Learners highlight the practical demonstrations and hands-on approach as beneficial, though some feel the pace is very fast due to the goal of covering a broad scope in a short time.

Moves quickly to cover many topics in a short time.

"The pace is very fast, which can be challenging for absolute beginners."

"He moves through the material very quickly."

"Because it's an intro covering a lot, it can feel a bit rushed."

"The course is very fast-paced to fit everything in under the time limit."

Includes practical demos like walk cycles and lip sync.

"The walk cycle and lip sync demonstrations were very helpful."

"I liked seeing the practical application through the character project."

"Learning how to rig and animate a basic character was very useful."

"The practical examples make the concepts easier to grasp."

Instructor is clear, organized, and easy to follow.

"Brian does a great job of explaining the tools in Moho."

"The instruction is clear and the instructor is knowledgeable."

"The course is well organized and presented in an easy to follow manner."

"I appreciate how well Brian structured the content, making it easy to digest."

Provides a good foundational overview of Moho basics.

"This course is an excellent introductory overview of Moho 12 (fka Anime Studio)."

"It covers the basics needed to get started with character illustration, rigging, and animation."

"I found this course gives a good solid foundation of Moho and all its basic features."

"Good introduction into moho for anyone who hasn't touched it before."

Course uses Moho 12, significantly different from current versions.

"This course is based on Moho 12 which is an older version, so I found things in the software different from what is being taught."

"Be warned that this course is outdated."

"The course is for Moho 12 but Moho 13 is out with a lot of changes. You have to figure out some differences yourself."

"The software version used is quite old and the UI has changed, which can be confusing for new users."

"While the principles are useful, following along exactly is difficult with the outdated software."

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 Moho Intro: 2D Illustration, Rigging and Animation with Moho with these activities:

Review Basic Anatomy for Artists

Show steps

Reviewing basic anatomy will help you better understand how to construct your character's bone structure and muscles in Moho.

Browse courses on Figure Drawing

Show steps

Study skeletal structure diagrams.
Practice drawing simplified figures.
Focus on joint articulation.

Study 'Cartoon Animation'

Show steps

Studying this book will provide a deeper understanding of cartoon animation principles, which can be applied to your Moho projects.

View Animation on Amazon

Show steps

Read chapters on character design.
Study the examples of different animation techniques.
Practice drawing cartoon characters.

Read 'The Animator's Survival Kit'

Show steps

Reading this book will provide a strong foundation in animation principles, which are essential for using Moho effectively.

View Adventures in Animation: How I Learned Who I... on Amazon

Show steps

Read chapters on timing and spacing.
Study the walk cycle examples.
Take notes on key animation principles.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice Walk Cycles

Show steps

Practicing walk cycles will reinforce the animation principles taught in the course and improve your ability to create realistic character movement in Moho.

Show steps

Find reference videos of people walking.
Break down the walk cycle into key poses.
Animate the key poses in Moho.
Add in-between frames to smooth the animation.

Create a Short Animated Scene

Show steps

Creating a short animated scene will allow you to apply the skills you've learned in the course and solidify your understanding of Moho's animation tools.

Show steps

Develop a simple story or concept.
Design the characters and background.
Animate the scene in Moho.
Add sound effects and music.
Share your animation online.

Explore Advanced Rigging Tutorials

Show steps

Exploring advanced rigging tutorials will help you expand your knowledge of Moho's rigging capabilities and create more complex and realistic character animations.

Show steps

Search for tutorials on YouTube or Vimeo.
Focus on tutorials that cover smart bones and constraints.
Follow along with the tutorials and experiment with different techniques.

Contribute to Moho Scripting Projects

Show steps

Contributing to open-source Moho scripting projects will allow you to deepen your understanding of Moho's scripting capabilities and collaborate with other animators.

Show steps

Research existing Moho scripting projects.
Identify areas where you can contribute.
Submit your code and documentation.
Participate in community discussions.

Career center

Learners who complete Moho Intro: 2D Illustration, Rigging and Animation with Moho will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Character Animator

A Character Animator brings characters to life in various media, including animated films, television shows, and video games. This role involves creating realistic and engaging movements, expressions, and performances for 2D characters. With its focus on illustration, rigging, and animation, a course such as Moho Intro helps build a foundation for those who wish to become a Character Animator. Through building a solid bone structure, illustrating a human character, and rigging that character, one can learn the basics that will help them to further develop their skills. The animation segment of this course, especially the walk cycle, would be particularly relevant to a future Character Animator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Animator

Animator

An Animator creates moving images using various techniques, including 2D animation. Animators work in a variety of industries, including film, television, video games, and advertising. The Moho Intro course is perfect for an aspiring Animator. The course focuses on the fundamentals of 2D animation using Moho, covering illustration, rigging, and animation. One can learn how to build a solid bone structure, animate a walk cycle, and even implement lip syncing. These are all fundamental techniques that are used when creating animations for various mediums.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Freelance Animator

A Freelance Animator works independently on animation projects for various clients, including advertising agencies, production companies, and independent filmmakers. This role offers flexibility and creative control but requires strong self-discipline and business acumen. Learning the illustration, rigging, and animation techniques taught by Moho Intro may be helpful for starting one's career as a Freelance Animator. Learning how to implement a Preston Blair walk cycle may be useful for a wide range of clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Animator

Rigger

A Rigger is a specialized animator who focuses on creating the underlying skeletal structure and controls for 2D or 3D characters, enabling animators to bring them to life. This role requires a deep understanding of anatomy, physics, and animation principles. This Moho Intro course provides a really good introduction to rigging for someone who wants to be a Rigger. Rigging is the focus on one section of the course, where students learn how to bind bones to a character, use switch layers to implement hands, feet, and mouths, and even use smart bone dials to rig the movement of cartoon character eyes. This course may be particularly relevant for a Rigger.

See salaries and explore the career path for Rigger

Motion Graphics Designer

A Motion Graphics Designer creates visually stunning animated content for various platforms, including websites, social media, and broadcast television. This role requires a strong understanding of animation principles, visual design, and storytelling. This Moho Intro course may be useful for those interested in becoming a Motion Graphics Designer. The illustration, rigging, and animation techniques taught provide a foundation for creating compelling motion graphics. This course is especially useful as it focuses on how to create a solid bone structure for human character animation, which could be applied and modified to create interesting motion graphics using human or humanoid characters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Designer

Digital Artist

A Digital Artist creates artwork using digital tools and software. This role encompasses a wide range of specializations, including illustration, animation, and visual effects. The Moho Intro course provides a good introduction to 2D animation software. Learning how to create illustrations, rig characters, and animate them using Moho will help build a foundation for a budding Digital Artist. Learning how to draw character torsos may apply to a Digital Artist looking to add more animation to their skillset.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Artist

Illustrator

An Illustrator creates visual images for a wide range of media, including books, magazines, websites, and advertising campaigns. Illustrators work with various styles and techniques to create compelling artwork that communicates a message or tells a story. A course like the Moho Intro course may be useful to an aspiring Illustrator. While the course focuses on animation, it also covers the fundamentals of illustration within the Moho software. Specifically, this introduction teaches how to illustrate character and background images in Moho. This course may be particularly useful for someone who is interested in creating illustrations for animation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Game Artist

A Game Artist creates the visual elements of video games, including characters, environments, and props. This role requires a combination of artistic skill, technical knowledge, and a passion for gaming. The Moho Intro course may be valuable in understanding how to create and animate 2D characters for games. The course covers character design, rigging, and animation, all essential skills for a Game Artist. A Game Artist may find the lessons on how to bind bones to characters and animate a basic walk cycle to be valuable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Storyboard Artist

A Storyboard Artist creates visual representations of a film, television show, or video game's narrative. This role involves drawing individual panels that depict key scenes and actions, guiding the creative team in visualizing the story. The skills learned in the Moho Intro course may be transferable to creating dynamic storyboards. Learning to illustrate characters and backgrounds in Moho helps teach the fundamentals of illustrating characters and background images for storyboards. Similarly, learning to animate a character walk cycle may inform how a storyboard artist frames their shots and panels.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Multimedia Artist

A Multimedia Artist creates visual content using a variety of media formats, including animation, video, audio, and interactive elements. This role requires versatility, creativity, and a strong understanding of multimedia design principles. This Moho Intro course may be useful because it provides skills in 2D illustration, rigging, and animation. Learning how to animate a character and create background animations would apply to a variety of multimedia projects. Additionally, learning how to produce lip syncing may also be applicable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Multimedia Artist

Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates engaging and effective learning materials for various platforms, including online courses, training programs, and educational software. This role requires a strong understanding of instructional design principles, adult learning theory, and multimedia development. The Moho Intro course may be useful because it provides experience in creating educational content focused on illustration, rigging, and animation. Anyone who is interested in designing animation learning materials would find this course useful, as it also teaches organization skills when presenting the material.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Technical Artist

A Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and technology, developing tools and workflows to streamline the content creation process for games, film, or animation. This role requires both artistic and technical skills. This is more relevant for a Technical Artist who work with 2D animation. This Moho course may be useful because it teaches the rigging and animation process using specialized software. Learning how to bind bones to a character and use smart bone dials may be valuable to a Technical Artist who is trying to learn the software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Creative Director

A Creative Director leads and inspires a team of creative professionals to develop and execute innovative marketing campaigns, branding strategies, and visual designs. This role requires a strong understanding of art direction, design principles, and project management. The Moho Intro course may be useful because it provides insights into the animation production process. A Creative Director who understands the technical aspects of animation may be better equipped to guide and manage animation projects, especially 2D projects. For instance, learning how to animate a walk cycle may inform the Director how the character actually moves in the animation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Art teacher

An Art Teacher educates students of all ages in various art forms, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital art. This role requires a passion for art, strong communication skills, and the ability to inspire creativity in others. The Moho Intro course may be useful to an Art Teacher who wants to expand their knowledge of 2D animation. An Art Teacher may find the segments on illustrating characters or animation to be useful in creating lesson plans for young art students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Concept Artist

A Concept Artist creates visual representations of ideas and concepts for various projects, including films, video games, and theme parks. This role requires a strong imagination, artistic skill, and the ability to translate abstract ideas into tangible visuals. By covering illustration, rigging, and animation, this Moho Intro course may be useful for a Concept Artist. The focus on character creation and animation can help a Concept Artist visualize characters in motion and develop more dynamic designs. Learning how to draw a character torso and create cartoon eyes using layer masks may be particularly applicable to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Reading list

We've selected two 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 Moho Intro: 2D Illustration, Rigging and Animation with Moho.

ADVENTURES IN ANIMATION

Save

Is considered a bible for animators. It covers essential animation principles, timing, and spacing. Reading this book will provide a strong foundation for the animation techniques taught in the Moho course. It valuable reference for both beginners and experienced animators.

Adventures in Animation: How I Learned Who I...

Hardcover

Animation

Save

Classic guide to cartoon animation techniques. It provides detailed instructions and examples for creating dynamic and expressive character animations. Studying this book will enhance your understanding of animation principles and improve your ability to create engaging animations in Moho. It is particularly useful for learning about character design and movement.