Control Rig for Unreal Engine 5 from Udemy

In this course you will learn to use Control Rig in Unreal Engine 5, with a focus on creating procedural animation systems.This course is suitable for complete beginners, all the way through to professional animators and experienced game developers. It begins very slowly with detailed explanations and instructions to take you through creating procedural animation systems, which gives us a chance to explore and become familiar with various features of Control Rig.After creating a procedural walk system, we take a general look at some useful features of Control Rig, and experiment with systems that allow you to create characters that interact with the environment and move realistically.And finally we will create a procedural turn in place animation system, including troubleshooting, tweaking, and working through the logic step by step.The project file includes the completed versions of everything we create for Unreal Engine 5.2 and 5.3. This will be updated to include a 5.4 version when that version of the engine releases.

The techniques and methods explored are suitable for single player and multiplayer projects. The techniques used within Control Rig are also suitable for UEFN. This applies to the fully procedural sections and the specific functionalities we explore inside of Control Rig (at the time of writing animBP access is not available in UEFN, preventing a combination with keyframed animation - but the majority of the concepts will still work).

This information in this course is not available elsewhere, and is the result of many years of experimentation with Control Rig and procedural animation systems. My goal was to condense all of my experience with Control Rig into an easily digestible and understandable course, with explanations and diagrams at every step, so that you can learn a full mastery of how to use Control Rig for your own procedural and dynamic animations.

I look forward to seeing you on the course, and for you to share your creations and ideas. I'm always available for a discussion of concepts/ideas/help with any project, even if your specific use-case isn't covered directly in this course.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn the fundamentals of controlrig for unreal engine 5
Create a procedural walk animation system
Create a procedural turn-in-place animation system
Learn various techniques to add dynamic motion to your character animations

Master controlrig functions, variables and logic, and how to incorporate it into your project
Learn problem solving and debugging
Learn how to turn your idea from a concept into a working system
Gain an expert understanding of controlrig's capabilities for use in your single & multiplayer games, videos and animations, uefn projects and more

Learn the fundamentals of controlrig for unreal engine 5
Create a procedural walk animation system
Create a procedural turn-in-place animation system
Learn various techniques to add dynamic motion to your character animations
Master controlrig functions, variables and logic, and how to incorporate it into your project
Learn problem solving and debugging
Learn how to turn your idea from a concept into a working system
Gain an expert understanding of controlrig's capabilities for use in your single & multiplayer games, videos and animations, uefn projects and more

Syllabus

This section will give you an overview of the course and the various stages we will work on.

An introduction to the course content and an overview of the process. Download the project file from the Resources section of this video to begin.

A quick overview of some troubleshooting tips which may come in handy. When ready, download the project file from the course resources of the previous lecture. Remember to save often. ControlRig can crash unexpectedly. Create backups of what you are working on. And remember to close and re-open your ControlRig class if things are acting weird, particularly when dealing with Arrays.

Update for 5.4: "Item Chain" is now replaced with "Get Chain". Functionally the same but with some extra options.

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Develops a procedural animation system from scratch, including walk and turn-in-place animations

Taught by experienced instructors Lincoln Margison, who are recognized for their work in the industry

Designed for all skill levels, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced learners

Covers a range of techniques for adding dynamic motion to character animations

In-depth exploration of ControlRig functions, variables, and logic

Teaches troubleshooting and debugging techniques for ControlRig

Reviews summary

Mastering control rig for procedural animation

Learners say this course offers a highly comprehensive and clear guide to Unreal Engine 5's Control Rig, particularly for creating advanced procedural animation systems like walk and turn-in-place animations. Students praise the detailed, step-by-step explanations, which demystify complex concepts and provide a deep dive into the 'why' behind the 'how'. The instructor's responsiveness and personalized coaching are frequently highlighted. While the course is excellent for intermediate to advanced users, some complete beginners found the pacing challenging in later sections, suggesting it might be better suited for those with some prior rigging or UE experience. Overall, it's considered an invaluable resource that fills a significant educational gap.

Course pacing varies, potentially slow for experienced, fast for absolute beginners.

"My only minor gripe is that sometimes the pacing felt a little slow, especially in the very beginning, but I understand it ensures beginners can keep up."

"I struggled with the rapid jumps between concepts in some parts; it felt like it accelerated quickly without enough reinforcing exercises."

"As a beginner, I found this course a bit overwhelming and often lost, suggesting it might be better for those with prior rigging knowledge."

"As someone with some Unreal Engine experience, some early parts felt a bit basic, but the course did pick up."

Includes practical guidance on troubleshooting and debugging Control Rig issues.

"I found the debugging section particularly valuable, as I often run into issues there."

"The emphasis on problem-solving taught me very practical skills."

"I learned practical problem solving and debugging, helping me turn my ideas into working systems."

Offers specialized, advanced Control Rig knowledge not commonly found elsewhere.

"Finally, this course actually teaches advanced Control Rig techniques effectively!"

"I believe this course fills a huge gap in Unreal Engine education; I haven't found this information elsewhere."

"This course contains information not available elsewhere, clearly condensed from years of experimentation."

Instructor provides exceptional, responsive support and guidance.

"The instructor's responsiveness in the Q&A is fantastic; it felt like personalized coaching."

"I found the instructor's availability for questions a huge plus."

"The instructor is always available for discussion and help, even if my specific use-case isn't directly covered."

Emphasizes hands-on application through practical, functional animation systems.

"Building the procedural walk system step-by-step demystified so many concepts for me."

"The turn-in-place system section was a highlight; it's very practical for my game dev projects."

"The insights on combining keyframed animation and procedural systems are gold; this course is a deep dive."

"The specific techniques for environment interaction are exactly what I needed for my indie game."

Delivers exceptionally clear and thorough explanations for complex topics.

"The instructor's explanations are incredibly clear, even for complex topics. I particularly appreciated the detailed step-by-step approach..."

"Unreal Engine's Control Rig can be daunting, but this course breaks it down perfectly. The diagrams and explanations truly help visualize the underlying logic."

"I found the explanations precise, and my character rigging workflow has improved significantly."

"I really appreciate how the instructor doesn't just show you what to do, but *why*."

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 Control Rig for Unreal Engine 5 with these activities:

Review Basic Principles of Animation

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It is a good idea to review the foundational principles of animation, such as the 12 principles of animation.

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Read up on the 12 principles of animation
Watch tutorials that cover these principles

Read 'The Animator's Survival Kit' by Richard Williams

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This book offers practical guidance rooted in hand-drawn animation; many of these principles translate to procedural animation in ControlRig.

View The Animator's Survival Kit: Runs, Jumps and... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes
Reflect on how the principles can be applied to procedural animation
Experiment with implementing these principles in your own procedural animations

Follow Tutorials to Create Basic Animations

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To solidify your understanding of setup and construction of simple animations in ControlRig, completing guided tutorials will provide valuable practice.

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Find tutorials on how to create basic animations with ControlRig
Follow along with the tutorials, pausing to experiment and make adjustments
Practice creating your own basic animations, such as a bouncing ball or a waving hand

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Practice Creating Simple Procedural Animations

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Practicing with simple procedural animations will increase comfort and fluidity when creating more complex animations.

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Start with a simple animation, such as a rotating cube or a bouncing ball
Break down the animation into smaller steps
Write out the code for each step
Test the animation and make adjustments as needed

Join a Study Group or Online Community

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Participating in collaborative learning through study groups can reinforce learnings, foster support, and uncover alternative perspectives.

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Find a study group or online community dedicated to ControlRig or procedural animation
Attend meetings or participate in discussions
Share knowledge, ask questions, and collaborate on projects

Practice Troubleshooting Procedural Animations

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Troubleshooting is essential when working with procedural animations; practice will help overcome challenges.

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Start with a simple animation that has a known issue
Use debugging tools to identify the source of the issue
Fix the issue and test the animation

Create a Procedural Animation Project

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Developing a procedural animation project will provide extensive practice and allow for synthesis of knowledge.

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Come up with an idea for a procedural animation project
Design the animation
Implement the animation in ControlRig
Test the animation and make adjustments as needed

Attend a Workshop on Procedural Animation in ControlRig

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Structured workshops led by experienced practitioners provide exposure to proven techniques and facilitate focused practice.

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Find a workshop on procedural animation in ControlRig
Attend the workshop
Take notes and ask questions
Practice what you learned

Career center

Learners who complete Control Rig for Unreal Engine 5 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Animator

Animators bring characters to life in video games, movies, and TV shows. They use their artistic skills and technical knowledge to create realistic and visually appealing animations. This course would be highly beneficial for aspiring animators, as it provides a comprehensive foundation in ControlRig, a powerful tool for creating procedural animation systems. The course covers everything from the basics of ControlRig to advanced techniques for creating dynamic and realistic character animations, making it an invaluable resource for those who want to pursue a career in animation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Game Developer

Game Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining video games. They work on all aspects of game development, from concept and design to coding and testing. This course would be beneficial for aspiring game developers who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides a deep dive into ControlRig, a cutting-edge tool for creating procedural animation systems, which is essential for creating realistic and engaging character animations in video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Character Artist

Character Artists are responsible for creating the 3D models and textures for characters in video games, movies, and TV shows. They work closely with animators to bring characters to life. This course would be beneficial for aspiring character artists who want to specialize in creating realistic and dynamic character animations. The course covers the fundamentals of ControlRig, a powerful tool for creating procedural animation systems, which is essential for creating characters that move and behave realistically.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Artist

Technical Animator

Technical Animators use their programming skills to create and implement character animations in video games and movies. They work closely with animators and programmers to ensure that characters move and behave realistically. This course would be beneficial for aspiring technical animators who want to specialize in procedural animation. The course provides a comprehensive overview of ControlRig, a cutting-edge tool for creating procedural animation systems, which is essential for creating realistic and dynamic character animations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Animator

Motion Capture Artist

Motion Capture Artists use motion capture technology to record and analyze human movement. This data is then used to create realistic character animations in video games and movies. This course would be beneficial for aspiring motion capture artists who want to specialize in procedural animation. The course covers the fundamentals of ControlRig, a powerful tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to enhance and refine motion capture data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Capture Artist

Rigger

Riggers create the скелетa and joints that allow 3D characters to move. They work closely with animators to ensure that characters move and behave realistically. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring riggers who want to specialize in creating procedural rigs. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create rigs that are more dynamic and easier to animate.

See salaries and explore the career path for Rigger

Game Designer

Game Designers are responsible for designing the overall gameplay and mechanics of video games. They work closely with programmers, artists, and animators to bring their vision to life. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring game designers who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides a foundation in ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more realistic and engaging character animations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Technical Artist

Technical Artists use their programming skills to create tools and pipelines for artists and animators. They work closely with artists and programmers to ensure that art assets and animations are created efficiently and effectively. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring technical artists who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more efficient and effective character animation pipelines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Programmer

Programmers are responsible for writing the code that makes video games, movies, and TV shows work. They work closely with artists, animators, and designers to bring their vision to life. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring programmers who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more realistic and engaging character animations.

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Computer Graphics Artist

Computer Graphics Artists create digital images and animations for a variety of applications, including video games, movies, and TV shows. They work closely with artists, animators, and programmers to bring their vision to life. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring computer graphics artists who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more realistic and engaging character animations.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. They work closely with users, stakeholders, and other engineers to ensure that software systems meet the needs of the business. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring software engineers who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more realistic and engaging character animations.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of statistics, mathematics, and computer science to analyze data and extract insights. They work closely with businesses to help them make better decisions. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring data scientists who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to analyze and improve the performance of character animations.

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UX Designer

UX Designers are responsible for designing the user interface and user experience for websites, apps, and other digital products. They work closely with users, stakeholders, and other designers to ensure that digital products are easy to use and enjoyable. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring UX designers who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more engaging and interactive character animations.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software, hardware, and other technical products. They work closely with engineers, scientists, and other experts to ensure that documentation is accurate, clear, and easy to understand. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring technical writers who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more detailed and accurate documentation for character animation systems.

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Salesforce Administrator

Salesforce Administrators manage and maintain Salesforce software for businesses. They work closely with users, stakeholders, and other IT professionals to ensure that Salesforce is configured and operating properly. This course would be may be beneficial for aspiring Salesforce administrators who want to specialize in character animation. The course provides an overview of ControlRig, a tool for creating procedural animation systems, which can be used to create more engaging and interactive character animations for Salesforce applications.

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