May 13, 2024
Updated July 20, 2025
11 minute read
Character rigging is the process of creating a digital skeleton and control system for a 3D character model, allowing it to be animated. It involves defining the character's bones, joints, and muscles, as well as setting up the controls that will allow animators to manipulate the character's movement. Character rigging is an essential skill for anyone who wants to create animated characters for film, television, or video games.
Why Learn Character Rigging?
There are many reasons why you might want to learn character rigging. Perhaps you're interested in creating your own animated characters for fun or for profit. Or maybe you're a professional animator who wants to expand your skill set. Whatever your reasons, learning character rigging can open up a world of possibilities.
Here are some of the benefits of learning character rigging:
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You can create your own animated characters. With character rigging skills, you can bring your own characters to life. This can be a rewarding experience, and it can also be a great way to express your creativity.
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You can work as a professional animator. Character riggers are in high demand in the entertainment industry. If you have the skills, you can work on a variety of projects, from feature films to video games.
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You can learn other related skills. Character rigging is a complex skill that requires a deep understanding of 3D modeling and animation. By learning character rigging, you'll also learn about other related skills, such as anatomy, physics, and mathematics.
How to Learn Character Rigging
There are many ways to learn character rigging. You can take online courses, read books, or watch tutorials. You can also find mentors who can teach you the ropes. No matter how you choose to learn, be prepared to put in the time and effort. Character rigging is a complex skill, and it takes time to master.
Online Courses
There are many online courses that can teach you character rigging. These courses can be a great way to learn the basics of character rigging, and they can also help you develop your skills. Some popular online courses for character rigging include:
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Find a path to becoming a Character Rigging. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/topic/mpq0q9/character
Reading list
We've selected 22 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
Character Rigging.
Offers a balanced approach to learning Maya character rigging, combining theoretical concepts with practical, step-by-step tutorials. It provides a strong foundation for beginners and those looking to pursue 3D animation or more advanced rigging topics. The book is designed for classroom use and includes thorough tutorials for creating biped, quadruped, and prop rigs.
Considered a quintessential reference for facial animation, this book covers the principles and techniques for creating believable facial rigs and animations. While it uses Maya for examples, the core concepts are applicable to any 3D software. It's essential for anyone focusing on the nuanced and challenging aspect of facial rigging.
A specialized book on 'Facial Rigging for Production' would focus on the specific demands and techniques for creating production-ready facial rigs for film, games, or broadcast. This would cover advanced facial anatomy, blendshapes, and control systems.
Comprehensive guide specifically for character rigging for games using Blender. It breaks down technicalities into easily digestible parts and covers the process from a static model to an animation-ready game rig. It's highly relevant for those interested in game development rigging pipelines.
Focuses on providing a fundamental understanding of rigging concepts, moving beyond simple button-pushing to enable more intuitive rigging. It includes step-by-step tutorials covering various animation control types, connection methods, skinning, BlendShapes, and joint placement. It's suitable for beginners and those looking to deepen their understanding of core rigging principles in Maya.
Similar to Maya and Blender specific books, a guide focused on character setup and rigging in 3ds Max would be essential for users of this software package in animation and visualization pipelines.
This resource is highly recommended for understanding facial rigging and the important shapes needed for expressions. While it was originally focused on a specific platform (Apple), the principles of facial anatomy and deformation it covers are universally applicable and deeply insightful for advanced facial rigging.
Delves into advanced rigging concepts and techniques for creating realistic and believable character movements. It covers rigging techniques for various body parts, advanced deformation techniques, MEL scripting, and setting up a character pipeline. It valuable resource for those with some experience looking to enhance their rigging skills.
This beginner's guide introduces the essential aspects of character setup, evaluation, skeletal construction, and deformation. It presents basic theories and provides steps for constructing a human character rig. It's a good starting point for understanding the universal fundamentals of character rigging.
Focuses on rigging strategies and techniques specifically for creating digital creatures, often in 3ds Max. It explores rigging for various bodily features and locomotive styles, making it a valuable resource for those interested in creature work beyond humanoids.
For those looking to streamline their workflow and automate rigging processes in Maya, this book provides an in-depth guide to using MEL scripting. It covers building complex rigs with scripting and creating custom animation interfaces. is more technical and suited for users with some scripting interest.
Comprehensive guide to the art of animation. It covers everything from the basics of drawing to the principles of animation. It is written by Richard Williams, one of the most respected animators in the world.
Comprehensive guide to character animation. It covers everything from the basics of drawing to the principles of animation. It is written by Eric Goldberg, one of the most respected animators in the world.
Covers character rigging and animation in Blender. It comprehensive resource for anyone who wants to learn more about character creation in Blender.
Classic guide to character animation. It covers all the essential principles of animation, from squash and stretch to timing and spacing. It is written by Preston Blair, one of the most influential animators of all time.
Covers advanced topics in character rigging and animation, such as rigging for facial animation, cloth simulation, and motion capture. It is written by Derek Bradley, an award-winning character rigger and animator.
While covering broader animation fundamentals, this book includes sections on working with motion capture data and facial expressions, both of which are directly related to rigging. Understanding how rigging facilitates these aspects of animation is beneficial.
While not strictly a rigging book, this foundational text for animation. Understanding the principles of animation is crucial for creating effective and animatable rigs. provides essential knowledge on timing, spacing, squash and stretch, and other principles that inform rigging decisions.
While not directly about rigging, a strong understanding of anatomy is crucial for creating believable character rigs that deform correctly with movement. This type of book provides foundational knowledge that informs rigging decisions.
Provides a practical guide to character rigging, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It is written in a clear and concise style, and it is packed with helpful illustrations and examples.
Provides a step-by-step tutorial on character rigging in Maya. It covers all aspects of rigging, from creating bones and joints to setting up controls and creating blendshapes.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/mpq0q9/character
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