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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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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Covers character rigging and animation in Blender. It comprehensive resource for anyone who wants to learn more about character creation in Blender.
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.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/mpq0q9/character
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