What is Character Rigging? Know the Process and Tools

All the game characters you see on your game screens are more than just an impressive visual. These are all results of meticulous character rigging that make the character movement more realistic and responsive and make you in awe with your favorite character. It is the character's rigging animation that adds a whole new dimension of realism and immersion to the gaming experience.  

 

To help you understand more about riggers animation for video games, we will walk you through an in-depth guide on character rigging, how to get it done, and the best character rigging software for beginners. 

 

Let’s begin,

 

What is Character Rigging? 

 

"Character rigging is a technique in video game development where a digital skeleton, or "rig," is created inside a character. This rig allows the character to move realistically."

 

Character rigging brings life to your video game characters by allowing them to run, walk, jump, and interact with the game world. Just as the human body has bones and joints that make them move their arms, legs, and other body parts freely, video game characters have rigs that allow them to move and pose independently. 

 

Rigs are typically created using 3D character modeling software and are quite complex to use to create complex characters. 

 

Why Are Rigs Used For Character Animation?

 

Rigs control the movement of game characters and are used in combination with other animation techniques, such as facial animation and motion capture. When an animator moves the bones of the rig, the character follows the direction. For example, if the animator moves the leg bone, the character's leg will move. The character's back will bend if the animator moves the spine bone. 

 

 

Now, let’s address the most important concern that often arises,

 

Is Rigging A Part Of The Animation Process?

 

Yes, rigging comes under the game animation process. It is the step where the animator creates a rig for the characters that they want to animate. The rig allows the animator to control the character's movement realistically while also being optimized for performance in real-time game engines. Without rigging, characters would move unrealistically, affecting the overall experience of the game.

 

Character Rigging Process

 

As game characters need to perform a wide range of actions, like running, jumping, shooting, and fighting, in the most super realistic way, here's what it takes to do character rigging. 

 

Step 1: Building the Skeleton (Rig)

 

 

Take your character as a puppet. The first thing we do is create a digital skeleton, like the puppet's frame, inside the 3D character model. This skeleton is called a rig. We place "bones" in the character's body where its joints and important parts are, like the arms, legs, and head. These bones will act as handles that we can move to make the character move. 

 

Step 2: Connecting and Controlling the Bones

 

 

Now that we have our skeleton, we need to make sure everything is connected properly. Think of this like strings on a puppet. We create a hierarchy, which means we arrange the bones so that some bones control others. For example, the upper arm bone controls the lower arm bone. We also add controllers, like handles or buttons, to easily move and pose these bones.

 

Step 3: Assigning How Things Move (Weight Painting)

 

 

Now, we need to tell it how much each bone should affect different parts of the character. This process is called weight painting. We use colors to show this. Red means a bone has a lot of control, while blue means it has no control. So, we paint these colors on different parts of the character to achieve realistic and expressive character animation. 

 

Step 4: Making the Character Follow the Skeleton (Skinning)

 

 

Now that our skeleton is ready and we've painted the weights, it's time to make the character listen to the skeleton. This step is called skinning. We attach or "bind" the character's soft outer surface (like its skin) to the bones in the rig. This way, the character follows the direction when we move the bones.

 

Once the rig is complete, the animators can begin to animate the character, using the controls to move it into the desired poses.

 

Examples of Rigging Animation

 

Let's walk you through examples of how rigging is used in animation. 

 

 

 

Rigger Vs. Animator? Are They Both The Same?

 

Riggers and animators have two distinct roles but work together and possess different responsibilities. 

 

We have shared a simple analogy to help you understand the difference between riggers and animators. Take a look!

 

• Consider a rigger as a puppeteer. They create the marionette (the 3D model) and attach strings to it (the rig).

• Consider an animator as a puppeteer. They use the strings to make the marionette move (the animation).

 

Let’s break down the differences between the two for your easier understanding. 

 

 

What Tools Are Required For Character Rigging?

 

To make the game characters move, emote, and interact with the game world, rigger artists rely on specialized rigging software that streamlines the animation rigging workflow, enhances precision, and ultimately contributes to the game's overall quality.

 

 

We've mentioned some of the most popular rigging tools for game character rigging that both rigger artists and beginners can employ. 

 

• Maya 

 

Maya is a powerful 3D modeling and animation software program that has a diverse set of rigging tools. Many game artists utilize Maya to rig game characters due to its easy usage. 

 

• 3ds Max

 

3ds Max is another popular 3D modeling and animation software widely used to create complex character skeletons and animations. Many professional game studios also use 3ds Max to rig the game characters efficiently and effectively. 

 

• Blender

 

Blender is a free and open-source 3D modeling and animation software that gained immense popularity due to its rigging capabilities. It provides a versatile platform used by indie game developers for creating character rigs and animations.

 

• Mixamo

 

Mixamo is an online service that provides a variety of pre-made skeletons and rigs that can be used for game characters. Mixamo is a good option for developers who need to rig characters quickly and easily.

 

All these tools are indispensable for ensuring that game characters appear lifelike, move realistically, and deliver an immersive gaming experience. The tools listed above are just a few of the many available rigging tools that are used widely. 

 

  Remember: When you choose any rigging tool, it is important to consider your budget, skill level,          and the specific needs of your project. 

Hire Best Character Riggers for Your Animation

 

There's no denying that game character rigging is the backbone of lifelike and engaging character animations and contributes to making or breaking your game's success. It requires a skilled blend of artistic creativity, technical expertise, and the right tools and software set.

 

At InvoGames, we understand the importance of professional rigging services, and our team of experienced rigging artists is ready to bring your game characters to life. Don't hesitate to reach out to us to acquire expert rigging solutions that will elevate your game to the next level. Let us be your partner in creating immersive and captivating gaming experiences.