Rigging a Cartoon Character in Maya

Add squash and stretch to a rig in Maya, using techniques specific to cartoon characters: stretchy joints, IK/FK switching, and facial rigging.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files
• Assumptions and model requirements

1. Creating Stretchy Joints

• Basic stretch theory
• Setting up the leg joints
• Measuring the joint chains
• Creating stretch using expressions
• Creating stretch in the Node Editor
• Finalizing leg chains

2. Creating Stretchy Spines

• Drawing the hip and spine joints
• Adding controllers to the hip and spine
• Adding spine stretch

3. Setting Up FK/IK Switching

• Basic FK/IK switching theory
• Setting up the joints and controllers
• Wiring up the FK/IK rig
• Adding in stretch
• Finalizing the arm

4. Skinning and Blend Shapes

• Manipulating faces with blend shapes
• Creating jaw controls with joints
• Skinning the character
• Adjusting skin weights

5. Facial Rigging

• Creating controls for facial animation
• Controlling eyelids
• Wiring custom sliders
• Wiring simple two-way controls
• Wiring complex two-way controls
• Rigging the eyes
• Controlling the teeth

6. Testing

• Cleaning up the rig
• Animating a simple test

Conclusion

• Next steps