How to create 3D animation?
TL;DR
10-step worflow creating 3D animations. Too long? Try Mootion now!
The intricate 3D animation process comprises multiple phases akin to the initial and concluding phases of filmmaking. Let’s delve deeper into these stages to provide an overview of the entire procedure.
1. Ideation
The concept embodies the initial idea or narrative essence of
the creation. For instance, entities like Pixar invest nearly two years in refining the script
before initiating any sketches. This meticulous approach has been pivotal in their achievements,
prioritizing the narrative perfection ahead of production commencement. Unlike live-action
filmmaking, alterations to the storyline mid-animation could disrupt budgets and plunge the
project into disarray.
2. Storyboarding
Following the script’s finalization, it undergoes
pre-visualization using a storyboard. A storyboard artist sketches each scene, portraying
character movements, chosen shots, action sequences, and cinematic guidance. This serves as a
crucial blueprint directing the entirety of the production process.
3. 3D Modeling & Texturing
Modeling involves constructing objects and
characters through mathematical representations of their components. Initial shapes, such as
cubes, spheres, or planes, are crafted using vertices (virtual space points) to form a mesh.
Software programs like Autodesk Maya, Z-Brush, and Blender aid in this creation. These points
are organized on a 3D grid and transformed into three-dimensional objects. Once the 3D object is
established, the subsequent step involves texturing, refining the object’s external layer. This
encompasses attributes like skin, attire, or hair for characters; metallic finishes for vehicles
or machinery; brickwork for structures; fur for animals, and more. Within a studio setup, teams
of texture artists concentrate on this phase of the procedure.
4. Rigging & skinning
Rigging involves establishing the foundational
muscular-skeletal structure for your animation. Character rigs enable the articulation of joints
and mobile components, facilitating believable movements. Riggers are responsible for crafting
these operational skeletons within 3D animation projects. Following rigging, the subsequent
phase is skinning, a process that involves refining these joints. It’s akin to providing a
surface layer that conceals the mechanical framework beneath the object.
5. Animation
This phase involves animating the entire storyboard to bring
the script to life. Having constructed your 3D character or object from the ground up, you can
animate them using a sequence of motions or within a scene, usually employing software like
Maya. You might wonder, is drawing a prerequisite for a 3D animator? Given that 3D animation is
more technically oriented than 2D animation, artists don’t necessarily require advanced drawing
skills, although they can be advantageous. Before refining actions, an animated scene is
typically roughly outlined. Once this preliminary outline, known as blocking, is approved, a 3D
animator often navigates through several approval stages before reaching a “final” version.
6. Rendering
Rendering, also known as image synthesis, involves the
creation of the 3D animation using a graphics processing unit (GPU). It involves entering the
render equation into the software, resulting in a fully realized animated sequence. Throughout
this process, various elements like shading, texture mapping, shadows, reflections,
translucency, depth of field, motion blur, among others, can be incorporated into the sequence.
7. Compositing & VFX
Combining multiple render passes to create the
final animation involves a process known as compositing. This refining process encompasses
elements like lighting, shading, and colors, achieved by layering various components onto a
single image or sequence of images. Utilizing software like Nuke, VFX compositors meticulously
gather live-action plates, 2D elements, and any computer-generated (CG) content, such as
animation and visual effects. Compositing serves as the ultimate phase in the visual effects
pipeline. It mirrors the addition of visual effects, wherein illusions and enhancements
enhancing scenes and characters are introduced as separate renders. These enhancements are
layered onto the existing animation using a compositing program to enrich the overall visual
narrative.
8. Music & foley
All audio components for the
animation are produced within a dedicated sound studio. This encompasses recording the score,
gathering all necessary musical elements, and incorporating embellishments essential for the
animation. The music is meticulously timed to synchronize and harmonize with the visuals. Foley,
on the other hand, involves creating all the requisite sound effects for the project. Upon
finalizing these audio elements, they undergo a thorough sound edit and mix, aligning them
precisely with the on-screen actions.
9. Editing
Despite being
meticulously storyboarded, animation still requires an editing phase to ensure precise timing of
sequences, scene transitions, and the ultimate sound editing.
10 Final
Output
Upon
completing the animation, rendering, and refining stages, the final render phase commences. As
the production reaches its conclusion with all the finishing touches in place, the “render”
button is activated, marking the point of no return! The animation is now officially completed.