How to create animations in Unity 3D

Introduction

Before we dive into creating animations in Unity 3D, let’s first understand what an animation is. Animation is a series of images or frames that when played at a continuous rate, create the illusion of movement and change.

Creating Animations with Keyframes

Keyframes are the building blocks of animations in Unity 3D. They define the state of an object at different points in time and can be used to create a wide range of animations, from simple moving objects to complex character animations. To create an animation using keyframes, follow these steps:

1. Create a new object: In Unity 3D, start by creating a new object that you want to animate. This could be anything from a character model to a particle effect.
2. Add animation clips: Animation clips are used to store the keyframes for each animation. To add an animation clip, go to Window > Animation > Create > Animation Clip.
3. Set up the animation window: Once you have added an animation clip, open the Animation window by going to Window > Animation or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + A. This will bring up a timeline where you can define the keyframes for your animation.
4. Define the keyframes: To define the keyframes, simply click on the timeline and set the position, rotation, scale, or other properties of the object at different points in time. You can also use curves to create more complex animations.
5. Play the animation: Once you have defined all the keyframes, you can play the animation by clicking on the Play button in the Animation window or by pressing Ctrl + T.

Rigging: The Foundation of Character Animations

While keyframes are great for simple animations, they become challenging when it comes to character animations. This is where rigging comes in. Rigging is the process of creating a skeleton or control points that define the movement of a character’s limbs and other parts of the body. In Unity 3D, there are several ways to rig characters, including using built-in tools and third-party plugins like Mixamo.

Rigging with Unity’s Built-In Tools

6. Import the character model: Import the character model into Unity 3D and ensure that it is properly scaled and positioned.
7. Create a new animation clip: Go to Window > Animation > Create > Animation Clip.
8. Set up the animation window: Open the Animation window and create a new animator by going to GameObject > Animate > Create Animator Controller.
9. Create a rigged character controller: In the Animator Controller, create a new Rigged Character Controller component by dragging it onto the controller object. This will create a new control point for each limb of the character.
10. Assign keyframes to the rig: Go back to the Animation window and assign keyframes to the rig points. This will define the movement of the character’s limbs and other parts of the body.
11. Play the animation: Once you have defined all the keyframes, you can play the animation by clicking on the Play button in the Animation window or by pressing Ctrl + T.

Creating Realistic Character Animations with Blend Shapes

To use blend shapes in Unity 3D, follow these steps:

7. Import the character model: Import the character model into Unity 3D and ensure that it has blend shape capabilities.
8. Create a new animation clip: Go to Window > Animation > Create > Animation Clip.
9. Set up the animation window: Open the Animation window and create a new animator by going to GameObject > Animate > Create Animator Controller.
10. Create blend shapes: In the Animator Controller, create blend shapes for different expressions or poses. This can be done using the Mecanim Animation Window or by importing blend shape data from other software like Maya or Blender.
11. Assign keyframes to the blend shapes: Go back to the Animation window and assign keyframes to the blend shapes. This will define the movement of the character’s facial expressions, body language, and other subtle movements that make characters look more authentic.
12. Play the animation: Once you have defined all the keyframes, you can play the animation by clicking on the Play button in the Animation window or by pressing Ctrl + T.