CGTalk - quadraped tuts

Jennbot

08-25-2003, 03:09 PM

I am looking for a quadraped tutorial for an animal who's front knees bend like a human's and back knees bend backwards.

I have found several tutorials for the opposite....like one for a dog and one for a bear, and those were good, but it would be helpful to see the workflow and problem-solving involved in animating a quadraped with front knees that bend backward. I feel as if I must be missing some techniques that would speed up my work.

Any books on the subjecxt would also be helpful.

Thanks!

ChristophZollinger

08-25-2003, 03:18 PM

Well, I would solve it with an easy IK rig on the front an back knees. The only difference is in my opinion, that the target of the back knees should be places behind the object (quadraped)

CapnPanic

08-25-2003, 03:30 PM

the thing to note here is that the rear legs of a dog/horse/cat etc don't really bend 'backwards' per se but it is more like they are walking on the balls of their feet (in human terms) and their knee is just up a bit higher.

edit: okay so i actually thought about this a bit and while my original post said to rig front and back legs the same, i meant to say to rig the front legs like you would arms on a human. and i made a little pic:

http://www.hello-napalm.com/private/dogbones.jpg

Jennbot

08-25-2003, 04:11 PM

thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention that I am actually using a character studio biped and was looking for a way to make that work. From both of your answers it seems like it may be better to use bones.

I did not rig the character myself, I am just animating it. I am not sure if I have the freedom to change the rig. I will check into it. Up until now I have only used the typical biped to animate human-style characters so my rigging skills are not very practiced.

BTW, am animating a giraffe. If that helps in tut ideas or advice.

Thanks.:)

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