Animate a Character in 15 Minutes in Blender

Learn how to model, rig and animate a walking character in 15 minutes! We'll create a quadruped that can walk in any direction, using a combination of curves, constraints and armature. Then we'll tie it all together with random movement, giving it life and personality!

00:00 What we will be creating
00:21 Modeling the leg
01:39 Setting up the IK rig
02:55 Creating the body
03:57 Creating the motion path
04:51 Animating the leg movement
06:03 Creating more legs
07:07 Direction controller setup
08:34 Adding random movement
10:16 Walking across the screen
11:55 The cherry on top!
13:03 Testing the rig
13:33 Ease of use in other projects
14:05 Thanks for watching!

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🎵 Outro Song:

[Polyfjord]

Hello! I see some of you are experiencing some issues at 06:03 when duplicating and rotating the leg. If the legs don't rotate properly around the body when duplicating, please make sure you have the Transform Pivot Point set to 3D cursor. This will use the 3D cursor as the pivot point when rotating and duplicating. Also, make sure the 3D Cursor is at the center of the scene (the hotkey for this is Shift + C). Hope this helps!

[marcusanimation]

I used to be the European Technical Manager for 3DS MAX. I gave software demonstrations and tutorials around the world. This is one of the best animation tutorials I have ever seen. Well done, Sir!

[gjnqnnu]

These are the most high quality Blender tutorials on YouTube

[parkerridings]

I literally had my jaw wide open for the majority of the video because I was just so in shock at how amazing and passionate you are about this. Your videos have really helped me to make my first few animations in blender. You have sparked so much inspiration in me just because of your videos. I love what you do so so much and I really want to see you succeed even more. Keep making this absolutely amazing content. Love your videos.

[kiaparowits]

You made this simple creature with such a powerful rig. Your explanation itself is masterful, it covers everything without a wasted word, but still with lively enthusiasm. Really good work, thank you.

[JaredOwen]

Wow! This is best tutorial that I have ever seen on a walk cycle. Well done and I can't wait for more videos.

[BrownHuman]

At this rate you could push everyone to make their own CG movie with complete animation, FX, Sound design and Final edit. Amazing tutorial as always Polyfjord ❤

[_tgwilson_]

As someone who worked with Softimage on SGI workstations, 3ds Max in the 1990s and later Maya, this is one of the coolest animation tutorials I have seen in ages. Thanks you :) Blender is awesome.

[janek]

This is the first Blender tutorial that I went through as a total newbie and it was super easy to follow. Thanks for a thorough explanation!

[dipendu]

You know it's a great day when the legend himself uploads.

[DawkinsDog]

Sometimes you watch a tutorial that just makes you smile and want to instantly fire up Blender to try it. This is one of those tutorials, excellent stuff!

[brianlanzarotto]

This is easily one of the best tutorials out there. You show in the menu as well as the hotkeys for every move you make. So easy to follow. I didn’t scream at the computer once. Excellent job

[noiamhippyman]

Dude you're kind of changing my life right now with this video.

And to anybody that is wondering. Yes, you can use this for bipedal creatures/humanoids as well. This is just a beautiful technique for quick procedural animation.

[imjusttoby]

The sound design when animating these random objects, is just the cherry on top!

[binyaminbass]

This is such a paradigm shift for me (like many of your tutorials). I'm so busy trying to fit everything into a classic armature and you come and build a dynamic and simple rig with what...empties and the skin-mod auto-armature?! I thought no one ever really used that. I am humbled and totally floored!

[timcameron]

This is one of the best tutorials I've ever done. As a frustrated Lightwave animator, this has opened up a whole new world of possibilities

[Romanticvampyre]

Your creations are so inspiring! Even though it's your tutorial and I followed it second by second, but that joy of seeing the playful character moving on its own that was created from a scratch is so satisfying. Thank you for your effort and mastery! :)

[reedrendered]

im losing it this is insane, wow, just wow, this has probably been the most life-changing tutorial ive seen in at least a year

[CoolScratcher]

The animations at the end are so cool, but what really makes them awesome is the texturing. Please do a texturing video, that would help me out so much!

[joshplayzgamezz]

I've always had problems making the propper bones for movement of any characters i made in blender.
this video is so straightforward and clear, makes it very easy to understand