AE: Inverse Kinematic Character Animation
 Standard character animation in After Effects uses a process called 'Forward Kinematics' in that we animate down a linked chain - for example, upper arm linked to forearm linked to hand. To get animation we need to move the items down the chain one at a time. Inverse Kinematics creates a link back up the chain such that moving the hand would also move the forearm and the upper arm without breaking that link. This is a simpler and easier to control form of animation often used in 3D programs such as C4D and 3ds max etc. and allows us to control the animation for the complete chain through a single controller. |
To have IK inside of AE we are going to use a FREE script from DuDuf. This first tutorial goes through the process of downloading and installing the script in AE and then creating a very simple character, Forward Kinematics and then creating our first IK chain.
The second tutorial will create more IK chains as well as setting up various other controllers to be able to control our character simply and effectively.
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