Whether you’re a professional Character TD or just like to create 3D characters, this detailed guide reveals the techniques you need to create sophisticated 3D character rigs that range from basic to breathtaking. Packed with step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations, Body Language walks you through rigging techniques for all the body parts to help you create realistic and believable movements in every character you design. You’ll learn advanced rigging concepts that involve MEL scripting and advanced deformation techniques and even how to set up a character pipeline.

To master character rigging, one of the most difficult tasks in the production pipeline, follow the clear instructions and utilize the resources in Body Language: Advanced 3D Character Rigging. If you aspire to create your own animation or work in the animation industry, this is a must-read guide that will provide you with the basics of character rigging and advanced topics like "Pipeline in a Box" method of referencing, UVLayout, Maya Muscle systems, and scripting techniques. You will be on the path to creating compelling and realistic characters in no time at all!

Character rigging is one of the most difficult tasks in the production pipeline. It is also one of the most essential. Failure to correctly rig a character will frustrate animators and lead to delays or, even worse, unrealistic results. Whether you aspire to create your own animation or work in the animation industry, Body Language: Advanced 3D Character Rigging is the perfect resource for multiple parts of the production process that goes into 3D animation. With a focus on the foundation and advanced concepts of character rigging, authors Eric Allen and Kelly L. Murdock will give you a secure base setup as well as teach you some interesting and unique ways to deform a 3D character. More difficult aspects of the 3D pipeline are also discussed, including the "Pipeline in a Box" method of referencing, UVLayout, Maya Muscle systems, and scripting techniques. This book will help you cut through the clutter and present a clear path for you to follow for rigging compelling and realistic characters.

Great for Interdiciplinary training for VFX artists

This book is a wonderful volume for any artist’s library. It would serve exceptionally well in the classroom, but it is a worthy purchase for advanced artists in all disciplines of visual effects and animation who want to expand their knowledge and skill sets in rigging. Where far too many books are trite superficial tutorials, Eric and company have written a book as steeped in technique as it is in concept and principle. Wonderful purchase.

Excellent

If you want to become a pro in character rigging, this is the book, very simple, but complete.

Mostly Good!

This book has many great points! i think mainly i like it because instead of a linear step-by-step abc approach, each chapter explains approaches for a specific bodypart for your standard biped rig. that is a big plus.

on the other hand the directions are unnecessarily verbose, skimming over important considerations and possibly over-stressing minor considerations. that said i would not set down this book for another.

This book along with ’Art of Rigging Vol 1’ by CGToolKit are staple books for your rigging library if you are shopping for more than just long discriptive directions for applying IK solvers and naming bones.

Comprehensive and Easy to follow- a must-have!

This is a great book for the beginning rigger as well as for more advanced artists and technical artists. It’s a comprehensive overview of planning, techniques, terminology, and concepts involved in rigging all different types and styles of digital characters. Examples provided are clear and informative; advanced concepts are explained and demonstrated in a way that’s intuitive and informative. The authors have years of experience and learned many of these principles the hard way, so you don’t have to. You’ll be benefitting from a wealth of experience and especially knowing what things do and don’t work well- you’ll save lots of time by reading and paying attention if you’re just starting out!

This is a great book to have in your library as a learning tool and as a reference- I will be keeping it on a nearby shelf for quick access!

Excellent resource

The book is an excellent resource. I’ve done my fair share of rigging, and Allen and Murdock have put together a body of information that not only teaches me new tricks, but polishes and streamlines what I already do. Body Language will be the first place I look when I need to dig around for rigging assistance.

Body Language has me excited to rig again, which is perhaps the greatest aspect of the book. There are a lot of little "aha" moments here, and I’m itching to put them to use. It’s an essential component of my reference library.

I have only one complaint with this book: It doesn’t cover 3DS Max. It’s understandable, what with Maya being dominant in the high end of the field, but some of the principles and techniques here are so good, it just seems a shame to not have Max involved. Ironically, then, it’s the excellence of the Maya coverage that leaves me wanting the same for Max. Perhaps there’s a sequel in the works.

That minor quibble aside, I still rate this at the full five stars. The book stands on its own merits, and that I wish for more merely testifies to the value of the data.