Rig requirements
Define the skeleton, control needs and deformation range around the approved anatomy and actions. Unusual limbs, wings or tails need explicit movement references.
Creature rigging & animation
Movement,
with character.
Creature rigging and animation shaped by anatomy, weight and intention. Build a performance that belongs to your film, game, campaign or immersive world.
Discuss your creature
A rig is a system.
A performance is a choice.
Believable movement begins with what a creature needs to do. Its weight, balance and personality guide the technical setup and the animation. We discuss the required actions early, so the rig supports the performance rather than limiting it.
What we can scope together
Deformation review
Check poses and joint behaviour before building a larger animation set. Agree how facial features, secondary parts and any groom interact with the rig.
Character performance
Develop timing, weight shifts and readable intent through blocking and animation review. Film shots and reusable game actions are scoped differently.
Animation handoff
Agree clip or shot requirements, naming, frame rate, export settings and integration checks with the receiving team. Engine-specific requirements belong in the brief.
Approve the movement.
Then build the performance.
Rig delivery
Agree controls, deformation tests, facial requirements and the supported software version. A review scene with representative poses helps the receiving team understand the intended range.
Shot animation
For film, define shot length, camera, frame rate and editorial handles. Blocking review establishes intent and timing before polishing contact, weight and secondary movement.
Reusable animation
For interactive work, define clip names, loop boundaries, transitions and root-motion requirements. Agree export and engine checks before producing the full set.
Feedback that stays actionable
Gather notes against a specific version and frame range. Separating rig problems from performance notes helps the team resolve the cause rather than repeat revisions.
From brief to handoff.
Plan the actions
Define the character, performance references and the shots or animation list.
Test the rig
Review range of motion and representative poses before animation production.
Shape the performance
Move from blocking into refined timing, weight and secondary movement.
Review in context
Check the agreed shots or clips against their intended scene or interactive use.
Related work / Mimic Productions
Willow.
A rabbit with personality.
See how the Mimic Productions Willow project combined rabbit anatomy with expressive gestures, rig refinements and animation touchups.
View the projectA useful brief
starts here.
You do not need every answer before getting in touch. These details help us understand the production.
Talk to the team- Approved model and rig, if available
- Shot list or required animation set
- Movement references and character notes
- Target pipeline, frame rate and schedule
Before we begin.
Can you animate an existing creature?
Share the model, rig and required actions. The team will assess whether the existing setup supports the performance or needs additional work.
How do you approach non-human movement?
Start with anatomy, balance, contact and the creature’s intended behaviour. References and pose tests help establish rules for an invented creature without making every movement feel human.
Is motion capture required?
No. The production approach depends on the creature and its actions. Discuss keyframe animation and any useful reference or capture material during planning rather than assuming one technique suits every character.