Part 4: Creating Custom Animation from Scratch

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to access and create custom animation in Unreal Editor. It covers everything from adding a new sequence to animating different body parts and exporting the animation to the animation library. This guide will help you create dynamic and unique animations for your Unreal Engine projects.

Katie Stokes
50 steps
7 minutes

Creating Animation from Scratch

In the Content Browser tab, click on the Content folder

Double click on the Maps folder

Double click on Map_Example3

If you haven't saved your last animation, make sure to do so.

Bit will appear in your Viewport after opening Map_Example3

Now you need to add a new sequence. Click on the Content folder again

Double click on the Sequences folder

In the sequences folder, you want to add a new sequence, so right click anywhere within the folder to pull up the menu

In the menu, choose Animation > Level Sequence

Rename your new sequence CustomAnimation or a descriptive title of whatever animation you have in mind

Double click on your new CustomAnimation level sequence

Click on Bit in the Viewport to highlight the Sk_Bit file in the Outliner tab.

Drag Sk_Bit into the Sequence window/tab

Click on +Track, in the Sequencer tab next to Sk_Bit

In the menu, choose Control Rig > FK Control Rig

Bit's rig will show up

Action Poses

Notice that the fps, or frames per second, is at 30 fps. This means that every second that goes by, there are 30 possible keys to create within one frame. That's a lot of keys! To start out, let's only choose a few big, action poses and then fill in additional details later.

Choose FKControlRig to view the rig

Scroll down the control rig list to find Bit's head, or type in "head" in the search field to highlight it.

Click on head to highlight Bit's head transform in the Viewport

Click on the rotation tool to adjust the head pose

Using the correct rotation plane, modify the rotation of Bit's head

Click on the key button when you are satisfied with the beginning pose of the head

Once the first key has been added, move the scrubber/playhead forward to insert another animation key

Use the rotation tool to move the head back in the other direction

Insert the new key when satisfied

Move the playhead back to the beginning to adjust the arms

Click on Bit's shoulder in the Viewport

Use the rotation tool to move the shoulder to the beginning pose.

Add the key for the shoulder pose when you are satisfied

Move the playhead forward and insert keys for the lower pose of the wave

Click back on the shoulder to rotate the arm downward

Click on the key button when you have the shoulder in a good lower position

Continue moving the playhead forward and placing keys so that the arm animates up and down several times.

Click on the head to highlight the rig track if you are not already on it.

Click on the transform tool

Use the Transform tool to extend the head up as if it were an extendable appendage!

Key the beginning pose

Move the playhead and create another key pose

Choose a pose to key for this time in the sequence

Don't forget to add your keys!

Explore lots of different poses and keyframes throughout the length of your animation sequence.

Once you have your character doing the animations of your choice, it's time to export them to the animation library. Make sure to Save your work!

Export Animation to Library

Right click on Sk_Bit in the Sequencer window

Choose Baked Animation Sequence

Select where you want to save the animation (Content > AnimationLibrary > Bit_Animations)

Name the new animation something very descriptive, like the example, "Bit_Worm"

Click on OK to continue

Your settings should be the same from when you exported your last animation. Click on Export To Animation

To find your animation, go to Content Browser > Content > AnimationLibrary > Bit_Animations

Find your animation to view!

You just created your own animation from scratch! Good job!