Character Basics and Animation - Student Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to navigate and explore character basics and animation in Unreal Engine. It covers topics such as exploring character assets, modifying character positions and morph targets, viewing and analyzing animation sequences, looping and starting animations, and dragging animations into a level. By following this guide, users can gain a fundamental understanding of character animation in Unreal Engine and begin customizing and creating their own animations.

Katie Stokes
49 steps
4 minutes

Confirm you have Map_Example1 Open

Confirm you see the purple plane in your Unreal Editor Viewport. If you do not, follow instructions in this section to open the map with the purple plane. First, find the content browser tab and click on the content folder. There are a few options to do this below.

Click on the Maps folder

Double Click on Map_Example1

Explore the Characters

Go to the content folder (you have a few choices to do so, shown below)

Click on Assets, using either option below

Click on Character

Click on Bit folder

Click on Mesh folder

Double click on SK_Bit (with the pink underline)

In the top left of the viewport, click on Character

Click on Bones > All Hierarchy

On the left side of the editor, find the tab labeled "Skeleton Tree" and click to view Bit's skeleton hierarchy

Select a part of Bit's skeleton to see how you can move it in the editor

Use the rotation tool to explore how to modify Bit's position

To click the bones off, click on Character > Bones > None

Find the Morph Target tab on the right side of the editor and start modifying the morph targets, or blend shapes, of Bit's face. Click and drag (left or right) to change the value on the Weight Slider. Watch Bit's face change!

If you make a change on one of the morph targets, you can reset it by checking the Auto checkbox.

Close the SK_Bit window when you have finished exploring

Exploring the Animation Library

Find your way back to the Content folder

Click on Animation Library

Click on Bit_Animations

Double Click on Bit_Dancing (or any animation you choose)

Click "Bit_Dancing"

To view the positions of the skeleton during this animation, turn on all the hierarchy joints. Click on Character > Bones > All Hierarchy

Pause the animation to view one of the animation frames and observe how the animator moved the joints to position Bit

Once you have explored the animation sequence, close the animation window.

Go back to the Animation Library folder

Click on Bot_Animations folder to repeat the previous steps for Bot!

Loop and Start Animations

Animations labeled "Loop" are poses repeated over and over. Animations labeled "Start" are initial reactions.

Navigate Content > Animation Library > Bit_Animations, and Double Click on Bit_Angry_Start

Pause the animation to view one frame

Click and drag the timeline scrubber to view the animation throughout the sequence.

Close the Bit_Angry_Start window once you are done exploring the animation timeline

Step

Open Bit_Angry_Loop (it is located in Content > Animation Library > Bit_Animations)

Observe the Bit_Angry_Loop as you did with the Start animation in the previous steps

Animators usually combine the Start and Loop animations to create an initial reaction and then hold the last pose.

When you are done exploring, close Bit_Angry_Loop

Drag Animations into Level

In the Bit_Animations folder (Content > Animation Library > Bit_Animations), drag the Bit_Dancing animation onto the purple plane in the Viewport

Click on the character in the level to have its animation update in the editor. In the Outline tab and the Details tab, you should see the details for Bit_Dancing. *If you see something else, try to click on Bit again

In the Details tab, type "Update Animation" into the Search Field and click Enter

In "Update Animation in Editor" click the checkbox to turn on the animation

You should now see your animation running in the Viewport

Clear out the search terms, but you will need to perform the "Update Animation" action for each animation you bring into your level.

Drag in additional animations!

With the character selected, use the move tool arrows to move your character anywhere on the purple plane

To grab some Bot animations, go back to your Animation Library folder

Click on Bot_Animations folder

Repeat the previous steps to drag Bot animations into your level

Remember to toggle on the "Update Animation in Editor" detail to see each animation run in your level

Discover Your Favorite Animations

Explore many different animations!

Figure out which animations are your favorite because you will be learning how to customize these animations and make them your own in future lessons!