Part 5: Pulling It All Together

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to create cinematic sequences in Unreal Engine. It covers key steps such as setting up multiple shots in a level sequence, adjusting camera settings for a cinematic feel, scaling and positioning characters, and adding animations. Users will learn how to blend different shots into a main sequence, enabling them to create their own story-driven animations in Unreal Engine.

Katie Stokes
112 steps
10 minutes

Making a Three Shot Sequence

In Content Browser, go to the Content folder

Double click on the Maps folder

Double click on Map_Example4 to open

Make sure you have saved all your work so far if you are continuing from a previous lesson

With Map_Example4 now open, go back into the Content folder

Double click on the Sequences folder

Double click to open MainSequence

Click on the camera icon in the Sequencer window to switch to Camera View in the Viewport

Type "g" on the keyboard to Enter Game View. This will remove all the objects in the scene that shouldn't be seen in Play mode, like the camera, to make a clean Viewport

Hit Play to watch the current shots in the MainSequence. This will be similar to the 3 shots you are about to make yourself!

Go back to the Content Browser

Close the Sequencer Window so you can create a new one

In the next step, you will create a series of Level Sequences with the naming convention, MyShot. You will be making 3 of these shots, so repeat these next steps for each Level Sequence, MyShot_1, MyShot_2, MyShot_3

Right click with the Sequences folder (Content > Sequences)

Choose Animation > Level Sequence

Name your first sequence "MyShot_1"

Right click again to repeat for the next two shots. MyShot_2 MyShot_3

Creating MyShot_1

When you are done creating all your Level Sequences, double click on MyShot_1

Click on the Camera icon in the Sequencer to add a new camera and set it as the current camera cut

Go to the Details tab on the right of the editor to set the camera width and height, which will be the same camera settings that Super Giant Robot Brothers uses!

In the Details tab > Filmback setting, change the Sensor Width to 36.0 mm and Sensor Height to 15.0 mm

Find Sk_Bit and Sk_Bot in the Outliner tab. Drag them both into the Sequencer Window/Tab

Expand Sk_Bit and Sk_Bot settings in the Sequencer tab. Specifically, expand the Transform dropdown

Expand Scale and set the X, Y, and Z settings to 5.0 (in both Bit and Bot's Transform setting)

Bit and Bot should appear much larger after adjusting the scale

Change the Current Focal Length to 55 (under the Camera Component setting)

Two Panel Layout

Click on the 3-line icon in the top, left corner of your Viewport.

Select Layouts > Two Panes (Vertical)

If your new pane appears with a wireframe view, click on "Top" to change it to "Perspective"

You should now have two panes that look similar to the view below

Click within the viewport pane on the right

Click on the camera icon within the Cine Camera Actor setting (in the Sequencer tab). This will make the Viewport on the right a Camera View. This can be toggled on an off with that icon.

The new pane that appeared on the left should also have "Lit" in the Lighting setting. Select it if needed.

You can return to a single-pane by revisiting the 3-line icon and choosing One-Pane

F to Focus on a Character

If you find yourself disoriented in the level, click on an object in the level or within the Outliner and then Click F. This will focus the camera back to that object.

Tip! Focus on a character by pressing the "F" key. This will center the camera on the character, making it easier to work with. Once you've done that, you can orbit around the character using the following hotkeys: 1. **Alt + Left Mouse Button**: Hold down the "Alt" key and then hold down the left mouse button. Move the mouse to orbit around the character. 2. **Alt + Right Mouse Button**: This will allow you to zoom in and out while focusing on the character. 3. **Alt + Middle Mouse Button**: This lets you pan the camera while still focusing on the character. Remember, you need to hold down the "Alt" key while using the mouse buttons to perform these actions.

Use the Transform tool to move the characters

Grab the transform arrows to move the characters within your level. If your second pane is set to the Camera View, you can see what it will look like when it plays.

Add Animation

Once your characters are in place, add an animation. Click + Animation under Bit.

To use the video example, Select Bit_Talk01

Repeat for Bot. Select + Animation under Sk_Bot

Choose Bot_Angry_Loop

Extend the animations as needed

Click on Cine Camera Actor to check the focus on the characters

With the camera selected, go to the Details tab on the right. Select the eye dropper from Manual Distance Focus.

With the eye dropper, click on Bit or Bot to ensure the camera focus is set correctly.

Building a Scene

Change to a one-pane view again by clicking on the 3-line icon in the top left corner of the Viewport. Select Layouts > One Pane

Click on the camera icon to play the animation through the Camera View

In the Viewport, hold right click + S to zoom the camera out

Add a new key of this view under Cine Camera Actor > Transform

Right click + W to zoom back into the characters

Move the playhead forward in time to set a key for this new camera view

Set the key under Cine Camera Actor > Transform

Save your work when you are satisfied with your animation so far

Creating MyShot_2

Go to the Content Browser

Double click on MyShot_2 (found in Content > Sequences)

Click on the camera icon in the Sequencer tab to add a new camera

In the Details panel on the right, change Sensor Width to 36 and Sensor Height to 15.

Quick tip. Select Sk_Bit from the Outliner. Hold Shift and select Sk_Bot to select them both at once. Drag them both into the Sequencer panel.

In the Details Panel on the right, change all three Scale values from 1.0 to 5.0. If both characters are still selected, they will both be changed. You can also change them one at a time.

Toggle the Camera View off to perform the character edits

Use the Transform and Rotation tools to place the characters

Under Sk_Bit, click +Animation

Select or search for Bit_ShrugBig_Loop

Adjust the Current Focal Length from 35 to 45

Under Sk_Bot, click +Animation

Choose Bot_Talk01

Drag both animations to extend further or all the way to the end

Click play to see how your animation looks so far!

You can also use the Playhead to scrub through your animation

Click on the Cine Camera Actor

In the Details Panel, find the Manual Focus Distance setting and select the eyedropper tool

Click on Bit with the eyedropper in the Viewport to set the Focus Distance

Save your work so far!

Creating MyShot_3

Go back into the Content Browser

In Content > Sequences, double click on MyShot_3

Add a camera by clicking on hte camera icon in the Sequencer window

With the new camera selected, go to the Details panel and change the Sensor Width to 36 and the Height to 15.

Select both Sk_Bit and Sk_Bot and drag them into the Sequencer Window

Set the three Scale values of Sk_Bit and Sk_Bot to 5

Use the Transform tool to move the character into place

"Fly" around with the camera toggled off to make changes closer

Use the rotation tool to rotate them to a conversational stance

Add Animations for both Sk_Bit and Sk_Bot by clicking on +Animation

Choose Bot_Talk01

Add an animation for Sk_Bit

Search for your custom animation you made and add it to the Sequencer

Use the Transform and Rotation tools to put the characters in place.

Now is a good time to save your work so far!

Pulling It All Together

Go back into the Content Browser

Right click in the Sequences folder (Content > Sequences)

In the menu, choose Animation > Level Sequence

Name the new sequence "MySequence"

Double click on MySequence to open it

Shot Track

In the Sequencer window, click on +Track

Choose Shot Track

Hover over the + icon to reveal the +Shot button

Search for MyShot_1 and add it to your Sequencer

Click on the Working Range End field in the bottom right of the Sequencer. Change it to 500 to fit in all 3 shots

Expand the Sequencer to show the whole sequence

Click on the red line in the timeline to extend if to the very end

Click on +Shot to add your second shot

100

Select MyShot_2

101

If the shot is inserted on a different track, just click and drag up into the first track

102

Move the playhead to where you want the shot placed before you add the third shot

103

Click +Shot

104

Select MyShot_3

105

Click Play to watch the 3-shot animation

106

Adjust the length of each shot by hovering over the end of each shot until a drag tool appears to decrease the length of the shot

107

In this example, MyShot_1 has been shortened. Next, click on MyShot_2 to drag the whole shot to snap to MyShot_1

108

Repeat this process for the other shots

Play through your sequence until you are satisfied with it. Next, you will render each shot separately if you want a video of your 3-shot animation

Render Shots Separately

109

Click on the folder icon with the magnifying glass (this is a shortcut button that will take you directly to the folder of the sequence you are viewing)

110

Click on MyShot_1 in the Sequences folder

111

Click the Render icon to open the menu

112

Confirm the render will be saved in the folder of your choice and click Render (Local). The video output will be a .mov file. Navigate to the folder you saved it in to view! Repeat the steps, starting with Step 110, to render the other 2 shots.

\*\* If you have difficulty getting the video to play on your PC, you may need to convert it to a .mp4 file.

Create more shots and bring them together! You have now learned some useful techniques that professionals use to create stories through animation!

Part 5: Pulling It All Together

Katie Stokes
112 steps
10 minutes