RIGGING!!!!

I just received my AutoDesk DVD from Siggraph that has parts I and II of Jason Schleiffer's "Animator Friendly Rigging" (AFR). Even though I'm using a simple rig for my characters and props I hope to use his method of clean, easy rigging with the animator (that would be me) in mind.

I particularly like his 7 point check list for making good, animator-friendly rigs:

1. Consistent/Predictable behavior
2. Simplified control structure
3. Easy to use
4. Fast interaction
5. Minimal counter-animation
6. Solve the problem
7. Allows the animator to do their job without compromising their ideas

He outlines his system for "solving the problems" in 5 not necessarily easy steps:

1. Analyze the problem
2. Create a test of the solution
3. Analyze the solution
4. Recreate the solution cleanly
5. Recreate again (using code/mel)

Creating simple, effective controls is one of my goals and I think my two very different characters will let me experiment with 2 very different rigs.

Goals for this weekend, finish up my midterm deliverables, rosa's face, work on ball rig from AFR that I think will be the basis of Dee. That's partially why I waited to even start her, I knew this was coming and I wanted to use this squash and stretch set up. Her wings I'm pretty certain will just be simple FK for easy rotation in flight and some small gestures (shoulders, wing tips)