Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 Posted by Jim Thacker

Learn how to animate a combat finishing move


The Gnomon Workshop has released Creating a Combat Finishing Takedown, a guide to key game animation workflows recorded by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare senior animator Patrick Przybyla.

The workshop, which comprises over three hours of video training, is targeted at intermediate-level artists who want to master current production techniques.

Master current games animation workflows in Maya
During the training, Przybyla shares his own animation workflow, developed on a range of AAA titles.

He begins by discussing his selection process for character models and rigs, and explains why Kiel Figgins’ rigs — used in the workshop — are trusted by so many industry professionals.

Przybyla then explores how to shoot reference footage of yourself to help estabish key poses and block out an animation, how adding breakdown poses can improve flow, and how to polish the animation.

He also reveals how to create a high-quality Maya playblast of the completed animation, complete with set dressing, lights, and shadows, suitable for presentation to supervisors or colleagues.

About the artist
Patrick Przybyla is a senior animator at High Moon Studios, where he has worked on AAA titles including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Destiny 2.

Over nearly two decades’ experience in the games industry, he also worked at LucasArts, Telltale Games and Midway Games, and on both the Star Wars and Transformers franchises.

Pricing and availability
Creating a Combat Finishing Takedown is available via an online subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, providing access to over 300 tutorials. Subscriptions cost $49/month or $490/year. Free trials are available.

Read more about Creating a Combat Finishing Takedown on The Gnomon Workshop’s website


Full disclosure: CG Channel is owned by Gnomon.