Tutorial: Animating a Dragon Rider for Film & VFX
The Gnomon Workshop has released Animating a Dragon Rider for Film & VFX, a guide to animating a complete VFX short, recorded by Animation Supervisor Gang Trinh.
The beginner-to-intermediate-level workshop provides over two hours of video training in Maya.
Discover how to set up, block out and refine a VFX-quality animation
In the workshop, Trinh breaks down his process for blocking, animating, and polishing a dynamic, cinematic shot – a hero riding a dragon – for professional film and visual effects work.
He begins by demonstrating how he creates a rough flight cycle, discussing the importance of reference material and an understanding of anatomy and flight mechanices.
Trinh then walks through the process of setting up a camera, discussing his lens choices, framing, and movement, and explains how camera decisions can enhance storytelling.
Once set-up is complete, Trinh sets out his complete process for blocking out and refining a shot, talking viewers through the artistic and technical decisions that he makes.
He also details his key workflow tips, discusses common pitfalls artists can encounter, and reveals how to elevate a shot from its solid state to a production-ready piece.
As well as Maya, the workshop uses commercial add-on animBot. The rig used is Truong CG Artist’s commercial Tyrant Dragon Rig, but it is not needed to follow along.
About the artist
Gang Trinh is an Animation Supervisor and Animation Lead with over 20 years of experience.
He has worked for leading VFX studios including MPC, DNEG and Industrial Light & Magic, on franchises including Harry Potter, Transformers, Star Wars, Avengers, and Jurassic World.
Price and availability
Animating a Dragon Rider for Film & VFX is available via a subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, which provides access to over 300 tutorials.
Subscriptions cost $57/month or $499/year. Free trials are available.
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