The Fastest Way to Rig a Character in Cartoon Animator Tutorial

One of the biggest hurdles for beginner animators, new to Reallusion's Cartoon Animator, is learning how to rig their own character designs from scratch.

However, despite Reallusion's efforts to simplify rigging full character designs, it's still something of a process that can be quite complex for newcomers to CA4, or just not quick enough when you've got a tight deadline on an animation pitch that doesn't need fully functional character rigs.

The One Sprite Character Rig may be just what you need. By combining some of the software’s best features, like G3 Character rigs and Bone Hands, with one of its oldest features, Morph-Based Heads, you can rig a semi versatile character in about an hour (probably even less than an hour once you know the process). As well, once you've drawn your sprite, it can be fully rigged inside Cartoon Animator, no external templates or graphics app required.

This nineteen page PDF Document is a step by step guide to easily creating one sprite character rigs in Cartoon Animator. Don't be rushed by a fast moving video tutorial (although a full, real time, 1 hour and 13 minute video running you through the process is included). Follow along at your own pace. You don't even need to know how to use Cartoon Animator.

Don't be put off by the number of pages in the PDF Document. This document is mostly large size, labelled, screen shots (2 per page) clearly showing each step that, once learned, will give you the skills to create this type of one sprite character rig in less than an hour. 

Note: this tutorial does require Cartoon Animator 4.4 or better with the included Bone Hand Dummy Character Actor Files.

Also included is a transparent PNG of my original business man character that I use in the tutorial so you can follow along exactly with the process. As well you get the finished Cartoon Animator ctBTactor file of the business man character that I created that you can just drag onto the stage in your copy of Cartoon Animator 4 and see in action.

If that wasn't enough, you get a demonstration animated video of my business man character in action, and a video walk through of me going through the steps of the tutorial in just over an hour - proving that this method is as fast as I say it is.

Reallusion's Cartoon Animator 4, 2D animation studio software is arguably the best tool for speeding up 2D animation work flows. Its standardized, but flexible character bone structures, make it possible to apply pre made motion files to an infinite variety of character designs.

Keep in mind the one sprite character rig is a greatly simplified rig that works best with front facing character designs. It does come with some fairly serious limitations like limbs not being able to cross in front of each other, and bendy, rubber band style arms and legs. However, it is a quick and easy entry point into designing your own characters from scratch for Cartoon Animator.

Testimonials

"I finally got around to applying your first lesson to one of my characters and it was a way better experience than what I've been doing. You really do lay out the information in any easy to understand fashion and had I gone through your tutorial from the beginning, I would have saved myself a lot of time and hassle and the results would have been better. I had Reallusion themselves help me at one point and they did get me on track but using multiple sprites for a single front facing character. I had no idea I could animate a single PNG without having to add all the other body parts separately." - Dan

"I just finished the first tutorial "Fastest way to rig a character". One word "AWESOME". One of the best tutorials I've seen. I like having BOTH Tutorials Video and PDF. I really liked the pace of the video tutorial as it was thorough and very educational. Thank you for not using sped up segments of video. I enjoyed the experience as you went through the process. I followed every step in the video! I've learned lots of new things about CA4 tools functionality. Thank you!!!" - Zeus Greek