After completing several projects, I’ve gained some experience in creating 3D models—some of which took me a long time to figure out. Had I known these things earlier, my work would have gone much more smoothly. So, I’m documenting them here in the hope that they might help others.
First, you need a clear plan. You must identify all possible details in your animation, including the model’s movements, behaviors, and facial expressions. List them all in advance—only then will you know what functionalities your model requires. Does it need to smile? Should its eyes be modeled separately? Will you need multiple texture maps? The earlier you prepare, the more you can avoid disastrous revisions later.
While modeling, check the topology of every joint to ensure they move as intended. If you don’t inspect them repeatedly, you’ll face endless modifications and reworks in later stages. The sooner you spot issues, the more time you’ll have to address other problems. Defining requirements early can save over 30% of total production time.
When confirming your model’s functionalities, I believe the following aspects are the most critical:
- Motion Structure—e.g., human walking or animal reverse-joint designs.
- Facial Expressions—basic emotions like happiness, anger, or sadness, including blinking and eye tracking.
- Materials—adding clothing or other surface details.
- Scene Compatibility—polygon count control. Don’t just optimize for one software; excessive polygons may cause bugs elsewhere.
- Rigging—it’s best to design your own skeleton controls because only you know how your model should move and how its weight affects its behavior.
After completing these initial designs, manually test short animations (e.g., a walk cycle) to check if the model and rig work seamlessly. This step will take considerable time, but trust me—it’s worth it. It’s far more efficient than redoing everything later!
Character models play a significant role in 3D animation. Your model determines the upper and lower limits of your animation’s quality. The more patience you invest in it, the greater the returns your animation will bring!