Procedural Animations

Role: Technical Animator and Developer

Platform: Unreal Engine 5

Overview

This study explores the power and flexibility of procedural animations in Unreal Engine 5 using Control Rigs. Unlike traditional hand-made or motion-captured animations, procedural animations are calculated in real-time, making them highly adaptable to environmental changes and dynamic gameplay scenarios.

By integrating procedural techniques with traditional animations, I developed innovative systems that offer unparalleled realism and responsiveness for character movements, solving key challenges in complex animation scenarios.

My Contributions

• Procedural Animation System Design:

  • Developed a control rig-based animation system to dynamically manipulate skeleton bones based on real-time game inputs.

  • Created a system that adjusts animations to varying speeds, ensuring seamless transitions between walking, running, and other movements.

  • Implemented advanced terrain adaptation, enabling accurate foot placement and rotation on uneven and complex surfaces.

• Custom Features:

  • Designed and implemented parameters for easy customization of animation components, including stride length, step height, pelvis tilt, and more.

  • Integrated physics-based interactions with procedural animations to create unique, dynamic movements, such as objects reacting to character interactions in real-time.

  • Developed hand detection logic for interactive gameplay features, allowing characters to respond naturally to objects in their environment.

• Layered Animation System:

  • Combined procedural animations with traditional keyframed and motion-captured animations to create blended, realistic movements.

  • Integrated procedural rigs with physics simulations for enhanced interactions, such as characters dynamically reacting to forces or objects.

Key Features and Achievements

• Dynamic Environment Adaptation: Characters automatically adjust their movements to match terrain irregularities, including slopes, uneven ground, and obstacles.

• Highly Customizable Animations: Introduced user-friendly parameters for rapid animation iteration, enabling quick modifications for gameplay and testing.

• Hybrid Animation Pipeline: Successfully layered procedural animations over traditional methods, enhancing realism and allowing for unique gameplay experiences.

Results and Impact

• The study highlights next-generation animation techniques that can be seamlessly integrated into modern game development pipelines.

• Demonstrated a clear path for overcoming the limitations of static animations, paving the way for dynamic, environment-aware character systems.

• Positioned as a technical exploration with potential applications in AAA game projects, virtual production, and interactive simulations.