ANIMATION
KINEFX POWERED BY APEX
KineFX rigs created using APEX are designed to provide a great experience for animators. The APEX Animate tool has new capabilities that will make it easier than ever to generate quality motion.
new Workflows in Houdini 21
The new animation tools in KineFX make it easier to create motion by providing a flexible, non-linear workflow for blending, layering, and editing animation clips. Animators can seamlessly combine keyframed animation with ragdoll dynamics, while using constraints, and motion mixing to produce more natural and complex character movement.
ANIMATION LAYERS
Keyframes can now be set to animation layers that make it easier to explore options and make creative decisions.
CONSTRAINTS & HANDLES
Transient constraints and motion path handles provide animators with important tools for animating your characters.
RAGDOLLS
To add dynamics to your motion, ragdolls can be used to pose characters and generate more complex motion.
Animation Layers
As part of the APEX Animate workflow, animators can now layer motion to explore options and make creative decisions. These layers work inside the APEX Animate node.
Dynamic Motion
The edits made with dynamic motion can be stored in Animation Layers.
Feathers
Rig controls for feathers can have their animation saved to a unique layer.
Ragdoll
Layers can be used to coordinate animation and ragdoll dynamics.
Constraints & Handles
Use constraints and handles to manage the interactions of characters and props. Bookmarks in the timeline can help you visualize when constraints are on or off. Baked results can be sent directly to a new layer in the Animation Layer panel to be evaluated.
Motion Path Handles
View and edit your motion using handles which are derived from your keyframes.
Transient Constraints
Pass objects back and forth using the constraints to manage relationships.
Mirror
Mirror the pose of part or all of a character to get the right look for a shot.
KINEFX ANIMATION IN PRODUCTION
TURBULENCE
In Turbulence, the animation is performance-driven and uses the dialogue and music cues as the primary timing references. Animators would focus on expressive facial and body animation to sell the fear to reassurance to relief arc, matching mouth shapes and gestures tightly to the vocal rhythm. The pacing relied on a pose-to-pose blocking pass followed by layered refinement with overlapping action to preserve timing and natural motion.
Ragdolls
Turning on Ragdolls in APEX Animate gives you access to simulated motion on your characters and props. This can help you manage complex motion and layer it into your characters.
Ragdoll Prop
Layer ragdoll motion to explore options as you animate.
Ragdoll Boxing
Use ragdoll dynamics on all of your character or on part of a character.
Ragdoll Pose
Radgoll posing creates character interactions using dynamics.
Animation Nodes
Here some of the nodes to look out for when working with Animation in KineFX. These nodes let you add and animate characters and props. The Scene Animate node is where the animation interface becomes available to artists.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Check out a growing collection of lessons focused on Animation in Houdini.
Character Learning Path
Character Animation
Ragdoll
Project Violet
Project Outback
ANIMATION FEATURES AVAILABLE IN:
Houdini CORE | Houdini FX | Houdini Indie | Houdini Education | Houdini Apprentice