Introducing Maya® 2008

Introduction to Animation

The best way to start learning about animation is to start animating, so you’ll

begin this chapter with the classic exercise of bouncing a ball. You’ll then take a closer look

at the animation tools that Maya software provides and how they work for your scene.

You’ll do that by throwing the axe you created earlier, and finally you’ll tackle animating a

more complex system of parts when you bring your locomotive to life.

Topics in this chapter include:

■

Keyframe Animation—Bouncing a Ball

■

Throwing an Axe

■

Path Animation

■

Replacing an Object

■

Creating and Deforming Text Along a Path

■

Rigging the Locomotive, Part One

■

Animating a Catapult

CHAPTER 8

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