Week 1 - Graph Editor Tutorial

Even though I've learnt how to use the graph editor using another 3D software, the principle of how to use the Graph Editor can still be applied to Maya.

Autodesk Knowledge Network: Maya 2016 Graph Editor

This was the first tutorial I found and that helped me with using the Graph Editor in Maya. This page had a fair bit of information about how to use the GE and what everything does but this would not be good enough for someone who had no idea on how to use the GE. For someone such as myself, this information was more than enough for me to get started on the GE.

Maya Animation Tutorial for Beginners - Graph Editor HD

However this tutorial had a lot more information on what the GE is, how to use it, what its buttons do and much more. It has information about setting keygrames, editing them, positioning, moving, copying keyframes, editing the animation curve paths and much more. Again, a beginner could really learn from this tutorial as it starts from basics on how to approach the GE.

Week 1 - Physics vs Cartoon Ball Bounce Animation

Above is a GIF of how a ball would bounce if it were a cartoon animation. I have applied 1 out of the 12 principles of animation. This principle was Squash and Stretch. As the ball falls towards the ground, its shape starts to elongate and thins out horizontally. As it hits the ground, it's shape becomes more flat and thins out vertically.

Here is the physics version. As you can see immediatly, as the ball hits the ground, it does not elongate nor does it thin out. There is a very slight deformation as the ball hits the ground as some of the force from the impact does change the balls shape but only very slightly. This is more realistic as if you were to drop a ball in real life as such, it would not do what the 1st GIF is showing but more rather this 2nd GIF


The animation is very basic and is only meant to show an example of the 2 types of animation. I used Animatron to animate the balls since it was very easy to use and to animate, rather than using Flipbook or other 2D animation softwares.

Week 1 - My 5 Learning statements

1) I will show up and attend to all my lectures/sessions on time.


2) I will not get distracted easily whilst revising or whilst doing independant study.

3) I will complete all of my work on time and not do a lastminute.com

4) I will do my work to the best of my ability.

5) I will not procrastinate.