In the video below we show how to tackle the entry-level "Bouncing Ball" exercise. Students at Escape Studios, like students at almost every course in animation, start off with the bouncing ball. This simple exercise introduces the principles of timing, spacing, paths of action and weight - four of the Twelve Principles of Animation. Even a simple exercise like the bouncing call can be entertaining and interesting, and can be completed to a demo-reel level of skill. You can download the rig for free at highend3D.
Why start with a bouncing ball? Well, pretty much every animation course on the planet starts with a ball. It's where students first encounter the concepts of timing and spacing, and also how to use important tools such as the Graph Editor.
But it's also where students begin to learn the importance of giving a performance. Even a bouncing ball can be made to look fun and interesting or dull and boring.
How Does The Ultimate Ball Work?
This rig is a simple bouncing ball with top and bottom controls for the squash-and-stretch, and also independent controls over its orientation, as well as the rotation and the position of the ball itself.
Change the Ultimate Ball Type
You can easily change the Ultimate ball type by selecting the Root Control and then, in the channel box, change Ball Type to any one of a number of different options, such as a basketball, football, or a golfball.
Bouncing Ball Tutorial Video
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| Bouncing Ball Tutorial |
The password is the same as for all our tutorials.
Other ball rigs
We also recommend the Bouncin' Ball rig, also available from Highend3d.com.
Work Method - Follow These Steps
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| Ball Bounce by Thure Koch |
1. Import the bouncing ball from creative crash, or create a polygon primitive. (create/polygon primitives/sphere)
2. Create a project in Maya. (File/ProjectWindow/New) and name your project BallBounce.
3. Save your project and name it yourname_bouncingBall_v001
4. Set your timeline from frame 101 to 125
5. Open up your Animation Preferences and set playback speed to 24fps (frames per second)
6. Turn on Auto Key so it shows up in red.
7. Make sure that the select surface objects button is turned off.
8. Go to frame 101 in your timeline. Using the move tool (hit w on your keyboard) move the ball above the grid and hit S to set a key frame
9. Now go to 113 in your timeline, move the ball down so it sits on the grid. Press S again to set a key frame.
10. Now go to frame 125 in your timeline. Move the ball back to where it was at frame 101.
11. Now press play. Your ball should appear to bounce.
12. In the graph editor, adjust the green Y translation curve so that the ball bounces attractively. (Clue: the Y translation curve should look like the V shape of a seagull’s wings.)
13. Save your scene as yourname_bouncingBall_v002
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| Thumbnails from The Animator's Survival Kit |
1. Set your timeline from 101 to 199
2. Drag select all the control curves on the ball, move your mouse over the Graph Editor and press A on your keyboard. You should now be able to see all your control curves.
3. Drag select all the curves, and copy them (edit/copy)
4. Go to frame 125, select all the keyframes at frame 125, and paste your curves (edit/paste). Your ball should now bounce twice.
5. Now add a forward translation in the z axis so that the ball bounces along in a direction.
6. Repeat stage 4 so that the bounces two more times. It should now have four bounces.
7. In the Graph Editor, adjust each bounce so that the ball bounces slightly less, and lower, on each bounce.
8. Now add a few more bounces, and finally bring the ball to a rest.
9. Save your work.
Part 3 - Put the Ball in a Simple Environment
Ideas: a Ping Pong Table, Steps, a Pinball Machine
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| Thumbnails with Squash & Stretch |
1. Imagine a scene. Where is the ball bouncing?
2. Either create a simple set using polygon primitives (create/polygon primitives), or go to www.turbosquid.com and import some geometry.
3. Create a camera (create cameras/camera).
4. In the channel box, name your camera shotCamera.
5. In your perspective view, under panels, click on “look through selected”. You are now looking through your camera.
6. Dolly move and zoom until you have positioned your camera where you want it.
7. Drag select the translates and rotates in the channel box and right click/lock selected. This will lock off your camera
8. Adjust your animation so that it fits the set you have created.
9. Make a playblast of your work (window/playblast)
10. Save your work
Escape Studios Year 1 Animation
To see some of the excellent work completed by our Year 1 Undergraduate animation students at the end of their first animation module, watch the video below:
The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects.
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