How to animate 3d model unity

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through the process of animating 3D models in Unity step-by-step.

Introduction

Animating 3D models in Unity is an essential part of creating immersive and interactive games and experiences. Animations can add depth and realism to characters, objects, and environments, making them more engaging and memorable for players.

Creating a Basic Animation

Before we dive into the details of animation in Unity, let’s first understand what animations are in Unity. An animation is a sequence of keyframes that define the movement, rotation, and scaling of an object over time.

1. Create a 3D model or import an existing one into Unity.
2. Select the object you want to animate in the Hierarchy view.
3. Go to the Animation window by clicking on it in the menu bar.
4. In the Animation window, click on the “Create” button to create a new animation clip.
5. Give your animation clip a name and select the object you want to animate as the target.
6. Set up the keyframes for your animation by moving the playhead in the timeline and adjusting the values for position, rotation, and scale.
7. Save your animation clip and attach it to the object in the Scene view.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your 3D model should now be animated. You can preview the animation by pressing the Play button in the Animation window or by building and running your game.

Keyframe Animation

Keyframes are the building blocks of animations in Unity. They define the position, rotation, and scaling of an object at specific points in time.

8. Select the object you want to animate in the Hierarchy view.
9. Go to the Animation window by clicking on it in the menu bar.
10. In the Animation window, click on the “Create” button to create a new animation clip.
11. Give your animation clip a name and select the object you want to animate as the target.
12. Set up the keyframes for your animation by moving the playhead in the timeline and adjusting the values for position, rotation, and scale.
13. To create a new keyframe, click on the “Add Keyframe” button in the Animation window.
14. To create a looping animation, set the “Loop Count” property to a value greater than 1.
15. Save your animation clip and attach it to the object in the Scene view.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your 3D model should now be animated with keyframes. You can preview the animation by pressing the Play button in the Animation window or by building and running your game.

Motion Capture Animation

Motion capture is a technique used to capture the movements of real-world objects and use them to animate 3D models in Unity. This can be useful for creating realistic character animations or for animating complex objects such as vehicles.

10. Create a 3D model or import an existing one into Unity.
11. Select the object you want to animate in the Hierarchy view.
12. Go to the Animation window by clicking on it in the menu bar.
13. In the Animation window, click on the “Create” button to create a new animation clip.
14. Give your animation clip a name and select the object you want to animate as the target.
15. Set up the keyframes for your animation by moving the playhead in the timeline and adjusting the values for position, rotation, and scale.
16. Save your animation clip and attach it to the object in the Scene view.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your 3D model should now be animated with motion capture. You can preview the animation by pressing the Play button in the Animation window or by building and running your game.