3D Animation using Unity Timeline

Download and install the latest Unity 2018.2 from Unity.com, sign in to your Unity ID, choose the personal free plan, get the Windows or Mac installer, and check system requirements.

Launch Unity and create a new 3D project, then explore the scene with the main camera and directional light using the inspector, hierarchy, project panels, and console.

Delete the old unity recorder folder to fix console red arrows, then install unity recorder 2.0.1 from the package manager preview packages for Unity 2019.

download assets from the asset store for the scene and log in to access items; the rocks and boulders background is 320 megabytes and you can import the unity package.

Discover how to use assets and prefabs by dragging rocks into the scene. Position them with move, rotate, and scale tools and handle common import issues.

Install Unity assets for the sea scene: a main character with a sword, a cave troll, an anime character, particle shaders vol. 1, post-processing stack, Unity recorder, and a skybox.

Learn to fix Unity standard assets errors by deleting outdated scripts from the asset store, including the Simple Activator Menu, then clear the console and rebuild to continue your project.

Learn how to customize the Unity editor panel layout for modeling and animation by arranging windows, saving modeling and animating layouts, and working with the timeline and scene windows.

Create the scene for your animation by laying out the environment, cliff face, background mountains, grass, trees, rocks, and sea water, then apply a sky texture in the background.

Load the test scene, set the background with rocks and directional lights. Switch to the modelling layout, delete the background box, and craft a curved cliff with big rocks.

Create a cliff face with four rocks by renaming and arranging them, then duplicate, move, scale, and rotate to form the basic formation. Group rocks to rotate the whole structure.

Position the night character near the cliff face to fuse with the rocks, adjust scale if needed, then prepare to place the cliff on terrain in the next video.

Create and texture a Unity terrain, sculpt height, place rocks, and apply grass textures and a skybox. Import environment assets and paint textures for a cohesive landscape.

Explore terrain tools in newer Unity versions, including importing standard assets via the Asset Store, creating terrain, and painting textures, raising and lowering, setting height, and adding water effects.

Sculpt the terrain to host water, paint with brush size and opacity, flatten areas, then add water assets and adjust scale for realism.

Adjust the water shader in Unity to make waves more realistic by tweaking wave amplitude and frequency, observe foam intensity, and note initial values to avoid reapplying the shader.

Paint terrain grass textures in Unity, mix multiple grass textures with billboard grass, tune width and height, color, and see grass waving when the scene plays.

Enhance a terrain scene by adding mountains and trees and painting cliff textures for realism. Learn to place trees by hand and manage performance with detailed distance and draw toggles.

Adjust terrain height, paint height near the water, and smooth edges for realism; darken textures via metallic and smoothness, noting 2D billboards.

Reduce tree brightness and shininess by adjusting textures with the nature speed tree shader, then add small rocks to the grassland to enhance realism.

Add and modify main characters in a 3d animation workflow. Explore how to implement these changes using Unity Timeline within this course.

Import the main knight and troll prefabs, drag them into the scene, and scale them so their feet rest on the ground. Add separate lights for color and highlights.

Add a spotlight to the knight to stand out. Adjust color, spot angle, range, and intensity, and parent the light to the knight prefab so it travels with the character.

Demonstrates creating a troll spotlight, adjusting range, spot angle, color, and intensity, then comparing with and without shadows to optimize lighting.

Adjust the troll’s hair and cloth with shader color, darkness, metallic, and smoothness for realism, then replace the knight’s hammer with a sword and attach it to the skeleton.

Preview and compare premade troll animations in Unity, from attack and idle to run and walk, and organize your scene with lights, characters, camera, and reflection probes.

Move the free realm camera around the scene and add post-processing to achieve film-like, pro-level, triple-A quality. Enhance with fog and mist to deliver a finished, polished product.

Set up a knight-focused camera system in Unity by using a knight pivot to follow the knight and align the view, establishing cameras for knight, troll, and a free camera.

Set up and configure the Unity camera system for the Troll camera workflow, including managing audio listeners, skybox backgrounds, depth, and multiple cameras via the timeline.

Apply post-processing in Unity to achieve real-world realism using a physical camera, sensor size, focal length, and features like ambient occlusion, bloom, depth of field, and filmic color grading.

Add atmospheric depth to your Unity scene by enabling fog, adjusting color and exponential fog settings, and applying post-processing to reduce flicker and create a moody, cinematic atmosphere.

Discover how to fix post-processing in Unity by commenting out the problematic post-processing package script in Unity 2018.3.5, save assets, and restore post-processing effects.

Add atmospheric mist along the grass using Unity particles to enhance background fog, and adjust start size, start lifetime, color, and alpha on example clouds for mood.

Create a subtle mist using a single cloud in Unity Timeline, tuning Cloud Atlas shader parameters like alpha and start lifetime to establish atmosphere without distraction.

Set up a blocking in sequence using Unity timeline to pace a 3d animation with three cameras and character blocks for the night and the troll.

Set up the first scene in Unity Timeline by adding a free camera and organizing references; position the camera to show night looking toward the ocean as troll approaches.

Set the screen ratio to 16:9 using preset options or a custom resolution like 1920 by 1080 to maximize play and maintain the correct aspect.

Position and attach the knight's sword to the right wrist, then refine grip by adjusting finger joints and thumb to prevent clipping, ensuring the weapon is aligned for upcoming animation.

Pose the knight for battle by adjusting hips, legs, spine, shoulders, and arms, and align the sword and gaze to face the troll for a ready, dynamic stance.

Create and configure a Unity timeline with an empty game object as a timeline holder, add an audio track, import a 30-second music track, and preview with mute option.

Animate the free camera in Unity Timeline by adding an animation track, creating an animator, and setting key frames for position and rotation to capture a night scene.

Block the troll's run using Unity Timeline, define initial and final keyframes, adjust position, rotation, and ground alignment, then refine with an override motion track and convert to a clip.

Learn how to add and blend a second attack animation in a Unity Timeline project, adjusting speed, overlap, and mix mode to transition from run to troll attack.

Switch cameras in Unity timeline using activation tracks, ensuring only one camera is active at a time, and organize with track groups and clip tracks for clean camera motion.

Block the knight’s motion in Unity Timeline, set the initial key frames, use pose-to-pose to define the arc, switch to global pivot, and convert to a clip track.

Switch between cameras and refine a free camera shot in unity timeline by duplicating tracks, setting key frames, and adjusting position to keep the knight character from going through leaves.

Learn to animate a troll's walk in Unity Timeline by adjusting pre- and post-extrapolate, setting initial keyframes, and merging animations for a fluid start.

Set up the knight camera and knight pivot in Unity Timeline, animate the camera to follow the knight as he rises and faces the troll, refining blocking and shot timing.

Extend the knight versus troll shot to three seconds, activate and reposition cameras, and record the knight and troll motions to create a synchronized close-up with proper timing.

Set up a close-up clash between a knight and a troll in Unity Timeline. Create knight keyframes and record the troll motion to align their bodies so the weapons meet.

Set up a two-shot by positioning the camera, adjusting camera troll and pivot, and framing two weapons with the characters' faces, then extend the take to 15 seconds for blocking.

Record a new camera animation in Unity Timeline, adjust the shot, and align keyframes with the camera active points to clarify how the animation affects the timeline.

Create a camera free shot in Unity Timeline to show the troll flying back, align the camera with the troll, and refine the motion using activation tracks and blocking.

Create a close-up troll reaction shot in Unity Timeline by recording the troll pivot and camera motion, adjusting keyframes and curves, and ensuring a seamless cut between overlapping animations.

Block the final shot by choreographing the troll's run, jump, and attack against the knight using timeline and keyframes to refine motion and camera moves.

Test pacing and timing of the blocked animation with music, adjust keyframes to shorten the sequence for better flow, and confirm blocking before refining the animation.

Fine-tune character animation in Unity Timeline by adding extra tracks, override tracks, and animation blocks to achieve a more finished look.

Set initial keyframes for the knight in Unity Timeline, then adjust hips, legs, spine, and arms to create a crouched attack pose that anticipates the troll.

Learn to refine the troll's run in Unity Timeline by using an override track to tweak the arm, record changes, convert to a clip track, and keep timing consistent.

Create a dramatic knight flying sequence in Unity Timeline by pose-to-pose keyframes after a club hit, refining spine, shoulders, and neck motion.

Refine the troll attack animation in Unity timeline by adjusting the left arm and collarbone keyframes, using overwrite track and record for a smoother strike.

Watch a knight rise from a crouch to a standing pose using Unity Timeline and keyframe-by-keyframe animation, adjusting hips, legs, spine, and shoulders, with a camera following the action.

Directly block the two-character mid shot, replace with keyframe animation, and choreograph a weapons clash within the timeline while refining camera zoom and lighting to reveal the clash clearly.

Set up a dynamic two-shot between a knight and a troll, time the sword clash at about one second, and refine motion with keyframes and limb rotations.

Set up a troll ambush in Unity Timeline by animating the troll’s club to clash with the knight’s sword, adjusting motion with keyframes and transforms.

After the weapons collide, zoom the camera out to frame both characters facing each other, using the camera zoom block and keyframes to craft a dramatic low-angle shot.

Extend the standoff by lengthening the weapon clash and camera move, and adjust key frames. The knight drops his sword and kicks the troll as the clash resolves.

Position the cave troll for a realistic lunge by adjusting the spine, arms, and legs in Unity Timeline, recording keyframes and tweaking transitions to avoid conflicts.

Animate a knight preparing for attack in Unity Timeline by setting neck and head keyframes, recording motions, and refining spine, chest, and arm rotations to prevent clipping.

Demonstrate keyframed kicking in Unity timeline: animate the knight’s left leg, hips, spine, chest, neck, and arms to strike the troll’s stomach while avoiding sword cloth interference.

Animate a troll advancing toward the night in Unity Timeline, moving the legs, spine, and arms, with the sword, while recording initial keyframes and refining the motion.

Create the troll's reaction by keyframing the spine, limbs, and head at frame 25, then refine with animation tweaks and motion records to simulate the kick and flight.

Set the pre extrapolate to none and keep the post extrapolate on hold for infinity to prevent the troll from disappearing and ensure it reappears.

Animate the knight in Unity Timeline by recording motion and refining keyframes of the left and right legs, hips, shoulders, spine, and neck after he kicks the troll.

Record the troll’s reaction by adjusting keyframes for the head, spine, limbs, and jaw, then blend into a run using the override track for proper priority.

Learn to animate the night and troll in Unity Timeline by setting key frames for hips, legs, spine, and shoulders, recording movements, and refining the attack pose with forward motion.

Add secondary motion to the troll using a dedicated override track to animate feet, head, and jaw, creating lifelike details that enhance realism in Unity Timeline.

Set and refine initial keyframes for the knight’s hips, spine, chest, and shoulders to move out of a club’s path, then adjust motion in Unity Timeline for a believable dodge.

Fix and polish timeline-driven 3D animations in Unity Timeline by aligning override tracks, adjusting recorded keyframes, and refining knight arm and sword motions to prevent clashes.

Resolve overridden position tracks in Unity Timeline to fix animation glitches in bug fixing part 2. Copy keyframes, adjust extrapolate settings, and preview with simulate to finalize the scene.

Add and synchronize sound effects in Unity Timeline to bring your 3D animation to life, using audio tracks and a medieval action effects pack.

Learn to adjust audio in Unity timeline by adding an audio source to a scene object, enabling 3D sound, and tuning volume and play on wake options.

Export your Unity timeline animation by recording the game view as a web movie at 30 fps with audio, using the general recorder and 1920x1080 resolution.

Celebrate completing the course and share your created 3D animation projects on YouTube, with links posted in the UW website Q&A to inspire others.

Fix blank compiler errors in Unity 2018.3 on Windows 7 by switching scripting runtime from dot 4.0 ax to dot 3.5 equivalent, restart, and clear warnings to enable simulation.

Fix rotation curve errors in Unity by adjusting keyframes and curves in the dope sheet, isolating curves, and dragging points to straighten rotation.

Learn to remove root motion from Mixamo animations in Unity Timeline by duplicating the animation, editing position keyframes, and keeping the character in place when blending clips.