Character Animation and Expression with Maya
A course by Sagar Arun, Animator
Discover the fascinating world of animation by learning its key principles and creating an animated character filled with emotion
“If you’ve ever seen an animation where it makes you laugh or feel a certain emotion, that means the animator is doing their job really well.”
Evoking emotion and reaction from viewers is at the heart of animation. With names like Frozen 2 (2019) or Spirit: Untamed (2021) under his belt, renowned animator Sagar Arun is an expert in creating characters brimming with personality.
In this course, Sagar teaches you the fundamentals of animation and how to apply them to your work using Maya. Learn how to create an expression test with a character of your own design, and bring their emotions to life.
What will you learn in this online course?
19 lessons & 13 downloads
- 95% positive reviews (63)
- 2,629 students
- 19 lessons (4h 6m)
- 13 additional resources (5 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
MayaWhat is this course's project?
Create an expression test with a character rig using the animation tools in Autodesk Maya
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is aimed at anyone passionate about animation who wants to create an entertaining and appealing character.
Requirements and materials
Basic understanding of Autodesk Maya is required.
To take this course, you need access to a computer with Maya installed and a character rig.
Reviews
Sagar Arun
A course by Sagar Arun
Sagar Arun is an animator based in Northern California. He received a degree in computer animation from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2018. After working with a group of friends on a fan project for Avatar: the Last Airbender, Sagar’s animation abilities received wide recognition. He has created animations for Walt Disney Animation Studios and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Although Sagar’s career began just a few years ago, he has already created animations for a number of high profile films such as Frozen 2 (2019), Over The Moon (2020), Overwatch (2020), The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021), and Spirit: Untamed (2021) He is also currently animating for the video game industry.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Animation Fundamentals in Maya and Character Creation
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Maya Tools 1
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Maya Tools 2
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Ball Bounce Fundamentals 1
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Ball Bounce Fundamentals 2
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Adding a Tail 1
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Adding a Tail 2
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U3
Preparing a Character Expression Test
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Idea Creation and Thumbnails
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Introduction to a Character Rig
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U4
Creating an Expression Test
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Blocking 1
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Blocking 2
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Blocking Plus 1
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Blocking Plus 2
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Spline 1
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Spline 2
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Polish 1
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Polish 2
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Presenting a Playblast in Maya and Exporting
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FP
Final project
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Character Animation and Expression with Maya
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
This course is best for intermediate users who have some basic familiarity with Maya and animation principles. Beginners may find it challenging, but those with foundational skills can benefit greatly.
You’ll need Autodesk Maya installed, plus access to tools like ATools and Tween Machine. Some lessons also use Grease Pencil for 2D planning. A character rig and basic computer setup are required.
You’ll learn to apply the 12 principles of animation, create expressive character movement, plan workflows, block and polish animation, animate overlapping actions like tails, and prepare portfolio-ready work using Maya.
Yes, the course teaches how to pose rigs for appealing facial expressions, perform expression tests, and animate a range of emotions using Maya’s facial controls.
Yes, you'll learn to block key storytelling poses, refine them for clarity and appeal, and polish your animation for professional results within Maya.
The course covers all 12 foundational principles, including squash and stretch, overlap, timing, spacing, arcs, and appeal, applied through practical Maya exercises.
You’ll go through step-by-step lessons on animating a ball bounce, adding a tail for overlapping motion, and refining curves for realistic secondary movement.
Maya
Really intuitive and approaching, I have made this course a long ago and I just recommend it to all of you !
muy bueno y remcomendable, grandes herramientas aprendidas.
Muito bom esse curso, simples e objetivo, muito bem explicado.
Buen curso!
Excelente curso!! me gusto mucho, es muy bueno, me ayudo bastante