Animating Characters

Developed by Roblox

Students will further personalize their game by posing a 3D figure into a unique walk animation, whether it's swimming through the air or hopping.

10 and up Game Design Animation

English 1 hour

ISTE Standards: N/A

Understand the process of how computers simulate motion in an animation using individual poses.
Test, evaluate, and redesign an animation to meet a planned vision.
Reflect on previous experiences with digital citizenship and identify opportunities to improve.

Animation - A series of images used to create the illusion of movement
Keypose - An important point of motion in an animation, such as the moment a player crouches before jumping.

Getting Ready

5 min	Introduction	Introduce the project and lesson structure.
5 min	Guided Tutorial Plan an Animation	Brainstorm and plan an animation idea.
25 min	Guided Tutorial Designing an Animation	Learn how to use the Animation Editor to create a simple animation.
10 min	Guided Tutorial Add Animations	Use a script to change the player’s walk in the obstacle course to the new animation.
10 min	Guided Work Feedback and Redesign	Get feedback from a peer to improve the animation.
5 min	Wrap Up	Get feedback from a peer to improve the animation.

Introduction 5 min
Grab student attention by showing Presentation: Animations in Roblox - Slide 2. Students will create their own animation that will be included in their obstacle course. Ask students to quickly offer some animation ideas (ex: flying, skipping, etc) After creating an animation, will get feedback from a peer to help them improve it.

Guided Tutorial - Plan an Animation 5 min
Lead students through Presentation: Animations in Roblox - Slide 3-4. As a class, have students brainstorm actions (ex: real life actions/sports like swimming or dancing, or fantastical like flying. Have students create a goal for their animation (make a silly walk, create a cool superhero flying animation, etc). Goals will be used for the feedback activity. Give students 2-4 minutes to decide on an animation and collect reference material (either images or have them act out motions in real life). Recap by letting 2-3 students share their planned animation.

Guided Tutorial - Plan an Animation

5 min

As a class, have students brainstorm actions (ex: real life actions/sports like swimming or dancing, or fantastical like flying.
Have students create a goal for their animation (make a silly walk, create a cool superhero flying animation, etc). Goals will be used for the feedback activity.
Give students 2-4 minutes to decide on an animation and collect reference material (either images or have them act out motions in real life).

Guided Tutorial - Designing an Animation 25 min
Lead students through Getting Started to Improve and Export Have students create a rig in their current game file. Slides are provided to help you throughout the tutorial.

Guided Tutorial - Add Animations 10 min
Explain that students will use their exported animation as their players' walk Use instructions in Presentation: Animations in Roblox - Slide 10 - 11. Have students add the Animation Swap Script into their game, replace the animation ID in the script, and test to ensure their animation was replaced.

Guided Work - Feedback and Redesign 10 min
Provide students the Handout: Animation Feedback. Have students show an animation to another peer (either by switching seats or screen-sharing if remote). Peers will fill out the hand out to offer feedback and a recommendation When students have finished offering feedback, take a moment to discuss the value of feedback. Note they may not agree with feedback, but it's a valuable opportunity for them to grow. Give students time to implement an idea they had after receiving feedback.

Guided Work - Feedback and Redesign

10 min

Have students show an animation to another peer (either by switching seats or screen-sharing if remote).
Peers will fill out the hand out to offer feedback and a recommendation

When students have finished offering feedback, take a moment to discuss the value of feedback. Note they may not agree with feedback, but it's a valuable opportunity for them to grow.
Give students time to implement an idea they had after receiving feedback.

Wrap Up 5 min
- Recap what students have created and vocabulary: animation and keypose. Have students reflect on their experiences with digital citizenship by asking the following questions. Have you tried to be a better digital citizen in a game, social media, or chat this [week, month]? If not, what's one thing you can start doing today when you go home? If you notice someone being bullied, what are some things you can do? What could you say to someone being bullied?

Wrap Up

5 min

- Recap what students have created and vocabulary: animation and keypose.
Have students reflect on their experiences with digital citizenship by asking the following questions.
- Have you tried to be a better digital citizen in a game, social media, or chat this [week, month]? If not, what's one thing you can start doing today when you go home?
- If you notice someone being bullied, what are some things you can do? What could you say to someone being bullied?

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