CYCLE ANIMATION TOOLS – OVERVIEW

 

Cycle Animation Tools is a collection of tools related to animated loop cycles such as runs, walks, idles etc.

– Mirror/offset left/right animation with offsets for loops, manual and Hive rig modes.
– Limit offset cycle animation to start and end time.
– Match start and end tangents to match on the cycle loop.

 
 

HIVE MIRROR ANIMATION

 

Mirror Animation with Hive rigs. Select one side and run, controls are auto-mirrored.

 
 

MIRROR ANIMATION SELECTED

 

Mirror Animation on any selected objects/ctrls, select one-side then the other.

 
 

LIMIT TO CYCLE TIME

 

Limit Cycle Time adjusts offset keys to cycle within the start/end range.

 
 

CYCLE END TANGENTS

 

Cycle End Tangents corrects start/end keyframe tangents.

 
 

THE PROBLEM

 

Its difficult to copy cycles from left to right inside Maya.

Other cycle tasks are not automated.

 
 

THE SOLUTION

 

Cycle Animation Tools speeds up cycle workflow by instantly mirroring animation from one side to another.

Limit offset cycles so the animation is contained within the start/end frames.

Match tangents on the in/out frames for seamless cycles.

This tool also includes Hive Auto-Rigger built-in support for one-click animation mirroring on Hive rigs.

 
 

COMPACT TOOL SETTINGS

 

Cycle Animation Tools in Compact Mode.

 

Start/End Frame (Numerical Entry)
Set the start/end frames of the cycle.

The start/end frames should match values/poses.
Example: 0-24 not 1-24

Offset (Numerical Entry)
The Mirror Animation buttons will offset by this amount in frames (time).

For example, a run cycle of 0-24 frames, the offset would be 12.

Flip Presets (Combo/Drop Down Menu)
Choose from three presets that define the translate and rotation axis that will be flipped after being pasted.

– No Mirror – Copy Only
Use this setting to copy the motion identically onto the next control.

– Mirror – World Controls
This setting applies to IK feet and controls in non-flipped world space.

– Mirror – Joint Children Regular FK.
Use this setting for most FK controls; matching Maya’s default joint behaviour setting.

– Mirror – Joint World Parent
Use this setting on joints that have been mirrored with the joint behaviour setting but are not children.

Flip Presets (Combo/Drop Down Menu)
The checkboxes set the flip values for rotate and translation.

Animation on checked attributes will be flip-inverted around a value of zero.

Static values will be reversed or multiplied by -1.0

Limit Cycle Time (Button)
Corrects offset cycles to the start/end frames. Adds keys on the start/end while removing keyframes outside of the start/end range.

Select animation curves, Channel Box selection or animated objects and run.

Cycle End Tangents (Button)
Matches start/end tangents for animation graph curves so they loop correctly with continuity over the cycle.

Keyframes must be present on the both the start/end frames.

Select animation curves, Channel Box selection or animated objects and run.

Mirror Animation Selected (Button)
Copies, mirrors animation from first half of selected objects to the second half of selected objects.

Uses the Mirror Animation (Flip Attributes) settings.

Use the offset value for alternating cycles like runs/walks.

Start and end frame should have identical values for cycles.
Example: 0-24 not 1-24

Mirror Animation Hive (Button)
Copies the currently selected Hive control/s animation and pastes it onto the opposite control with automatic mirrored behavior.

Use the offset value for alternating cycles like runs/walks.

Start and end frame should have identical values for cycles.
Example: 0-24 not 1-24

 
 

ADVANCED TOOL SETTINGS

 

Cycle Animation Tools in Advanced Mode.

 

Mirror Animation Pre/Post (Combo Drop Down Menus)
Sets the Mirror-Animation pasted animation behaviour.

The cycle type is important for mirrored offsets on animation cycles that may relative cycle etc.

Include Proxy Attributes (Checkbox)
Include proxy attributes? These are attributes that may belong to other objects.

Limit Keys To Start/End (Checkbox)
Add keys on the start/end frames to match the source controls while maintaining offsets.
Animation outside of the frame range will be deleted, useful for cycles.

Apply Cycle (Drop Down and Button)
Cycles the selected objects for both pre and post.

Right-click to affect Pre or Post only.
Zoo Hotkey: alt o (Regular Cycle)

Toggle Infinite (Button)
Toggles the infinity display in the graph editor.
Zoo Hotkey: shift i

Remove Cycle (Button)
Removes any cycling animation on the selected objects for both pre and post.

Zoo Hotkey: ctrl alt o