side by side or beside each other

[Greenlaw]

Ideally, each character will have its own rig. Additionally I would place each in its own group. Whichever character is closer to camera should be on top in the Layers window.

I would animate each character individually but if you want to save time and you had the foresight to rig each character similarly, you can copy and paste the animation keys from one character to the other.

If you want to transform both characters together (i.e., move or scale them,) you can place both rigs inside a single group layer and animate that group layer.

That's pretty much it.

If the characters need to hold hands or otherwise need to interact directly like that, it gets a little more complicated because both characters may need to share bone targets. There are several ways to do this. One 'obvious' way is to put both bone rigs in the same layer but this usually isn't very practical. What I typically like to do is animate the target bone for one character first, and when I'm done, I'll copy that target bone to the other character's rig. If I need to update one or the other, I then just copy/paste the keys. Another way is to use a script that can link a bone from one bone layer to a bone in another bone. This script exists but I forgot what it's called. A search in these forums should turn it up though.

An example of the methods described above can be seen in the Thighsander Plunderhorse & Norge Grindelfist footage from All Hail King Julian on my 2017 demo reel (scrub to 0:39 and also 0:55)

Hope this helps.

[chucky]

Pu them in different groups
Place the groups where you like.

Give them each walk cycle and/or run cycles.

Simple

[Greenlaw]

Another way is to use a script that can link a bone from one bone layer to a bone in another bone. This script exists but I forgot what it's called. A search in these forums should turn it up though.

Aha! I found it. MR Track Bone is another cool and very useful script by Eugene. What this actually does is it tracks a bone in world coordinates, and then bakes (i.e., transfers) the keyframes to a bone in another layer so it has the same world coordinates. The script has many possible uses and being about to share the world coordinates of a target bone with another rig is an excellent one.

There's a video and download link here...

MR Track Bone

I haven't used it yet but I want to play with it right now before I forget it exists.

Edit #1: I just tried MR Track Bone and it's amazing! Will definitely be using this tool in the future.

Edit #2: here's the Lost Marble forum post for the script: http://lostmarble.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=34028

Edit #3: It's worth noting that, because this tool can use a bone's world coordinates, it solves the problem with mismatched layer positions. For example, in the King Julien footage from my reel, I had to be careful to move only each character's root bone positions and not their layer positions in order to keep the duplicate target bone's position in sync. But with this tool, just disable the Maintain Position Offset and you're good to go.

[Greenlaw]

am like, simple basic will b fine I just need want to place character side by side but one distant from the other

Yup, you just want to do the basic stuff we described above:

1. Place each character in its own group so you can stack one in front of the other in the Layers window.

2. To make the far character look distant, drag the origin to where it's feet are and scale down character's group.

3. To move both characters together, place their individual groups together inside a new single group and move (transform) that single group.

You can ignore the other stuff I mentioned about sharing target bones. I just re-discovered MR Track Bone and finally got to try it, and because it's easier than what I had been doing in the past, I thought it was worth mentioning. It's not needed for what you're doing.

Hope this helps!

[ITAK]

am like, simple basic will b fine I just need want to place character side by side but one distant from the other

Yup, you just want to do the basic stuff we described above:

1. Place each character in its own group so you can stack one in front of the other in the Layers window.

2. To make the far character look distant, drag the origin to where it's feet are and scale down character's group.

3. To move both characters together, place their individual groups together inside a new single group and move (transform) that single group.

You can ignore the other stuff I mentioned about sharing target bones. I just re-discovered MR Track Bone and finally got to try it, and because it's easier than what I had been doing in the past, I thought it was worth mentioning.

Hope this helps!

By writing his texts, a person persistently demonstrates his own disrespect for people, illiteracy and his own narcissism, but you always try to explain something to him honestly... Unbelievable! My applause for your patience, Greenlaw, and faith in people! My sincere respect to you, no kidding.

[synthsin75]

My applause for your patience, Greenlaw, and faith in people! My sincere respect to you, no kidding.

Same here. Saint-like patience.

[chucky]

I lost patience weeks ago.
Please don't take advantage of Greenlaw's generosity.
Try to get through some of this stuff yourself and with the ample resources of the tutorials supplied and available on the net.

Maybe show some of your improvements to demonstrate your appreciation to Dennis and the others who don't have to help.

[Franky1966]

Just stop reacting (and helping) to House10.
My impression is he don't want to read the manuals and then cries out for help. Just not worth it.

[chucky]

house10 , why do you behave like this?
I answered your direct messages, I answered your cries for help here too.

These responses where received with no grace or appreciation.
I understand you may be very young but show some respect.

[chucky]

Just stop reacting (and helping) to House10.
My impression is he don't want to read the manuals and then cries out for help. Just not worth it.

I've been doing my best, just couldn't hold it in