Developer: Hongjun Wu
Reason of AnimKit's Existence:
*Encounters a Problem*
Me: Ok this is so stupid
I cannot believe Maya/Ae/Pr does not have a way to do this
*Search on Internet for solutions*
*Thirty minutes later*
Me: F**k this I'll write my own
*This happens too many times*
Me: Ok might just make all my fixes into a shelf collection
- AnimKit is only supported on machines with Maya 2020 and below that uses Python2.
- So it is deprecated with no plans for further development.
- A Python 3 version is in development but with no ETA.
- Watch the full demo video to learn about all the features of AnimKit!
- Here is a demo project I did using AnimKit.
- Just run the animkit installation script
install_animkit.py
.
- Copy all
icon
to your a sub folder of your maya pref directory:\maya\2020\prefs\icons\animkit\
. - Copy all
scripts
to your maya pref directory:\maya\2020\scripts\
. - Copy all
plug-ins
to your maya pref directory:\maya\2020\plug-ins\
.
In C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\Documents\maya\scripts\userSetup.py
(Your maya pref) add the following line:
# Note if you don't have this file then you can simply copy over the demo userSetup.py file.
# Load AnimKit
from maya import cmds
if not cmds.about(batch=True):
cmds.evalDeferred("import animkit_shelf; animkit_shelf.animkitshelf()")
# Finished loading AnimKit.
- You should see
[AnimKit Shelf]: Successfully loaded all components of AnimKit!
in your script editor when you start Maya next time.
- Automatically one click solution install all scripts and icons to correct folder. (Windows only)
- Scalable and highly flexible shelf with button hierarchy shelf container written in Python 3.
- A wrapper for calling external fucntions like loading plug-ins to keep the shelf clean and tidy.
Playblast+ → animkit_playblast_plus_vp2.py
- Provide functionality in playblasting AVI and MP4, with padding or without padding.
iter++ → animkit_iter_pp.py
- Provide one click solution to save iterations of maya scene, as well as current playblast of animation.
Zoetrope → animkit_zoetrope.py
- Background one click script watermark free batch renderer for Arnold.
- A collection of fixes for common problems.
Tools and scripts that are free and avaliable to public.
TweenMachine → tweenMachine.py
- The easiest way to create breakdown poses in Maya.
'''
AnimKit Wrapper provides a functionality to load external tools and plug-ins.
You will have to acquire them separately and add them AnimKit.
I am not allowed to redistribute them.
'''
# Here are a couple examples:
# Load a plug-in as a .mll file (AnimSchool Picker)
def load_animschool_picker(self):
mel.eval("loadPlugin AnimSchoolPicker.mll;")
mel.eval("AnimSchoolPicker();")
# Load a plug-in as a .mel file (reParent)
def load_reParent(self):
run_mel('reparent_pro_v158.mel')
Animschool Picker → \plug-ins\AnimSchoolPicker.mll
- Character picker for AnimSchool rigs.
reParentPRO → \scripts\reparent_pro_v158.mel
- Tool for transfering animation from control to locator for polishing animation.
- Go to
YOUR MAYA PREF\maya\2020\scripts\animkit_shelf.py
and at the end of the code delete respective sections.
- Some of the code are refactored from University of Washington Animation Research Labs shelf.
- You are welcome to use this script for non-commercial use. However, if you want to use for commercial please contact me.
- If you think this is helpful and would like to buy me a coffee, you can do that using WechatPay/AliPay or Venmo!