# Animation

Game-ready animation in Blender including walk/run/idle cycles, combat, mechanical...

- Repository: https://github.com/arjun988/blender-skills (1650 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-07-10
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add arjun988/blender-skills --skill animation -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add arjun988/blender-skills --skill animation -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add arjun988/blender-skills --skill animation -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add arjun988/blender-skills --skill animation -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add arjun988/blender-skills`

## Description

Game-ready animation in Blender including walk/run/idle cycles, combat, mechanical animation, camera animation, constraints, Graph Editor, and NLA workflows via MCP.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Animation

Game-ready motion with clean keyframes. Readable silhouettes in motion. Engine-compatible export.

## When to Use

- Character locomotion (walk, run, idle)
- Combat animations
- Mechanical/prop animation
- Camera animation
- Object animation with constraints

## Workflow

```
Reference → Blocking → Breakdown → Splining → Polish
    → Cycle Validation → NLA Strip → Export
```

## Locomotion Cycles

| Cycle | Key Poses | Frames (30fps) |
|-------|-----------|----------------|
| Walk | Contact, Down, Pass, Up × 2 | 24, 32 |
| Run | Contact, Drive, Flight, Recovery | 16, 24 |
| Idle | Breathe, weight shift, blink | 60, 120 loop |

Naming: `AN_[Char]_[Action]_[Variant]`

## Animation Principles (Applied)

1. **Timing**, Weight through spacing
2. **Arcs**, Natural limb paths
3. **Overlap**, Secondary motion offset
4. **Anticipation**, Wind-up before action
5. **Exaggeration**, Style-dependent (see style skills)

## Mechanical Animation

- Use constraints over bone deformation
- Hinge: Limit Rotation constraint
- Pistons: Stretch-to or Copy Location
- Gears: Driver for synchronized rotation
- Doors: Empty pivot + rotation keyframes

## Graph Editor Workflow

```
1. Block stepped keys (Constant interpolation)
2. Splining: Bezier with auto handles
3. Ease: Weighted handles for acceleration
4. Cycle: Copy first/last frame; verify loop seam
5. Clean: Remove redundant keys
```

## NLA for Game Export

```
1. Action created and named per convention
2. Push down to NLA strip
3. Strip set to Repeat for cycles
4. Single strip active for export
5. Scale: 1.0; no NLA time remapping unless intentional
```

## Camera Animation

- Smooth Bezier interpolation always
- Avoid sudden direction changes
- Match focal length to subject scale
- Camera shake: noise modifier on location (subtle)

## MCP Integration

The rest: https://github.com/arjun988/blender-skills/blob/HEAD/.claude/skills/animation/SKILL.md