Cartoon Animator 5 Tutorial - Getting Started with Cartoon Animator 5

Introduction to Cartoon Animator 5

In this section, the speaker introduces Cartoon Animator 5 and explains how it can be used to create and animate characters in a scene. The basic layout of the software is also discussed.

Basic Layout and Customization

• The main viewport contains a blue outline that corresponds to the final render output dimensions.

• General function toolbars are located on the top and left of the viewport, while the Content Manager is located on the right.

• Free embedded assets can be found in the Free Resource category of the Content Manager, including characters and accessories.

• Right-clicking on any item in the Content Manager allows you to view its information.

• Embedded characters can be customized by clicking and dragging or double-clicking them to apply them to your scene.

SVG Color Adjustment Tool

• The SVG Color Adjustment tool can be used to adjust the color of various parts of an SVG character individually.

• Clothing and Character groups correspond to clothing and skin/hair/other features respectively, with sub-items that can be adjusted individually by clicking on them.

• Clicking on a color box allows you to change the color of a selected part, with separate options for Line and Fill colors that can be adjusted separately for better coordination between parts.

Clothing Customization

• Certain clothing parts have sub-layers that may have zero opacity as an option for easier adjustment (e.g., short vs long sleeves). Opacity can be adjusted by selecting these layers.

Saving Customized Characters

• Once satisfied with your customized character, you can save it to the Content Manager by selecting it and clicking the Save button.

• You'll need to define the name and asset type, and once saved, you'll be able to find it in that category under the Custom tab.

Animating Characters

In this section, the speaker discusses how to animate characters using Cartoon Animator 5.

Embedded Animations

• Right-clicking on a character in the viewport brings up an Action Menu containing embedded animations for that character.

• The Timeline can be opened from the bottom toolbar or by using the F3 hotkey to further customize animations applied via FFD (Free-form Deformation).

• FFD allows for more energetic and dynamic animation results. Intensity can be adjusted by right-clicking on an FFD clip.

Additional Animations

• Additional animations can be found in the Animation pack of Free Resources, categorized appropriately. They can be dragged directly from the Content Manager into the Timeline for precise placement at a specific frame.

• Clips can also be clicked and dragged to different frames for blending and different results.

Applying 3D Motions

• 3D motions can be found in the 3D Motion category of Free Resources. Once applied to a character, a dedicated Import 3D Motion panel will pop up where angle presets can be chosen and rotated manually as desired before being baked into your timeline as a clip with Apply to Timeline button.

Adjusting Applied Motions

• Applied motion clips can easily be altered at any frame using the 2D Motion Key Editor, which allows for manual adjustment of motion at different frames by selecting and moving various character bones.

Facial Animation

In this section, the speaker discusses how to create talking animation for your character via recorded voice, text to speech, audio files, or a cartoon script file from Cartoon Animator.

Create Script Tool

• The Create Script tool on the left toolbar can be used to create talking animation for your character via various methods. In this case, an audio MP3 is imported and played back to test automatic lip sync result.

Adjusting Facial Features

This section covers how to adjust facial features using the face dummy and expression presets.

Adjusting Facial Features

• To adjust facial features, select one or multiple sections of the face dummy.

• Click and drag in the white area to control those parts simultaneously.

• Use embedded expression presets in the Template tab.

• Select an expression category from the drop-down menu.

• Adjust the Expression slider to set its intensity.

Animating Faces with Face Puppet Tool

This section covers how to animate faces using the Face Puppet tool.

Animating Faces with Face Puppet Tool

• Use Face Puppet tool for real-time animation of faces.

• Select a Face Animation profile, then hit Preview and move your mouse to see the result.

• During recording, only facial animation is displayed; lip-sync is not overwritten during playback.

Adding Background Props

This section covers adding background props to a scene.

Adding Background Props

• In Scene & Prop pack, find preset scenes and individual props.

• Forest folder under Props contains individual props that make up Forest scene.

• Drag items into viewport and adjust their position as needed.[]( t = 00 :7 :06 )

• In 3D View, adjust the position of props on the Z axis to simulate a 3-dimensional perspective.

• Scale size of anything in scene to resize it.

Applying FFD Motion Files

This section covers how to apply FFD motion files to any prop in your scene.

Applying FFD Motion Files

• Apply FFD motion files from the FFD category of the Animation pack.

• These motions generate dynamic and interesting motions for any prop in your scene.

Basic Camera Movement

This section covers basic camera movement.

Basic Camera Movement

• To animate your scene camera, enable Camera Record Mode from top toolbar.

• Open up Camera track in timeline and move viewport to focus on character at frame 60.[]( t = 00 :8 :25 )

• Multi-select keyframes in Camera track to adjust timing.[]( t = 00 :8 :37 )

• Go to frame where you want project to end and click Set End Frame button or use CTRL + ] hotkey.[]( t = 00 :9 :03 )

Saving and Rendering Project

This section covers saving and rendering projects.

Saving and Rendering Project

• Click Save button once you’re in Custom tab, select Project as Asset type, then save project.

• Click Render button from top toolbar which will bring up Render Settings panel.

• Choose image, image sequence or video format.

• Export scene items separately for further editing in external effects software like After Effects.