As an aspiring Unity developer, you may have come across the need to create animated 3D models in your projects. However, setting up a 3D model for animation in Unity can be a daunting task, especially if you’re new to the platform.
Step 1: Choose Your 3D Modeling Software
Before you start animating your 3D model in Unity, you need to create it using a 3D modeling software. There are many different options available, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Some popular choices include Blender, Maya, 3DS Max, and Cinema 4D.
For beginners, we recommend starting with Blender. It’s free and open-source, meaning you can download it for free and customize it to your needs. Additionally, Blender has a large community of users who can provide support and guidance as you learn the software.
Step 2: Import Your 3D Model into Unity
Once you’ve created your 3D model using your chosen software, the next step is to import it into Unity. To do this, go to Assets > Import Package or Asset in the Unity menu bar. From there, navigate to the folder where your 3D model is saved and select it.
Unity will automatically detect the type of file you’re importing and add it to the appropriate folder in your project. If your 3D model is already imported into Unity, you can skip this step.
Step 3: Create an Animator Controller
An animator controller is a visual representation of the animation states and transitions in your 3D model. To create an animator controller in Unity, go to Window > Animation > Animator Controller. From there, you can either create a new controller from scratch or import an existing one.
Once you have your animator controller open, you can begin adding animation states and transitions by dragging and dropping them onto the timeline. For example, if you have a walking animation, you might add a “standing” state as the beginning of the animation and a “walking” state as the end.
Step 4: Assign Animations to Your Model
Now that you’ve created your animator controller, it’s time to assign the animations you created in Blender to your 3D model in Unity. To do this, go to the Animator component in the Inspector window and click on the “Animations” tab. From there, you can drag and drop the animations you want to use from the Project window into the “Animations” field.
Step 5: Create Animation Clips
An animation clip is a container for an animation state machine. To create an animation clip in Unity, go to Assets > Create > Animation Clip. From there, you can give your animation clip a name and add it to the “Animation” folder in your project.
Once you have your animation clip open, you can begin adding animation states and transitions by dragging and dropping them onto the timeline. For example, if you have a walking animation, you might add a “standing” state as the beginning of the animation and a “walking” state as the end.
Step 6: Apply Animation to Your Model
Now that you’ve created your animator controller and assigned animations to your model, it’s time to apply the animation to your model in Unity. To do this, select your 3D model in the Hierarchy window and go to the Animator component in the Inspector window.
