An ULTIMATE guide to After Effects Character Rigging

There are so many tools for character rigging in Adobe After Effects. With so many tools to pick from, we'll help you know which one is best for you and your situation.
Download project file here: courses.keyframeacademy.com/c...
00:00 - Intro
00:31 - Is the puppet pin tool worth it?
1:37 - Duik Bassel Overview
3:28 - What I like about DUIK
6:08 - Why DUIK might not be the right choice.
6:53 - Rubberhose Overview
10:59 - One of DUIK's pitfalls that Rubberhose solves
11:42 - Some of the limitations of Rubberhose
13:06 - Limber Overview
16:55 - Some of the Limber's shortcomings
19:22 - Character Tool Overview
20:05 - My biggest gripe with Character tool
21:17 - Puppet Tool Overview
22:42 - Puppet tools biggest weakness
Character animation for Motion graphics is becoming more and more popular. If you've ever try to delve into character animation in Adobe After Effects, you've probably heard of Duik Bassel. Duik Bassel is the de facto character rigging tool for Adobe After Effects used by people all over the world. But did you know that there is a plethora of different character rigging add-ons available for After Effects? Each tool has it's own unique approach to character rigging in After Effects.
Rubberhose: www.battleaxe.co/rubberhose/?...
Limber: dash.aescripts.com/limber/?af...
Deekay Tool (previously called Character tool): aescripts.com/character-tool/
Puppet Tool: aescripts.com/puppettools/
My Gear
Keyboard: amzn.to/3mBadT3
Monitor: amzn.to/2ZTairz
Mouse: amzn.to/2ZTGviw (best mouse for AE)
Mic: amzn.to/35TRv2Y
Like the music? I use Soundstripe.com for all my music. You can view all the music at this link. If you like what you hear, consider supporting the channel by using my link: soundstripe.com?fpr=keyframeacademy
You can see what my current projects are on my Instagram: / keyfram.ed
You can visit my personal website: www.keyframeacademy.com/
View some of my short After effects tutorials here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=smNBK...

[@sanidayz]

This video was super helpful, thanks for taking the time to edit this! ✨

[@saransekhar6618]

firstly I would like to wish you well and to say a huge thank you for uploading these videos as they have been an invaluable resource to

[@JohannesLabusch]

God bless you for not having a shitty intro.

[@honkpill686]

LMFAO!

[@uavdan]

It Worked perfectly after trying other methods this one was the best one, Thanks.

[@bryanmonteiro8917]

Thanks for the tutorial, it's much faster than any other method I came across.

[@tinabasim6676]

Thank you so much for your tutorials It went from 'nice tutoet science' to simple logic! You have a new subscriber

[@muflic]

Excellent work. I am already choosing one. I choose limber and roberhose. Thank you for such informative and visual video. It’s great that you showed the differences and wick sides.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Good choice!

[@zahraranjbarian3946]

This tutorial is amazing! Life changing 💙

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you think so!

[@mohammadshahin3550]

I was searching for a character rigging tutorial, and I found this gold. Thank you man

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

No problem!

[@fandydiadline]

and which one do you prefer?

[@angelaguadalupegonzalezayu4899]

This works. Recommended to try this out. Thanks a lot for your help

[@mrjoe3409]

Wow. You're the best. I couldn't understand what you were saying but I just followed instructions. Thank you so much

[@MyNigellus]

Beautiful, thank you for the knowledge!

[@Mario-fz1pc]

The video that I have been trying to find

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

I'm glad you finally found it!

[@tamialade9630]

same here

[@edgemotion7515]

Very helpful! I've been looking for a thorough comparison of these tools before purchasing. Thanks!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you found it!

[@Pardix]

I got every one of these tools, and sometimes I'm more comfortable with Rubberhose. But I have to say, in the beginning, Duik was a great discovery for me, complex but great. Now I work with the Battle Axe's tools and I'm super happy with it. Great Video!!!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Fair enough!

[@Veldryn17]

One of my favorite aspects of Rubberhose 2, and one I haven't seen in anything else, is the auto-flop aspect. The fact that it smoothly changes the directions of the bend as you go above or below the threshold is a game changer.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

True that!

[@killerWATTstudio]

This is a feature of Character Tool too :) Although in my opinion, Rubberhose is still superior.

[@raulszabo7411]

What a legend only one ad in the beginning . Your so damn underrated

[@zoyaishfaq4004]

I was looking for this one tutorial for days and now finally it's here

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you finally found us!

[@prashantchoudhary7297]

One of the best informative video on youtube 😍

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@akarts7211]

What a video bro! Can't thank you enough! Thank you so much you made life so much easier!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it helped!

[@wolfreicherter748]

what a refreshing video. Thank you. Very Helpful

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@goo4450]

Thanks for making this! I had no idea these things even existed! I have been moving and rotating arm and leg pieces individually for a while with just the position and rotate settings lol. This looks like it would help out a lot!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad I could help! And I'm glad you finally found this!

[@goo4450]

@@TheKeyframeAcademy thank god for youtube, i wouldn't know how to animate anything without it....

[@vassalex2414]

Very informative as I'm just starting character animation in AE. Thank you! 😁

[@zmejkart]

Thank you for this guide! I am working with Duik Basel for a year, thinking move to Rubberhose in near future.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@naughty-gaming8046]

Brilliant tutorial, thank you.

[@Andonchoto]

This is incredibly helpful, we can now see what does what, and also see the correct way to set them up. Thank you.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bonjovibayots7425]

Respect to your good work, thanks a lot

[@spicytuna3387]

Another beautiful video! Love it, thanks :)

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Much appreciated!

[@hotallypfranco4672]

Very Helpfull Video! Thanks a Lot!

[@siriuscrocodile74]

"What intro?" Brilliant. This is the first video I watch on this channel, but it took only 20 seconds to hit Subscribe

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you've joined us!

[@mejdejo]

this is EXACTLY what i needed, thanks

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

You're welcome!

[@roundblackbear6586]

my guy, thank you for the tutorials. I'm broke and cant afford online courses. your tuts is a very big help!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Happy to help!

[@ShahzadisOp]

Yoo tnx dude, everytNice tutorialng works. I LIKE IT

[@angelpalomino858]

thank you so much , it worked

[@MuntasirZisan]

Bro! it's Amazing You solved my problem! Thanks!!!

[@armanchahal1]

you got a sub bro loved it

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Hey want to play around with these rigs? Download the project file for FREE: www.keyframeacademy.com/character-comparison Find Limber here: aescripts.com/limber/?aff=84

[@mehdigalaxy8087]

Best intro I have ever seen

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Oh stop, you're making me blush.☺

[@jean-marcyapo2444]

I love your tutorials

[@davidpietrandrea]

Super helpful! Thank you

[@laurarimku142]

Thank you! It was exactly what I needed

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it helped!

[@kharathos4121]

Amazing video, deserves a lot more views.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you think so!

[@ericlochstampfor6545]

Thank you! Very informative and helpful.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LC-yo3bj]

Great video man, extremely helpful

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it helped

[@nokindesign2258]

thank you so much you take my life to another level thank you thank you so much i was gone leave the motion graphic business and I'm just beginning you can see my channel from Egypt i said thank you man

[@GabrielliCamilo]

Fantastic video, very helpful!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you think so!

[@nicholascoker6154]

I've been animating a simple character for a series of videos without any rigging tool pretty much all year now. It's time for one of these, lol. *It's between Rubberhose and Limber for me.* They both seem like the best balance of intuitive and powerful.

[@Yusuf3D]

that is a great video, and it would help others a lot on choosing their tool .. thanks

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robbclayton101]

Exactly what I was looking for... thanks.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad I could help!

[@aman_design]

best intro till date!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Thanks!

[@antraxhkill9985]

thanks, bro for the freebies.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

You bet

[@rostykdashko4260]

Amazing video. Thank you!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you liked it!

[@dhirajkadam2469]

man this was super great!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@varamozhithulika5919]

Hi ..Mr. John ...Very helpful tutorial you made ...for me it is a new ideas about Rigging app ...as new member of animation world ...very interesting notes ..Hats of you bro.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@geethanjalir8294]

Thanks for the vid!

[@marvin5325]

man this videos just so good and helpful.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you think so!

[@NewarKPrince7]

This was good gave me options.

[@rosezif]

Love your videos, thank you so much, they are so informative, i also love the fact that you don´t have intro, is like, i don´t need it because my content is so cool for itself :D

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Thank you so much!

[@marhawi565]

Thank you, it helped but i had a little bit of problems. Good Tutorial

[@barukidsmodainfantil7217]

Nice tutorial

[@manolomaru]

Ultrasupermegahyper Guide bro! Thanks for this video ;)

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@robloebel]

thanks, great video .. really helpful!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gogg1138]

يارجل انت الافضل

[@Mohajer-jt5tk]

Really helpful thank you so much 🙂🥰♥️

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

You’re welcome 😊

[@davemoy330]

Good Vid. Thanks!

[@TechofTheCentury]

Amazing video Thank you i will try Duik

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Best of luck

[@waynemccauslinmotion5870]

Thanks man!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

You bet!

[@JesseMoffett]

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

You are so welcome!

[@Dani_Krossing]

I have been sitting with DUIK since last night, and I just COULDN'T get the right "smooth" animation effect with it. Even went so far to go back to After Effects default pin tool 😅 But Rubberhose solved it for me perfectly hehe. Thanks a lot for the video overview 😊

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Thanks for sharing!

[@steverubio6072]

Thats for professional

[@NgocMinh-tn8eu]

YOU ARE A GOD... NO QUESTION ABOUT IT

[@AgredoAlejandro]

just... THANK YOU!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Just....you're welcome

[@joco9958]

Having spend a lot of time with both Duik and Rubberhose I'd say your remarks are spot on. I mostly use Rubberhose for all the limbs, Duik for the chest/hips and JoysticknSliders for facial precomps. Small caveat when using Rubberhose: it uses the comment section of each layer to store parameters. Dugr (the amazing layering system from the Duik guys) uses this comment section also so the two are not usable in the same comp. Adam told me he'd look into it but I haven't checked if he did. Cheerio!

[@cupofjoen]

This might be random. But, do you know how to make the outline of the limbs connected between shapes on the rig? When I rotate it the outlines overlap.

[@victorluizbianchini]

Nice! Thanks for your review. I've been using Bao Bones too. It's a great rigging in my opinion.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Yeah, I've seen Bao bones but have never personally used it (why it wasn't included in this list) But I'll have to check it out!

[@bachkov]

@@TheKeyframeAcademy Yep, I use Bao Bones as well, when I'm really in a rush and just have to animate ai layers for 5-10 seconds, otherwise Duik is King! Cheers! :)

[@santiskapiuna]

Impecable! gracias!

[@DOMINGOX6]

I really love this video, it's very helpful, but it's been more than 3 years since it was published and a lot has changed in these tools since then. Have you thought about doing another comparison with these new features in mind?

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

YES!! There is one major update coming to one of these tools that I am waiting on, and then I will produce that video!

[@DOMINGOX6]

@@TheKeyframeAcademy Something tells me it will be an update for Limber 😄 I used to mainly work with Rubberhose before, but your videos made me see the amazing potential of Limber, so I hope to use it in my next project! Anyway, can't wait for that new comparison video, glad to hear you already had it in mind, keep up the good work!

[@lucasarnack2610]

Cool music, and really good introduction È nois

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you like it

[@jorgeferreira8923]

todo funciona, eres el mejor

[@user-pj9nn2th9s]

It’s very useful lecture.. 감사합니다..!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Thank you

[@dinerooo468]

Thanks love em all

[@hirenprabtani8796]

Amazing

[@thangluong2365]

Respect bro

[@tumpakin1479]

now i am in a good mood

[@vipingusain6637]

Nice & help full video thx

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Happy to help

[@APLinetv]

Thanks bro 💜💜

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

No prob bro!

[@denrikjoe3762]

*_Thanks Man_*

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

No problem!

[@bharathkumar2065]

Nice 👍👏👏👏I love❤ it...

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Thank you! 😊

[@wingbutler]

I'm floored

[@pcprobot]

I like your window on the computer case.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Thats my old case

[@picboxstudio]

very useful

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Glad you think so!

[@maheshsingh1522]

nice tuto, I had the sa issue

[@ChanchalTech]

Thanks to you

[@jarvis_kjellberg]

do a full animation making process tutorial...

[@drueadcock1496]

Cheers mate

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Cheers to you!

[@lokacibakotv1417]

TC tnks

[@tutkumajes8382]

so sNice tutorialt like that

[@fayyazb]

Really cool! Would love to see an UPDATED comparison with addition of DEEKAY TOOL!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

I have one in the works, but actually Deekay tool is the rebranded version of character tool with some small updates.

[@Bloodfart22]

Thanks!

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

No problem!

[@BenjaminHernandez23]

- "Let's roll that intro." -"¿What intro?" you've got a new subscriber

[@gaston.]

Excellent info, thank you! Rubber Hose didn't have mid point adjustment, for foreshortening. Character Tool does as well as Limber. Correct me if I am wrong, with latest updates.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Rubber hose does, but it’s a experimental feature that you have to enable in the settings

[@divogun9528]

Thanks.

[@TheKeyframeAcademy]

Welcome!