Free Dragons! Introducing...the Shaththnan Rig!

Shaththan Rig. Here Be Dragons!

Here at Animation Apprentice we're always on the lookout for great creature rigs that are capable of producing a full range of facial expressions so that our students can study creature animation and get an excellent performance.  One rig that has been giving good results is the Shaththan Rig, created by the very talented Revanth Ravi, and now available - free for student use - at Creative Crash.

Where can I find the Shaththan Rig?
You can download the Shaththan Rig rig for free here at Creative Crash. http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/downloads/character-rigs/c/dragon-shaththan-rig

How does it work?
And to see how the rig works (always an essential first step) watch this video:


http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/downloads/character-rigs/c/dragon-shaththan-rig

Does it have bugs?
Of course! All rigs have bugs. For example, don't add keyframes to the jaw control, as this will break the rig!  Instead, go to Display/Show All/ and this will reveal a facial control interface which allows you to keyframe the all the facial controls - including the jaw.

Can I use Shaththnan for commercial use?
Technically, yes. The license for Shaththnan is simply given as "freeware", so it's free to use for any purpose, including commercial use.  But, it's generally wise to check with its creator first before trying any kind of commercial application. We recommend using Shaththnan for training purposes, to create great creature animation for your demo reel.

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link. For more information on finding work and surviving in the animation and visual effects business, read our post on how to find a job in the animation industry, and check out our post about what not to do at a job interview. Also see our post on starting your own small animation business, learn how to create an invoice, and see how we arehelping our students find work through our film co-operative Nano Films. Download the free Escape Studios Careers in VFX Handbook. Take a look at how awn.com can help you find a job, and read our piece about how to survive as a freelance animator. Also, find out what Cinesite look for in a student's demo reel, and read our post on setting up your own animation business. Also see our post about freelancers and taxes.