MPD Animation

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/a2c4a3fe-5828-486e-8386-8c20bfd8d103/thumbnails/thumbnail-c244f8bf-e21f-4016-b7d5-da9b4faddf03.png

Matthew Prando de Villiers

Rigging Work

I made this rig for a game I'm working on. Through my time working as an animator, I've learnt to appreciate working with a well designed rig with easy to use controls. The rig is designed to use IK controls on the hands and feet, as well as a follow system on the head direction and wiggle bones on the tail to create a natural motion.

This rig was made for another character in the same game the first rig is for. While the rigs are very similar, I had to learn to adjust the rig to better suit a larger character. Both these rigs are set up allow the characters to hold weapons, either left or right handed as well as two handed.

About Me

MY STORY

My Skills

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been creative. From drawing monsters at four years old to graduating high school with top marks in practical art, creating has been part of who I am.

My journey through the arts has taken me across many different mediums, but my path hasn’t been completely linear. After high school, I took a gap year to

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been creative. From drawing monsters at four years old to graduating high school with top marks in practical art, creating has been part of who I am.

My journey through the arts has taken me across many different mediums, but my path hasn’t been completely linear. After high school, I took a gap year to study conservation ecology, thinking I might follow a different direction. It didn’t take long to realize it wasn’t where I truly belonged.

That realization led me to pursue a degree in game design and development—and it was there that I discovered the medium that changed everything for me: 3D animation.

Something about bringing ideas to life in a fully immersive, visual way just clicked. After graduating, I continued to build on my skills, studying new tools and refining my craft as an animator.

Today, I focus on creating work that blends creativity with storytelling, using 3D animation to bring ideas to life, to something people can see, feel, and connect with.

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My Skills

Over the years I've been doing animation, I've learnt to work across multiple softwares such as Auto Desk Maya, Blender, and Unreal Engine 5. Through the use of these software as well as educational institutes and courses, I've developed skills in both 3D creature and character animation. Through my experiences and education I've also gai

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MY GOALS

My Skills

MY GOALS

My goal is to provide an immersive and emotional experience for those who see my work, whether it be through video games or films. I want them to feel connected to the characters I work on.

Software I Use

Blender

Blender was one of the first animation softwares I started using when I was studying. After using it for 4 years, I have gained skills with regards to its animation, 3D modeling, and rigging capabilities.

Maya

When I started my animation career, I was originally using 3DS Max (a very similar software to Maya, both owned by Auto Desk). It was later in my studies and took to it very quickly. After using it for 3 years I gained skills in control rigging, 3D animating (in industry standard software), and rig set up.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is the most recent software I've started animating in. Through the use of this software I've gained skills in character rigging, 3D animation (in Unreal Engine), and animation blue printing.

Unity

Unreal Engine

I used Unity through out my studies (BCIS in Game Design and Development), and during that time I learnt how to animate in Unity (albeit briefly as better animation softwares were available).

My Qualifications

My Degree

I studied at Emeris (previously called Vega School) in South Africa, where I got my Bachelor Degree Of Computer Information Sciences in Game Design And Development.

After I graduated, I decided to study further at CGSpectrum (an online university) to specialize in 3D Animation.

My Mentor Mark Pullyblank

My first mentor when starting at CGSpectrum was Mark Pullyblank, who mentored me in the 3D Animation Essentials course.

See Mark at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pullyblank/

My Mentor Scott Claus

My second mentor in CGSpectrum was Scott Claus, who mentored me in the 3D Animation Foundation course.

See Scott at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-claus-88820a17/

My Demo Reel

My Most Recent Project

Other Works

My Current Work In Progress

Some Of My Previous Projects

Dramatic Monologue

Pantomime Skit

Rigging Work