Project Overview

AAJ Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company, approached Pixels2Pixels Studio to develop high-quality 3D rigs for 2D-style characters. The project required a full-body rig with three interchangeable perspectives (Front, Side, and Back), IK controls for natural movement, and an extensive facial rig to allow for expressive, South Park-style animation.

This project served as a test for a larger contract, involving the creation of 40-60 characters for an animated TV show later streamed in the United States and India. Our goal was to ensure that the rigging system was efficient, flexible, and consistent across all characters, maintaining the distinctive 2D aesthetic while providing the necessary control for smooth animation.

Our Approach

Precision in Rigging & Perspective Control

• Developed a fully functional rig in Autodesk Maya, ensuring seamless transitions between Front, Side, and Back views through the channel editor.
• Designed IK controls for legs, hips, and arms, ensuring stable and natural character movement.

Facial Rigging & Expression Controls

• Built a custom facial rig allowing for detailed expressions, including Angry, Sad, Happy, Surprised, and Shy.
• Implemented controller switches for quick expression adjustments, enabling fluid storytelling.

Adherence to South Park-Style Animation

• Ensured that all character movements followed the flat, cutout-style animation principles of the reference material.
• Designed the rigging structure to facilitate efficient animation workflows, making it easy to replicate across multiple characters.

Efficient Delivery & Scalability

• Delivered the sample model, textured, rigged, and fully tested within the agreed timeline.
• Developed a scalable rigging framework, allowing for rapid adaptation to the remaining characters in the full production pipeline.

Results & Impact

• The project was successfully completed ahead of the deadline, meeting all technical and artistic requirements.
• AAJ Productions approved the rigging system, leading to the development of dozens of characters for the final animated series.
• The final production aired in both the U.S. and India, showcasing the efficiency and adaptability of our rigging solutions.

This collaboration demonstrated Pixels2Pixels Studio’s expertise in bridging 2D aesthetics with 3D rigging technology, ensuring streamlined production for large-scale animation projects.