In this introductory lesson, Nick Miller outlines his rigging workflow in Maya, showing how complex rigs are built from simple nodes, connections, and basic math. He introduces how Python scripting fits into this process and how automation can dramatically speed up rig creation. By the end of the workshop, artists will have built a limb-rigging tool with a simple interface, including IK/FK switching and stretchy limbs.

Duration: 26m 17s

In this lesson, Nick primarily looks at constraints, describing them as powerful tools that can override standard parent-child relationships. He showcases the careful attention required for pivot placement, hierarchy organization, and maintaining clean workflows. By mastering these constraint techniques and following industry best practices, like creating animator-friendly interfaces with locked channels and visibility switches, rigging artists can build flexible, professional-quality character and prop rigs suitable for production environments.

Duration: 53m 30s

This lesson provides essential knowledge for character rigging in Maya, emphasizing proper joint setup and skinning workflows. Nick stresses that skinning is a skill that takes time to master, encouraging patience when learning the weight painting process. When mastered, it offers the best balance between traditional linear skinning and volume-preserving dual quaternion techniques, particularly for areas like elbows and knuckles where maintaining volume during deformation is critical for realistic character animation.

Duration: 29m 1s

This lesson looks at the practical application of set-driven keys for creating complex, interconnected animations in Maya. By combining motion paths with mathematical precision and set-driven key relationships, Nick shows how animators can create realistic mechanical animations where multiple elements respond intelligently to a single driving para.meter. The techniques shown are foundational for rigging systems, where one action needs to trigger multiple coordinated responses throughout a scene

Duration: 13m 2s

In this lesson, Nick runs through many of the different types of deformers in Maya, and explains how deformer properties work and how they interact within a deformation stack. Nick showcases some examples of professional-quality character and prop rigs, which combine multiple deformer types with node networks and constraints to achieve believable, animator-friendly results.

Duration: 38m

In this lesson, Nick runs through the basics of scripting within Maya by introducing MEL and the Script Editor workflow. He shows artists how to create macros from recorded actions, that can automate repetitive tasks without extensive programming knowledge initially. The emphasis on documentation, comments, and shelf customization prepares artists for more advanced Python scripting, while building immediately useful productivity tools.

Duration: 14m 46s

In this lesson, Nick presents foundational Python scripting for Maya for beginners. He emphasizes practical understanding over perfect syntax, encouraging artists to master basics like variables, lists, and loops before advancing to more complex topics like classes. The progression from simple variables to object-oriented programming provides a solid foundation, which can be applied to actual Maya automation tasks and workflow improvements.

Duration: 44m 15s

This lesson looks at how to apply scripting to practical applications inside of Maya. By understanding core Maya commands and how to structure code with functions, loops, and conditional logic, rigging artists can significantly speed up repetitive tasks and build sophisticated utilities. The progression from basic command syntax to creating a production-ready LRA alignment tool illustrates how foundational Python knowledge translates into practical rigging solutions that can be shared across teams and projects.

Duration: 29m 18s

This lesson walks through the full process of building a production-ready limb rig in Maya, starting with manual setup and gradually moving toward full automation using Python. Nick stresses that automation should come after understanding the math and node connections that make the rig work. By explaining not just how each part is built but why it's designed that way, he encourages artists to develop real technical confidence rather than relying on scripts as black boxes.

Duration: 53m 13s

In this lesson, Nick demonstrates the complete workflow for creating a functional Maya GUI, from an initial concept sketch to fully interactive tool. He demonstrates how this tool acts as a limb rig creator with its own user interface which can load guides, configure settings and execute the rig creation script. Nick things wraps up, noting that proper planning, documentation reference, and organized code structure are essential skills for technical artists and rigging artists.

Duration: 19m 18s