This course aims to equip students with both principles and hands-on experience to design and create fully rigged characters for 3D animations and games with the objectives of conveying emotions and propelling the narrative forward. The course will focus on both the science and the arts of rigging and character effects. Topics will include character development, human anatomy, transformation and deformation, puppet animation, digital garment design, grooming techniques for hair, fur and feathers, rigid and soft body dynamics, procedural techniques, and MEL scripting, etc.