3D Animation in Hollywood.

Here some examples of what 3D animators do in the industry. You can see that their process is similar to your own 3D animation project. They thought of a story, made the characters and scenes and then rigged and animated them.  

Toy Story 3

Rango

Beginning your 3D animation

Intro to Project

1. Get into groups. Choose well.
2. Your animated shorts must tell a story yet can have a simple concept. The story/characters/visuals are there to evoke emotion. Do you want your viewers to laugh, cry, feel angry, feel afraid, etc.
3. Research other animated shorts:

• Who are the characters?
• What is the conflict?
• Describe the scene, mood, atmosphere, style?
• What camera perspectives are used? Why?
• Is the conflict resolved at the end? How?

Planning

4. Collaborate to generate many ideas about your own animated short (sketch, talk, act out your ideas).
5. Agree as a group on the best idea for your animated short.
6. Sketch out a rough storyboard.
7. Come up with a plan for production: Split up tasks (who works on effects, characters and the scene)

Also, if you want to animate a character with limbs or smalle moving parts, you will need to use bones.

For simple characters that have limbs, watch this:

Skin modifier

If you already have a model that needs to be rigged, watch this:

Rigging a model