S3E3: Building A 3D Leg - An ADMI Masterclass ft Benjamin Waithaka

Every animation begins with structure. In this class, Benjamin Waithaka walks students through the process of creating a 3D leg from scratch, showing how simple geometric shapes evolve into believable movement. Starting with a basic polygon cube, he explains how edges and lines subdivide the mesh to make bending possible. Each line, joint, and surface is placed with purpose, revealing how technical precision brings characters to life. Benjamin demonstrates how to create joints for the hip, knee, ankle, and foot, and how these connect to form a working limb. Using cylinders, subdivisions, and wire shading, he guides students through shaping the leg, adding details like the knee and calf area, and ensuring the model can bend naturally. As the lesson progresses, he introduces rigging concepts—binding joints to the mesh, adding tendons using IK handles, and creating controllers that make movement fluid and easy to animate. By the end of the session, students can see how each technical step builds toward animation that feels real. It’s a hands-on class that shows the foundation behind every frame, where art and structure work together to create motion.