S3E4: Parenting, Not the Kind You Think - An ADMI Masterclass ft Benjamin Waithaka

Ever wondered how animators make digital characters move so naturally? In this lesson, Benjamin Waithaka introduces the concept of parenting in rigging, where one object controls another much like a parent influences a child. He explains how this connection allows motion to flow smoothly from one part of a character’s body to the next. Step by step, Benjamin builds a simple walk cycle, showing how controllers, tendons, and joints work together to bring life into a 3D model. What begins as basic shapes soon becomes a walking figure that feels believable. Every adjustment, every movement tells a story about how animation mirrors the mechanics of real life. By the end, you see that rigging is more than a technical process. It is about understanding relationships and control, learning how motion connects to emotion, and how structure gives freedom to create. Watch the full session to discover how animators turn static models into living motion.