VAMPIRE DREAM FACE RIG
After Effects
2D Animation
2026
• Overview
Task - Centers on the development of an original expression-driven rig in After Effects and its application within a short animated sequence. Using insights gathered from tutorial research, the project requires the creation of a custom rig that demonstrates technical understanding of linear expressions, control systems, and rig-based motion workflows. The final outcome is a three- to ten-second animation that showcases both the functionality of the rig and its capacity for clear, expressive movement through sound, timing, and design.
• Process
Understanding Expressions in After Effects
For this project, I studied a range of tutorials focused on using After Effects expressions to build more advanced animation rigs, then applied those techniques to create my own custom rig and a short animation showcasing its functionality. The goal was to translate technical rigging concepts into a controlled, expressive motion system that demonstrated both problem-solving and animation design.
Creating Nulls from Paths
I used Create Nulls From Paths to extract the path’s point data into null controllers, allowing me to animate the string with greater precision and use that motion to drive the blood bag more accurately.
Ensuring Seamless Navigation
A major focus of this project was centralizing key animation controls through slider effects on a single controller null, which made the rig more efficient to manage, easier to adjust, and more consistent across the overall animation. While this setup narrowed the animation range in some ways, working through those limitations became one of the more rewarding technical challenges of the project.
• Thank you!
Controlling multiple movements through a more efficient, technically organized setup through the use of expressions and nulls inspires me to explore this process further in the future through character animation in After Effects!
