Free Maya Character Rigs

In order to complete the following exercises featured in this thesis, you will need a rigged character model that is capable of full body and facial movement. A good place to download a variety of character rigs can be found on the High End 3D site, it features free rigs to be used for animators of the following platforms: 3DS, Maya, XSI and Renderman. I've already tested the rigs below, some made the list and some did not, the ones below worked well. I also thought it might be helpful to post the two second tests of each rig to give users a better idea.

Please note that the following rigs have been reviewed under the Maya platform. Happy animating.


Basic Guy
by Tim Oberlander
homepage: http://www.timoberlander.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Basic-Guy-4284.html





Basic Guy Test Animation from randolfd on Vimeo.






Chip
by: Anders Fray
http://www.AndersFray.com
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Chip-4446.html





Chip Rig Animation Test from randolfd on Vimeo.


Andy Rig
By: Models and Rig by John Doublestein, Design by Craig Scheuermann, Textures by Ying-Chih Chen. Some rigging techniques inspired by Jason Schliefer, Aaron Holly, Javier Solsona, Michael Comet and Hamish McKenzie
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/The-Andy-Rig-4697.html




Andy Rig Test Animation from randolfd on Vimeo.

Max
by James Hunt
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Max-for-Maya-4877.html





Max Rig Animation Test from randolfd on Vimeo.



Tiny
by Chad Vernon
homepage: www.chadvernon.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Tiny-4578.html





Tiny Animation Rig Test from randolfd on Vimeo.




Packageman
Javier Solsana
homepage: http://www.rigging101.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/PackageMan-4688.html


Boris with Facial Rig
by James Stone
homepage: http://www.jamesstone.co.uk/
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Boris-with-Facial-GUI-4659.html





Boris Rig Animation Test from randolfd on Vimeo.




T-Rex 1.0
ssnohv
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/T-Rex-ma-4606.html





Flour Sac Character
homepage: http://www.timoberlander.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/-Flour-Sack--Character-4330.html





Alexia with Face Controls
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Alexia-Body-w-Adv-Facial-Controls-Rig-4570.html






Grasshopper 2.0
by Harun Aydin
homepage: http://www.vertigo.com.tr
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Grasshopper-4561.html



Devil
by Model by Rahul Mehta -
Rig by Harshad Bari -
download : http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/DEVIL-4457.html





Devil Test Rig from randolfd on Vimeo.




Moom
by Ramtin Ahmadi
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/MooM-version-3-4346.html



Ollie 1.5
homepage: http://www.jugglersanimation.com/
download : http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Ollie-4466.html





Ollie Rig Test from randolfd on Vimeo.





Generi "Blue Guy" Rig
by Andrew Silke
homepage: http://www.andrewsilke.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Generi--Blue-guy--rig-4288.html




Lowman
homepage: http://www.animationapprentice.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Lowman-rig-with-face-blendshapes-4304.html





Lowman Character Rig Test from randolfd on Vimeo.