Game Animation From Concept to Unity (HD) by Ali Pournassari

Ready to make your game characters move like a pro? This workshop dives deep into the entire game animation pipeline, showing you exactly how to take an idea from a simple concept all the way into the Unity game engine. You’ll learn the tricks of the trade from a Senior Gameplay Animator working in AAA, covering everything from initial blocking to final polish. Get ready to build a workflow that makes your animations shine.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Understand the core principles of game animation.
• Develop a strong reference gathering and concept ideation process.
• Master the blocking and breakdown stages of animation.
• Learn techniques for polishing animations for maximum impact.
• Effectively export animations for use in the Unity game engine.
• Integrate your animations seamlessly into a game environment.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Familiarity with 3D animation principles and basic Maya or similar 3D software.
• Tools: Maya, Unity game engine.
• Hardware: A computer capable of running Maya and Unity smoothly.

📝 Description

This workshop is your backstage pass to professional game animation. You’ll follow along with Ali Pournassari, a Senior Gameplay Animator from the AAA space, as he walks you through his entire process. It’s not just about making things move; it’s about making them move with purpose and character. You’ll start by figuring out what you need to animate and where to find inspiration, then jump into Maya to block out the core actions.

The course breaks down the complex stages of animation breakdown and polishing into manageable steps, showing you how to refine timing, spacing, and arcs to make your animations feel alive. Ali shares practical tips and tricks he uses daily, ensuring you learn best practices that translate directly to your own projects. Finally, you’ll learn the crucial steps for exporting your finished animations and getting them set up correctly within the Unity engine, bridging the gap between creation and implementation.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Aspiring game animators looking to understand a professional workflow.
• Indie game developers who want to improve their in-house animation quality.
• Junior animators aiming to transition into the game industry.
• Artists who want to learn how to get their Maya animations working effectively in Unity.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Ali Pournassari is a seasoned Senior Gameplay Animator with over a decade of experience crafting characters and worlds for video games, feature films, and visual effects. His impressive portfolio covers a wide spectrum of animation styles, from expressive, stylized performances to grounded, realistic motion, showcasing a deep understanding of both artistic fundamentals and technical production pipelines. Ali has contributed to various projects across VFX, film, and interactive media, constantly honing his skills and adapting to new creative demands. Currently, he’s a Senior Gameplay Animator at Treyarch, where he focuses on creating responsive, immersive character animations that elevate gameplay and player engagement. Ali is passionate about sharing his expertise and mentoring others, helping them build the skills necessary for success in the competitive animation industry.

🏁 Final Result

By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a solid understanding of a professional game animation workflow and a portfolio-ready animation ready to be implemented in Unity. You’ll be equipped with the skills to create compelling character performances that enhance gameplay and bring your game worlds to life.