Blending animations of side and half-side parts

TaeWoong

While studying 3D character animation, I learned a technique called blending.

Using blending, I saw that when the IDLE and RUN animations of a 3D character switch, they switch naturally.
(Without the need for separate IDLE TO RUN / RUN TO IDLE animations)

So, I wanted to apply this technique to 2D Spine, so I tried to apply it in the same way, but strangely, the 2D Spine character broke...

Can't I mix animations of 2D (or 3D) characters made with Spine using blending?

I wonder if it's possible to apply blending, because it has the advantage of not needing intermediate motion animations and making it easier to manage the animation status window!

Spinebot

Yes, you can achieve animation blending in Spine for 2D characters, similar to how it's done in 3D animation. Spine supports blending between animations, which allows for smooth transitions without needing separate intermediate animations. This is done using the AnimationState class, which can mix the previous and next animations during transitions.

Here are some key points and resources to help you with animation blending in Spine:

AnimationState Mixing: You can use the AnimationState class to mix animations. This allows you to blend from one animation to another smoothly. For example, you can blend from an IDLE animation to a RUN animation without needing a specific transition animation.
Mix Time: You can set a mix time for the transition between animations. This determines how long the blending will take. The Skeleton Viewer can help you visualize how different mix times affect the blending.
Multiple Tracks: You can use multiple tracks to blend animations. For example, you can have a base animation on one track and blend another animation on a different track.
Examples and Documentation: The Spine Runtimes Guide provides detailed information on how to apply and blend animations. Additionally, the Spine Preview tool allows you to preview how animations blend in the editor.

Here are some relevant links and examples:

By using these techniques, you can achieve smooth transitions between animations in Spine, making it easier to manage your animation states without needing intermediate animations.

Harald

@TaeWoong When using Unity you automatically receive mixing transitions between animations, unless you change the Mix Duration to 0.

You can check out the example scenes that come with the spine-unity package, located in the
Spine Examples directory. Also see the documentation here.

TaeWoong

Harald

I figured out what the problem was.

In the case of IDLE and WALK in 2D Spine animation, since both use side-parting, they are naturally mixed when blending animations.

However, in the case of IDLE and RUN, IDLE is a side part and RUN is a half-side part, so when using animation blending to switch animations, the graphics break.

I tried looking for a way to solve this, but it's hard to find a clear method.

In this case, for animation switching between side-parts and half-side parts, is it common for Spine animators to create separate linking movements?

Misaki

TaeWoong Do you mean that the direction the character is facing changes between IDLE and RUN animations? If so, you may want to create transition animations. In directional animations, the position of the base of the arm and leg bones can change significantly, making it may be difficult to reproduce this beautifully in the mix.
The following video may be helpful when animating a character that may face various directions:

TaeWoong

I'm trying to configure an animator using blending for a 2D spine character in UNITYD.

However, I've encountered a problem.

The 2D spine character I'm using is a character that uses side and half-side parts.
(IDLE = side / WAKL = side / RUN = half-side)

Animations that use side parts, such as IDLE and WALK, are mixed naturally using blending.

However, when blending animations with different parts, such as IDLE and RUN, the graphics break down.

How should I solve this? I can't find a clear way.

Is it common for a spine animator to create a connection motion without using blending in these cases?

Spinebot

When blending animations that use different parts, such as side and half-side parts, it is common to encounter issues where the graphics break down. This is because the animations are designed for different perspectives and may not blend seamlessly. Here are some strategies to address this issue:

Separate Animations for Different Parts: Create separate animations for each perspective (side and half-side) and avoid blending between them directly. Instead, use transition animations that smoothly change from one perspective to another.
Use MixBlend Modes: Utilize Spine's MixBlend modes to control how animations are blended. For example, you can use MixBlend.add to override only specific parts of the character, ensuring that only the relevant parts are affected by the blend.
Key Only Relevant Bones: Ensure that animations only key the bones that are necessary for that specific animation. For example, if you have a RUN animation that is half-side, make sure it only keys the bones relevant to the half-side perspective. This way, when blending, only the necessary parts are affected.
Transition Animations: Create transition animations that bridge the gap between different perspectives. For example, create a short animation that transitions from the side perspective of IDLE to the half-side perspective of RUN. This can help in making the transition smoother.
Manual Control: Manually control the blending in your code by setting the mix duration and mix mode for specific animation pairs. This can help in fine-tuning the blending process to avoid graphical breakdowns.

Here is a useful link to the Spine Unity documentation on animation blending control: Spine Unity Runtime Documentation: Parameters for animation blending control.

By following these strategies, you can achieve smoother transitions and avoid graphical issues when blending animations with different parts.