Importing Animated Characters into Unity 6

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of importing animated characters into Unity 6. Using a rigged and animated FBX file exported from Adobe Mixamo, we will cover everything from importing the file to setting up animations and creating an avatar. This guide is essential for game developers and animators looking to enhance their projects with animated characters.

Step 1: Exporting Animated Characters from Mixamo

1. Go to the Mixamo website and log in or create an account.
2. Browse the library to find an animated character you like.
3. Select your character and customize any animations if needed.
4. Click on the "Download" button.
5. In the download settings:
   • Choose "FBX" as the format.
   • Ensure "Without Skin" is selected if you only want the animations.
   • Select the appropriate settings for your project and download the file.

Step 2: Importing the FBX into Unity

1. Open your Unity project.
2. Drag and drop the downloaded FBX file into the "Assets" folder in the Unity Editor.
3. Select the FBX file in the Assets panel.
4. In the Inspector, ensure that the import settings are correct for your project (e.g., scale factor, animations).
5. Click the "Apply" button to import the FBX.

Step 3: Extracting Textures from the Imported FBX

1. Locate the imported FBX file in the Assets panel.
2. Right-click on the FBX file and select "Extract Materials."
3. Choose a target folder to save the extracted materials.
4. Unity will create a new folder with the textures used in the FBX.

Step 4: Extracting Materials

1. Select the newly created materials folder in the Assets panel.
2. Review the materials created from the FBX.
3. Adjust any settings in the material Inspector as needed (e.g., shader type, texture mapping).

Step 5: Setting Up the Animation Controller

1. Right-click in the Assets panel and select "Create" > "Animator Controller."
2. Name your animator controller (e.g., "CharacterAnimator").
3. Double-click on the animator controller to open the Animator window.
4. Drag your FBX file's animation clips from the Assets panel into the Animator window to create states.

Step 6: Looping Your Animation

1. Select the animation clip in the Animator window.
2. In the Inspector, check the "Loop Time" option to enable looping.
3. Adjust any other settings as necessary to fit your game mechanics.

Step 7: Applying Root Motion for Continuous Movement

1. In the Animator window, click on the character's animation state.
2. In the Inspector, enable "Apply Root Motion" to allow the character to move according to the animation.
3. Make sure your animation includes movement data to see the effect.

Step 8: Creating the Avatar

1. With the FBX file selected, go to the Rig tab in the Inspector.
2. Set the Animation Type to "Humanoid."
3. Click on "Configure" to set up the avatar bones if needed.
4. Once done, click "Apply" to save your avatar settings.

Step 9: Testing the Final Product

1. Create a new GameObject in your scene and assign your character model to it.
2. Attach the Animator component to your character GameObject.
3. Assign your Animator Controller to the Animator component.
4. Press Play in Unity to test your animated character in action.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the entire process of importing animated characters into Unity 6, from exporting them from Mixamo to setting up animations and creating an avatar. As a next step, consider experimenting with different animations, refining character controls, or integrating your animated character into a larger game project. Happy developing!