Minecraft Animation Tutorial Episode 1: Getting Started (Blender 2.7)

Introduction

Hey everyone! Upper 627 here from Black Plasma Studios, with a new Minecraft animation tutorial series using Blender. If you enjoy our animations and you've been wanting to make some of your own, this tutorial should teach you everything you need to get started.

For this tutorial, we'll be animating in Blender, which is completely free. The only two things you really need are a good graphics card and a video editor, which we'll be discussing shortly.

Before we jump into the tutorial, I want to give you an overview of what to expect. This series will cover some new techniques, as well as advanced tips that were not covered in our previous tutorials. We'll also be using new rigs that were unavailable before.

We will be explaining everything in the order we'll be using them, as opposed to organizing them into separate sections. In this first episode, we'll cover the downloading process and benchmarking your graphics card.

A good graphics card is essential for rendering and speeding up the time it takes to render frames. We have created a benchmarking document where users can compare their graphics cards' rendering times. This document will help you determine if your graphics card is up to par for this tutorial.

You will also need a video editing software to add music, sound effects, and import image sequences. We recommend Sony Vegas or Movie Studio Platinum, but you can use any video editor that suits your needs.

Now, let's get started by creating a folder for your Minecraft animation project. This folder will help keep everything organized. Choose a name for your folder and save it in your documents or preferred location.

The first thing you need is an idea for your animation. While simple animations like a character turning their head and waving their arms are a good starting point, it's recommended to try something a little more involved and with a story. Having characters and a plot will make your animation more interesting.

Next, open Minecraft and create a new world. You can also import maps from servers or friends, but make sure to get permission if you're using someone else's map. Create your scene within Minecraft, making sure to add some easily recognizable elements to help you locate the scene later.

Now that you have your Minecraft scene, it's time to download Mine-imator, a program that allows you to convert Minecraft worlds into Blender-compatible formats. Visit the Mine-imator website, download the program, and save it in your Minecraft animation folder. Extract the files and open Mine-imator.

In Mine-imator, open your Minecraft world using the "Open World" option. Locate your scene with the help of the colored blocks you placed earlier. Adjust the upper and lower depths to include everything you want in your scene. Export the world as an OBJ file and save it in your Minecraft animation folder, within a new folder named after your project.

Now, it's time to download and install Blender. Visit the Blender website, download the latest version, and save the installer in your preferred location. Run the installer and follow the installation process. Once installed, open Blender.

In Blender, go to "User Preferences" and install the MCprep add-on. Enable the MCprep add-on and save the user preferences. Next, go to "File" and under "User Preferences," enable "Auto Run Python Scripts" and disable "Mip Maps." If you have a graphics card, go to "System" and set the compute device to GPU.

Lastly, optimize your input controls by going to "Input" and changing the "View Selected" shortcut to the "F" key. This will make it easier to zoom in on objects. Save your user preferences and you're all set.

Now, let's configure the render settings in Blender. Change from Blender Render to Cycles Render. Switch the viewport shading to material view for better visibility. Adjust the resolution, frame rate, and other settings based on your preference. Save the render settings.

To avoid setting up everything from scratch every time, save the scene as a default template. Save the scene file in your Minecraft animation folder with a suitable name.

Once your Blender preferences, render settings, and scene template are set, you're ready to import your Minecraft world. Open the default scene and go to "File" > "Import" > "Wavefront (.obj)." Select the OBJ file you exported earlier, and the Minecraft scene will be imported into Blender.

To ensure all the textures are working correctly, use the MCprep add-on. Go to the MCprep panel and click "Prep Materials." This will ensure the textures are applied correctly to your Minecraft scene in Blender.

That's it for this episode! In the next episode, we'll cover how to import characters and set up the sky in your Minecraft animation scene. Stay tuned and keep animating!

Keywords:

• Minecraft animation
• Blender
• Graphics card
• Video editor
• Benchmarking
• Minecraft scene
• Mine-imator
• Blender preferences
• Render settings
• MCprep add-on
• Importing Minecraft worlds
• Texturing

FAQ:

• Can I use any video editor for my Minecraft animations?
  • Yes, you can use any video editor that allows you to add music, sound effects, and import image sequences.
• Do I need a good graphics card for Minecraft animations?
  • While it's not necessary, having a good graphics card will significantly speed up the rendering process.
• Can I import maps from servers or friends?
  • Yes, you can request map files from server admins or ask your friends for their world files. Make sure to get permission before using someone else's map.
• How can I optimize the rendering process?
  • By adjusting the render settings and utilizing the graphics card, you can optimize the rendering process in Blender.
• Can I set up Blender to always use my preferred settings?
  • Yes, you can save your preferences and scene as a default template, ensuring that your settings are always applied when starting a new project.