Robotic Spider Model
A sci-fi robotic spider created in Autodesk Maya, built from the ground up with clean polygon topology, metallic shaders, and IK-based leg rigging refined through skin weighting. Featuring three polished animations (Idle 1, Idle 2, and Walk), it highlights both technical rigging skills and creative creature design.
Modeling Software
Autodesk Maya
Polygon Modeling, Rigging, Animation
3D Sci-Fi Creature
Solo 3D Artist & Animator
Challenge
As my first full project in Autodesk Maya, I aimed to design and animate a sci-fi robotic creature while learning industry-standard techniques. The challenge was to build a clean and optimized 3D mesh, create a rig that supported realistic leg movement, and animate the model convincingly, all while establishing a strong foundation in Maya.
Results
The Robotic Spider blends clean polygon modeling and metallic shaders with a robust rig, IK handles, root controls, and refined skin weights, to deliver smooth, believable leg motion. It includes three polished animations (Idle 1, Idle 2, Walk) that showcase mechanical personality and motion range. This project strengthened my Maya pipeline skills in modeling, rigging, and animation and produced a portfolio-ready 3D asset.
Process
Modeling & Topology: Built the spider’s body, head, and legs using polygon modeling with a focus on clean edge flow and optimized mesh density to ensure good deformation and efficient rendering.
Shaders & Materials: Created metallic, sci-fi surfaces using layered shaders and specular maps to convey a robotic look while keeping texture resolution and shader complexity balanced for previews and renders.
Rigging Setup: Established a clear joint hierarchy and IK limb chains, plus a root controller for whole-body motion, enabling natural leg arcs and easy animator control over locomotion.
Skin Weighting & Controllers: Refined deformations with Paint Skin Weights and added per-leg controllers and body controllers so each leg and segment moves precisely without undesirable mesh distortion.
Animation & Polish: Produced three animations (two idle cycles and a walk loop), iterating on timing, poses, and weight transfer to give the spider mechanical personality and believable motion.
Conclusion
This project was a key milestone in my 3D journey, giving me hands-on experience with Maya’s core features from modeling and texturing to rigging and animation. The Robotic Spider stands as a showcase of my ability to create, rig, and animate a sci-fi creature, while highlighting my growth in technical execution and artistic design.