Eclipse Animator is an animation plugin for Roblox Studio that lets you create custom character animations for your Roblox games. You can use it to animate different body parts, create keyframes, adjust movements, and even add camera effects. The plugin also includes several tools that can help make the animation process easier.
In this guide, we will explain how to install Eclipse Animator, create your first animation, use its main tools, and explore some of its advanced features. Whether you are new to Roblox animation or already have experience with other animation software, these steps will help you understand how the plugin works.
How to Get Eclipse Animator in Roblox Studio
Before creating an animation, you need to install Eclipse Animator in Roblox Studio. The plugin can be found through the Roblox Creator Store, where you can search for it and add it to your Studio tools. Follow these steps to get started:
- Open Roblox Studio on your computer.
- Visit the Creator Store and search for Eclipse Animator.
- Find the correct plugin and install it.
- Return to your Roblox Studio project.
- Open the Plugins tab and look for Eclipse Animator.
- Click the plugin to launch its interface.
If you have already installed the plugin but cannot find it, check the Plugins tab again and make sure the installation was completed successfully.
How to Create a New Animation
Once Eclipse Animator is open, you need a character rig to work with. A rig is a character model with joints that allow you to move its body parts and create animations.
To insert a rig, open the Avatar or Character tools in Roblox Studio and choose the option to insert a new rig. For your first project, a basic block-style avatar is a good choice because its body parts are easy to see and control.
After inserting the rig, open Eclipse Animator and select the option to create a new animation. The animation interface will appear with a timeline and tools for editing the character’s movements.
The interface may look complicated at first, especially if you have never used an animation editor before. Start by learning how to select body parts, create keyframes, and move between different points on the timeline.
How to Use the Animation Timeline
The timeline is one of the most important parts of Eclipse Animator. It shows when each movement happens and where your keyframes are placed.
A keyframe records the position, rotation, or other properties of a body part at a particular point in time. When you create multiple keyframes, the animation system generates movement between them according to the selected interpolation settings.
For example, you can create a simple arm movement by following these steps:
- Select the character’s arm.
- Move to the beginning of the timeline.
- Rotate the arm into its starting position.
- Move forward several frames.
- Rotate the arm into a new position.
- Repeat the process to create additional movements.
- Return to the beginning and play the animation.
The character should now move its arm between the positions you created. You can use the same method to animate the legs, head, torso, and other supported parts.
Remember to preview your animation regularly. This makes it easier to identify movements that look unnatural or keyframes that need adjustment.
Important Eclipse Animator Keyboard Shortcuts
Eclipse Animator includes keyboard shortcuts that help you work faster. Learning the main controls can save time because you will not need to search through the interface every time you want to change a body part.
Based on the controls shown in the tutorial, here are several useful shortcuts:
- R: Rotate the selected body part.
- G: Move the selected part or control the character’s position, depending on the selected object and tool.
- J: Scale the selected part.
- X: Delete selected keyframes.
- Y: Change the movement axis or axis-related control shown in the tutorial.
- T: Switch to the demonstrated rotation or transform control.
- P: Separate the selected limb from its usual movement connection in the demonstrated workflow.
Some shortcuts may behave differently depending on the selected object, active tool, or plugin version. If a key does not produce the expected result, open Eclipse Animator’s Settings menu and check its current key bindings.
How to Delete Keyframes
If you make a mistake while animating, you do not always need to start the entire project again. Eclipse Animator lets you remove keyframes so you can correct individual movements.
Select the keyframe you want to delete and press X on your keyboard. Check the timeline afterward to make sure you removed the correct keyframe.
Deleting keyframes is useful when an arm suddenly moves in the wrong direction, a leg appears in an unwanted position, or the animation contains unnecessary movements.
For larger changes, you can remove several keyframes and rebuild that section of the animation. However, it is a good idea to preview your work before deleting anything important.
How to Use the Graph Editor
The Graph Editor provides more control over how movements change between keyframes. Instead of only deciding where a body part starts and ends, you can adjust how quickly it moves throughout the animation.
To access it, select a keyframe and open the Show Graph Editor option. This will display the graph interface, where supported animation curves can be edited.
The Graph Editor is useful for making movements feel smoother or more natural. For example, you can adjust a character’s arm movement so it starts slowly, speeds up, and then slows down before reaching its final position.
The editor also provides access to additional options, including modifiers, cycles, and noise loops, depending on the available controls. These features can help you create repeated movements or add variation without manually creating every frame.
If you are new to animation, start with basic keyframes before experimenting with these advanced settings.
How to Control the Head and Body Parts
Eclipse Animator includes controls that affect how body parts move in relation to one another. These options can be useful when you want a character to turn its body while keeping its head facing a particular direction.
For example, the tutorial demonstrates an IR control that can help keep the head in place when rotating another part of the character. When this control is disabled, the head can move together with the connected body movement instead.
You can also use the demonstrated P shortcut to separate a selected limb from its usual movement connection. This can help when you need more independent control over a particular part of the character.
Be careful when changing these settings because separating or adjusting body parts may produce unexpected results. Preview the animation after each change to make sure the character still moves as intended.
How to Animate the Eyes and Mouth
Eclipse Animator can also be used to animate supported facial parts. This allows you to create expressions and give your characters more personality.
Select the eyes or mouth in the rig and adjust their supported properties or positions. You can then create keyframes to control when the facial movement begins and ends.
For example, you can animate a character looking upward by changing the eye positions across several keyframes. You can also create different mouth movements if the character rig supports them.
Facial animation can be useful for dialogue scenes, character reactions, cutscenes, and other moments where you want your characters to express emotions.
Keep in mind that the available facial controls depend on the character model and rig you are using.
How to Add a Camera and Camera Preview
If you want to create animations with specific viewing angles, Eclipse Animator also supports camera-related tools.
To set up a camera, open the Item menu and select Add Camera. After adding it, enable Camera Preview to see the view from that camera while working on the animation.
You can adjust the camera’s field of view (FOV) to change how much of the scene appears in the frame. The tutorial recommends trying values around 60 or 70 for a more controlled view, although the best setting depends on your scene.
You can also dock the camera preview inside the interface to keep it visible while editing. This is helpful when creating cutscenes because you can check how the animation looks from the intended camera angle.
Camera controls may take some practice, but they give you more control over how your animation is presented.
How to Add Effects and Use Green Screen
Eclipse Animator also includes options for effects and green-screen work. These tools can help you prepare animations for different types of projects.
You can add supported effects when you want to change the appearance of an animation or create a particular visual result. The exact options depend on the tools available in your plugin version and project.
The green-screen option lets you display a green background while working on an animation. You can toggle it off again through the same control when you no longer need it.
There are also grid settings and onion-skin options. Onion skinning helps you compare nearby animation poses, making it easier to understand how a character moves between frames. You can adjust these display settings according to your workflow.
Can You Import Animations from Blender?
Yes, the tutorial demonstrates an option to import animations from Blender. This can be useful if you already create animations in Blender and want to bring supported animation data into your Roblox workflow.
The exact import process may depend on your rig, export settings, and the version of the tools you use. Make sure the animation data is compatible with your Roblox character before importing it.
After importing, preview the animation in Roblox Studio and check whether the movements, joints, and timing look correct. You may need to make additional adjustments before using the animation in your game.
Tips for Beginners Using Eclipse Animator
If you are learning animation for the first time, focus on the basic tools before moving on to advanced features. Trying to learn every setting at once can make the interface feel more confusing than it needs to be.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Begin with a simple rig and a short animation.
- Learn how to select body parts and create keyframes.
- Practice rotating arms, legs, and the head.
- Use the timeline to control the timing of each movement.
- Preview your animation frequently.
- Check the Settings menu to learn the keyboard shortcuts.
- Experiment with the Graph Editor after you understand basic keyframes.
- Save your work regularly so you can return to earlier versions if needed.
You can also make the Eclipse Animator interface larger by dragging its corners, which may help if some controls are difficult to see on your screen.
Eclipse Animator provides a range of tools for creating character animations in Roblox Studio, from basic body movements to facial expressions, camera previews, and more advanced animation controls.
To begin, install the plugin through the Creator Store, insert a character rig, and create a new animation. Once you understand the timeline and keyframes, you can explore keyboard shortcuts, the Graph Editor, camera tools, and other features.
The best way to learn Eclipse Animator is to practice with short animations and gradually experiment with more advanced controls. With time, you can use these skills to create custom movements, character reactions, and cutscenes for your Roblox games.