> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://blkmsk.gitbook.io/cc4d-tools-manual/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://blkmsk.gitbook.io/cc4d-tools-manual/workflows/animation-workflows.md).
# Animation Workflows
###  CC4D Import Motion :new:
The **CC4D Import Motion** script imports body and facial animation from an FBX file and applies it to an existing character in Cinema 4D. It automatically detects the **CC4D Control Rig** and **CC4D Face Rig** or **Face Rig HD** and prepares the animation for retargeting. For characters without these rigs, animation is transferred directly to the character’s joints and Pose Morphs.
* Select the character’s main **Character Root** null in the Object Manager
* Click the **CC4D ImportMotion** icon in the CC4D Tools palette
* Select the FBX file containing the animation you want to import in the file dialogue
* Play back the animation to review the result.
{% hint style="warning" %}
This tool will only work correctly if the source character is the exact same as the target character in terms of joint hierarchy structure and proportions as well as facial profile mapping
Facial animation must be included in the exported FBX file to transfer facial expressions. When using the CC4D rigs, you can use the **CC4D Bake Tool** afterward to bake the retargeted animation onto their controls.
{% endhint %}
***
###  CC4D Import Pose :new:
The **CC4D Import Pose** script imports a body pose and facial expression from an FBX file and applies them to an existing character in Cinema 4D. It supports the **CC4D Control Rig** and **CC4D Face Rig** or **Face Rig HD**. For characters without these rigs, the pose is applied directly to the character’s joints and Pose Morphs.
* Select the character’s main **Character Root** null object in the Object Manager.
* Click the **CC4D ImportPose** icon in the CC4D Tools palette
* Select the FBX file containing the pose you want to import in the file dialogue
* The script applies the body pose and any included facial expression to the character
{% hint style="warning" %}
This tool will only work correctly if the source character is the exact same as the target character in terms of joint hierarchy structure and proportions as well as facial profile mapping
Facial expressions must be included in the exported FBX file to transfer them. This script can also receive poses directly from **Character Creator** or **iClone** through **CC4D Link**.
{% endhint %}
###  CC4D Import Body Motion
A script to import a animated joint hierarchy from a FBX file and apply a character definition tag to it as well as to the CC4D Control Rig. It will also automatically prepare the Control Rig settings for the retargeting process. This script comes with some additional character definition presets located in the asset browser contents of the CC4D Tools for joint hierarchies coming from CC4/iClone,
CC4D ImportMotion Tool
* select the *CC4\_CTRL* null object inside the *CC4\_character* root null object
* click the **CC4D ImportBodyMotion** icon in CC4D Tools palette
* select the FBX file with the animation data
* the script will import the animated joint hierarchy from the FBX file with a character definition tag, prepare the Control Rig Settings for retargeting and add a character definition tag to the *CC4\_CTRL* null object as well
* to start the retargeting process set up the character definition through the character definition manager for both, the imported joint hierarchy and the CC4D Control Rig and create a character solver
* you can find several character definition presets for joint hierarchies coming from CC4/iClone/AccuRig/ActorCore, Mixamo or Rokoko Studio as well as for the CC4D Control Rig in the asset browser content of the CC4D Tools
{% hint style="info" %}
**Info:** The **CC4D ImportMotion** Tool will also work and import animation data when the CC4\_CTRL null object is not selected. In this case it will simply not prepare the Control Rig for retargeting and will add no character definition tag to it.
{% endhint %}
***
###  CC4D Import Joint Pose
To correctly retarget a animated joint hierarchy coming from iClone, Actor Core, Mixamo, Rokoko or other sources it will need a proper reference pose in the beginning of the sequence. This script will import a pose from a FBX file and add it at the beginning of a animated joint hierarchy with the only preference that the hierarchy structure has to be same for the animated hierarchy and the imported one.
CC4D ImportJointPose Tool
* select the root bone of a joint of a animated hierarchy in the object manager
* click the **CC4D ImportJointPose** icon in CC4D Tools palette
* select the FBX file with the pose you want to import in the file dialog
* if both are hierarchies match and have the same structure and naming the pose will be added at the beginning of the squence
***
###  CC4D Import Face Motion
A script to import facial animation and automatically retarget the data to the control objects of the CC4D Face Rig.
The tool supports animation data coming from CC4/iClone, Rokoko Studio & the Moves app by Maxon
{% embed url="" %}
CC4D Import Face Motion Tool
{% endembed %}
CC4D ImportFaceMotion Tool
**CC4, iClone & Rokoko Studio**
* select the *face\_CTRL\*facialProfileName\** null object inside the :green\_circle: *MASTER\_CTRL+* object
* click the **CC4D ImportFaceMotion** icon in CC4D Tools palette
* select the FBX file with the facial animation data
* the script will import the *CC\_Base\_Body* mesh with the animated pose morph data and activate the retargeting on the *face\_CTRL\*facialProfileName\** null object under the *RETARGETING* tab
* when the facial retargeting is active the control objects of the Face Rig can not be moved manually
{% embed url="" %}
CC4D ImportFaceMotion Tool with the Moves by Maxon App
{% endembed %}
**Moves by Maxon App**
* load a *Face Capture* Object through the Moves by Maxon window that can be found under extensions
* click the **Create Pose** Morph Button in the 'Object' Tab of the *Face Capture* Object
* click the **Bake BlendShapes** under the 'Tag' Tab of the *Moves Pose Morph Helper Tag* on the polygon object that got created
* select the *Pose Morph Tag* of this object and set its mode to 'Animate'
* If not already in the scene copy the 'Maxon Moves Mesh' with the animated 'Pose Morph Tag' into the scene with your Control Rigged Character
* select both the *Maxon Moves Mesh* and the *face\_CTRL\*facialProfileName\** null object inside the :green\_circle: *MASTER\_CTRL+* object while holding the Ctrl key
* click the **CC4D ImportFaceMotion** icon in CC4D Tools palette
* No file dialogue will open up as a mesh with a animated *Pose Morph* tag has been found within the selection
* The script will connect the animated pose morphs to the retargeting setup of the CC4D Face Rig and activate it
***
###  CC4D Bake
This script will bake the postion, rotation, scale & parameters for the control objects of the CC4D Control Rig & Face Rig. Optionally it will also remove imported animation data that has been retargeted to the Rigs from the scene.
{% embed url="" %}
CC4D Bake Tool
{% endembed %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important:** \
The CC4D Bake tool will only bake the control objects of the CC4D Control Rig & Face Rig and only parameters that are marked with a red keyframe selection
{% endhint %}
CC4D Bake Tool (The baking process in this preview has been speed up)
* select the *CC4\_CTRL* null object inside the *CC4\_character* root null object, \
the *face\_CTRL\*facialProfileName\** null object inside the :green\_circle: *MASTER\_CTRL+* object or the control objects you want to bake
* click the **CC4D Bake** icon in CC4D Tools palette to open the bake dialoge
* select the parameters you want to bake and if you want to remove the motionSource objects from the scene
* click the *Start Baking* Button to beginn the baking process
* once the baking is done you can close the baking dialoge
***
### Manual Retargeting (Legacy Workflow)
{% embed url="" %}
In this video I'm going to show you some manual approaches to retarget motion data coming from different sources like CC4/iClone, ActorCore, Mixamo or Rokoko to the CC4D Control Rig. I will give you some tips how to prepare the data if nescesary and how to bake everything down to the control objects of the rig. \
\
0:00 Introduction \
0:44 Character Creator 4 / iClone \
10:30 ActorCore \
17:05 Mixamo \
23:06 Rokoko \
28:57 Animation Baking
