This page provides information about the editing actors option in Draw Mode.


Overview

To tune up your simulation, Anima allows you to easily change every aspect of individual characters once they have been created. You can even move the actor directly between areas by just dragging and dropping it from one area to another, and their behavior will be updated automatically.


Worklfows


Replace an Existing Actor


Either

  • Drag a new actor from the Library panel onto a character in the 3d viewport.

Or:

  • Select the character in the 3d viewport or the Project Panel.
  • Drag a new actor from the Library Panel to the Actor Properties > Actor Model slot in the Properties Panel.




Change the Actor's Texture Variation

  • Select a character in the 3d viewport.
  • Choose a new texture using the Actor Properties > Texture Variation value in the Properties Panel.




Adjust the Position and Direction of an Individual Actor

Click the Selection Tool . 

Select an actor in the 3d viewport.

Use the transform gizmo to move and rotate the actor.

Click and drag on the arrows to move the actor using axis constraints, click and drag on the circle to rotate the actor, click inside the circle to freely move the actor on any axis.

When you move an actor using the Selection Tool it displays an M to indicate it has been manually placed. This means that this actor is no longer controlled by the settings in the walkway or area properties.



Using the Parameters on the Properties Panel


Select the actor to edit.

Go to the Properties Panel.

Use the Position Along Path > Forward / Backward Offset value to adjust the actor longitudinal position on the walkway.

Use the Position Along Path > Side Offset value to adjust the actor lateral position on the walkway.

Use Invert Direction (yes or no) to swap the character’s direction on the walkway.


Change the Motion Clip of an Actor


Click on an actor in the 3D viewport.

Go to the Properties Panel. Each actor has an Actor Clip slot that defines the Motion that is being used.

To change the animation, drag an asset from the Library: Motion Clips Panel to the Actor Clip slot.




Alternatively, you can select a valid Motion Clip using the drop-down list accessed by clicking on the Expand arrow to the right of the Clip slot.



Actor Properties

Actor Model – Shows the model used for the actor. To change the mode drag a new one from the Library to this slot or directly onto the actor in the 3d viewport.

Texture Variation – Sets the current texture variation. Use the slider to select from the available versions.

Motion Clip Phase – Sets the phase offset for the motion clip.

Speed – Sets the speed of the actor’s walkway animation. Increasing this speed you can make your actor run instead of walk.

Socialization – Determines if an actor can leave the walkway to socialize in an area.



Transform

Transform – Position, Rotation and Scale in the world space of the actor.

Position and Rotation only appear when a non-generic placeholder actor is selected.

Scale applies only visually in the viewport, so it only applies to the geometry of the actor and not to the simulation, animation, or interaction with the environment.