Welcome to My Rigging Journey!
๐ Hi! Iโm Esteban Rodriguez, a passionate Rigger and Developer with years of experience in the industry. I specialize in building and refining rigging systems that are efficient, stable, and tailored to each project’s needs. Great deformations are my main objective, and I love to see some good movement in my rigs.ย
๐ป Currently, I work remotely, but Iโm open to hybrid or on-site opportunities. My expertise includes:
- Facial, body, and prop rigging
- Tool development
- Troubleshooting production issues
๐ฌ Letโs connect and explore how I can contribute to your next project! Whether you need an artist, developer, or supervisor, Iโm ready to help. Learn more about my tools like “Mutant Tools”, and check out my wor
Clients and Contributions
Microsoft: The Coalition
Senior Character Rigging
๐ป Rigged AAA game assets including characters and skins, focusing on high-quality body and prop setups with dynamic systems and Unreal Engine Blueprints.
Rigging โ๏ธ
- Created and maintained body and prop rigs for Unreal Engine assets.
- Integrated dynamic setups to enhance gameplay responsiveness and animation quality.
- Ensured rigs met AAA production standards while remaining efficient and modular.
Development ๐งฐ
- Designed wrapping tools to streamline rigging workflows and improve efficiency.
- Documented tools and processes in Confluence for future reference and onboarding.
- Supported the rigging team with workflow improvements and custom utilities.
Social ๐ฌ
- Participated in studio events both in-person and virtually to strengthen team culture.
- Contributed to team engagement initiatives, including a magic show.
Fair Play Labs
Freelance Character Rigger
๐ป Developed and improved in-house tools for artists, balancing troubleshooting and development.
Rigging ๐ง
- Rigged characters and props using various systems, including Mutant Tools and mGear.
- Adapted facial rigs for games, achieving high-quality deformations with optimized joint counts.
- Developed clothing systems that maintained a dynamic look while remaining fully animatable in Maya.
Development ๐ ๏ธ
- Developed custom solutions to adapt rigging needs to each studioโs naming conventions and workflows.
- Designed systems that enabled fast prototyping and efficient versioning, ensuring smooth integration across teams and productions.
Stellar Creative Lab
Rigging Supervisor
๐ฎ Oversaw facial, body, and prop rigging, ensuring seamless workflows and high-quality production.
Rigging ๐ง
- Integrated new tech with legacy tools for smooth production.
- Designed new tools and rigs for better performance.
Development ๐ ๏ธ
- Managed the entire pipeline, from models to delivery.
- Created tools for saving/loading rig components and fixed bugs.
- Handled crowd rigs for 300+ assets.
Social ๐ค
- Organized activities to boost morale and teamwork.
- Promoted a positive, stress-free work environment.
Scanline VFX
Rigging Developer
๐ป Developed and improved in-house tools for artists, balancing troubleshooting and development.
Development โ๏ธ
- Enhanced rigging tools and converted custom nodes to vanilla for external collaboration.
- Built core asset classes, shape tools, and crowd helpers used across multiple projects.
Troubleshooting ๐ ๏ธ
- Used Git and PEP8 standards to quickly resolve issues and keep production smooth.
- Proactively addressed tool-related bugs, keeping production on track.
Social ๐ฌ
- Collaborated remotely and in Montreal, adapting to ensure seamless delivery across teams.
- Collaborated closely with artists to understand and solve workflow challenges.
Bardel Entertainment
Rigging Artist
๐จ Focused on creating top-quality rigs and optimizing tools for a more efficient workflow.
Rigging ๐ค
- Specialized in body and prop rigging, ensuring realistic and appealing deformations.
- Delivered high-quality results that enhanced character and prop animation across projects.
Development โ๏ธ
- Developed personal tools to speed up rigging, which evolved into a full team-wide toolset.
- Improved workflow efficiency and reduced delivery times while maintaining top-notch quality.
Social ๐ฌ
- Proactively shared solutions with the team, fostering smooth collaboration.
- Encouraged open communication, helping the team address challenges efficiently and stay on track.
Some Tutorials
One of my core goals is to share the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my career to help others grow, just as others have helped me along the way. I believe that by contributing to the community through tutorials, we can all elevate our skills and achieve greater success together. My tutorials are designed to break down complex rigging techniques and tools into easy-to-understand steps, making advanced concepts accessible to everyone, regardless of their experience level. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these tutorials are here to support your journey in the rigging world.
Explore my tutorials, and let’s continue to grow together!
Old Casual Tutorials
I used to record a bunch of casual stuff before, if you want to take a look go ahead… there is a bit of everything in there so enjoy.ย