Animation parameters in Unity - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Animation parameters

📖 Scenario: You are creating a simple Unity game where a character can walk and jump. To control the animations, you need to set up animation parameters in the Animator component.

🎯 Goal: Learn how to create and use animation parameters in Unity to control character animations based on player input.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a boolean animation parameter called isWalking

Create a trigger animation parameter called jumpTrigger

Write code to set isWalking to true when the player presses the W key

Write code to set jumpTrigger when the player presses the Space key

Print the current state of isWalking and when jumpTrigger is set

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Animation parameters are used in games to control character animations based on player actions, making the game feel responsive and alive.

💼 Career

Understanding animation parameters is essential for game developers and animators working with Unity to create interactive and polished character animations.

1

Create Animator parameters

Create a boolean animation parameter called isWalking and a trigger animation parameter called jumpTrigger in the Animator component.

Unity

// Set up Animator parameters 'isWalking' (bool) and 'jumpTrigger' (trigger) in the Animator
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Open the Animator window in Unity, select your character's Animator, and add the parameters exactly named isWalking (bool) and jumpTrigger (trigger).

2

Create Animator reference

In a new C# script, create a variable called animator of type Animator and assign it in the Start() method using GetComponent<Animator>().

Unity

using UnityEngine;

public class CharacterAnimation : MonoBehaviour
{
    private Animator animator;

    void Start()
    {
        // Assign animator component
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Use GetComponent<Animator>() inside Start() to get the Animator attached to the same GameObject.

3

Set animation parameters based on input

In the Update() method, set animator.SetBool("isWalking", true) when the W key is pressed, and set animator.SetBool("isWalking", false) when it is not pressed. Also, set animator.SetTrigger("jumpTrigger") when the Space key is pressed.

Unity

using UnityEngine;

public class CharacterAnimation : MonoBehaviour
{
    private Animator animator;

    void Start()
    {
        animator = GetComponent();
    }

    void Update()
    {
        // Set isWalking true if W pressed, false otherwise
        // Set jumpTrigger if Space pressed
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Use Input.GetKey for continuous walking and Input.GetKeyDown for jump trigger.

4

Print animation parameter states

Add code in Update() to print the current value of isWalking using animator.GetBool("isWalking") and print a message when jumpTrigger is set.

Unity

using UnityEngine;

public class CharacterAnimation : MonoBehaviour
{
    private Animator animator;

    void Start()
    {
        animator = GetComponent();
    }

    void Update()
    {
        if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.W))
        {
            animator.SetBool("isWalking", true);
        }
        else
        {
            animator.SetBool("isWalking", false);
        }

        if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.Space))
        {
            animator.SetTrigger("jumpTrigger");
        }

        // Print isWalking state and jumpTrigger message
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Use Debug.Log to print messages to the Console window in Unity.