Blend trees in Unity - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Create a Simple Blend Tree in Unity

📖 Scenario: You are making a character animation system in Unity. Your character needs to smoothly switch between walking and running animations based on speed.

🎯 Goal: Build a blend tree in Unity Animator that blends between Walk and Run animations using a Speed parameter.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an Animator Controller asset named CharacterAnimator.

Add a float parameter called Speed to the Animator Controller.

Create a blend tree state named Locomotion inside the Animator Controller.

Configure the blend tree to blend between Walk and Run animations based on the Speed parameter.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Blend trees help game characters move smoothly between different animations, making movement look natural.

💼 Career

Understanding blend trees is essential for game developers and animators working with Unity to create fluid character animations.

1

Create Animator Controller and Add Speed Parameter

Create an Animator Controller asset named CharacterAnimator and add a float parameter called Speed to it.

Unity

// Create Animator Controller named CharacterAnimator
// Add float parameter Speed
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use Unity Editor to create the Animator Controller asset and add the parameter in the Animator window.

2

Create Blend Tree State Named Locomotion

Inside the CharacterAnimator Animator Controller, create a new blend tree state named Locomotion.

Unity

// Create blend tree state named Locomotion inside CharacterAnimator
// Your code here

Need a hint?

In the Animator window, right-click and select 'Create State' > 'From New Blend Tree' and rename it to Locomotion.

3

Configure Blend Tree with Walk and Run Animations

Open the Locomotion blend tree and add two motion fields: Walk animation at Speed = 0.5 and Run animation at Speed = 1.5.

Unity

// Add Walk animation at Speed 0.5 and Run animation at Speed 1.5 to Locomotion blend tree
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Inside the blend tree, click 'Add Motion Field' twice and assign the Walk and Run animations with the specified speeds.

4

Set Speed Parameter to Control Blend Tree

Set the blend tree's blend parameter to Speed so it controls the blending between Walk and Run animations.

Unity

// Set blend parameter of Locomotion blend tree to Speed
// Your code here

Need a hint?

In the blend tree inspector, set the blend parameter dropdown to Speed.