Using motions versus animations

It's very easy to confuse these terms when you begin using iClone. At first glance they seem to be one and the same, but in actuality they are two different concepts that concern characters.

Motions are prerecorded animations that are packaged into drag and drop files that can be used with a character. For example, a talk motion would have the character act out part of a conversation as though they are talking. Hands and body movement along with head movement will all be parts of the motion.

Motions have certain features that can be modified:

Motions start as animations. Motions are created through key frame manually, by motion capture (mocap), or by other animation programs, or by a combination of these methods. Being prepackaged has its advantages, but also has its drawbacks.

Animations are what we create with the timeline and key frames which can be saved as motions. Props with built-in actions such as a door that opens are animations created in other programs.