blender-animation

Blender Animation Skill

Version: 2.0.0 Last Updated: 2026-06-10 Dependencies: Blender 5.1+

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Animation System Status (5.1+)

All core animation APIs are stable - no breaking changes from 4.x to 5.1.

Validated: obj.keyframe_insert(), F-curve access, armature creation, constraints, shape keys, drivers, NLA system.

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QUICK START

Basic Object Animation

import bpy

# Create cube via direct API
mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new("AnimatedMesh")
vertices = [
    (-1,-1,-1), (1,-1,-1), (1,1,-1), (-1,1,-1),
    (-1,-1,1), (1,-1,1), (1,1,1), (-1,1,1)
]
faces = [
    [0,1,2,3], [4,5,6,7], [0,1,5,4],
    [2,3,7,6], [0,3,7,4], [1,2,6,5]
]
mesh.from_pydata(vertices, [], faces)
obj = bpy.data.objects.new("AnimatedCube", mesh)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(obj)

# Animate location
scene = bpy.context.scene

scene.frame_set(1)
obj.location = (0, 0, 0)
obj.keyframe_insert(data_path="location", frame=1)

scene.frame_set(50)
obj.location = (5, 0, 0)
obj.keyframe_insert(data_path="location", frame=50)

scene.frame_set(100)
obj.location = (5, 5, 0)
obj.keyframe_insert(data_path="location", frame=100)

print(f"Created animation with {len(obj.animation_data.action.fcurves)} F-curves")

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STANDARD WORKFLOWS

Workflow 1: Camera Animation with Constraints

Use When: Creating animated camera for cinematics or previews

import bpy

camera_data = bpy.data.cameras.new("AnimatedCamera")
camera_obj = bpy.data.objects.new("Camera", camera_data)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(camera_obj)

# Create target object
target_obj = bpy.data.objects.get("TargetObject")  # Must exist

# Add Track-To constraint
track_constraint = camera_obj.constraints.new(type='TRACK_TO')
track_constraint.target = target_obj
track_constraint.track_axis = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'
track_constraint.up_axis = 'UP_Y'

# Animate camera position
scene = bpy.context.scene

scene.frame_set(1)
camera_obj.location = (10, -10, 5)
camera_obj.keyframe_insert(data_path="location", frame=1)

scene.frame_set(50)
camera_obj.location = (0, -15, 8)
camera_obj.keyframe_insert(data_path="location", frame=50)

scene.frame_set(100)
camera_obj.location = (-10, -10, 5)
camera_obj.keyframe_insert(data_path="location", frame=100)