Updated: October 2025

Requirements

1. .fbx file(s) with motion data
2. .fbx file with 3D character (e.g. from Mixamo)
3. Blender
4. Python script for retargeting (pasted at the end of this document)

Step-by-Step Process

• [ ] Open a new blender file
  • [ ] Open a new file in blender
  • [ ] Don’t save it (we’re not saving them for some reason; works better)
  • [ ] Delete the big cube
  • [ ] Hide light in the Scene Collection panel
• [ ] Preview motion data
  • [ ] Drag and drop .fbx file with motion data
  • [ ] Don’t change any settings → import fbx
  • [ ] Play to watch motion
  • [ ] Delete hierarchy of motion data guy in Scene Collection panel (you should finish with Camera and Light (hidden) only) (NOTE: delete hierarchy, not delete)
• [ ] Add character into Blender
  • [ ] Drag and drop character
  • [ ] Optional: Rename from “Armature” to new name
• [ ] Run python script
  • [ ] Open scripting window
  • [ ] Open a new file
  • [ ] Copy & paste python file into new file (if not using open)
  • [ ] Edit script with file path and character name
    • [ ] Get path from finder → right-click → hold option → copy pathname
    • [ ] Paste into script (line 1279)
  • [ ] Edit character name from Armature.001 to new name
  • [ ] Change source_index if needed
  • [ ] Press play to run python script
  • [ ] Navigate back to layout view
• [ ] Retarget character
  • [ ] Open retargeting plugin
    • [ ] Click tiny arrow to the left of Scene Collection panel, to the right of the main Layout panel, to show plugins
    • [ ] Click “Retargeting” below Item, Tool, View
  • [ ] Select Armature (or character name); target should become “Armature”
  • [ ] Change source with dropper tool to select “Ryan hips”
  • [ ] Click “Create” below Bone Mappings
  • [ ] Click “Guess”
  • [ ] Click and drag to select all bones
  • [ ] Click “Guess” again
  • [ ] Spot check bone mappings
    • [ ] NOTE: may need to click and drag panel to the left to mae it wider
  • [ ] Click “Done”
  • [ ] Click “Rest alignment” → Apply
  • [ ] Correct Feet & Hands Positions
    • [ ] Left foot: mixamorig6:leftfoot
    • [ ] Right foot: mixamorig6:rightfoot
    • [ ] etc… as many as needed
  • [ ] Click “Rebuild”
  • [ ] Check these boxes: Linear interpolation, Bake mapped bones only
  • [ ] Bake into Action
  • [ ] Click play to preview
• [ ] Hide x_root and x_hips
• [ ] Choose final frame and set it in End field
• [ ] Bake action
  • [ ] Switch to object mode and select the whole guy
  • [ ] Switch back to pose mode
  • [ ] Click Pose dropdown → Animation → Bake Action
  • [ ] Check checkboxes: Only Selected Bones , Visual keying , ~~Clear constraints~~
  • [ ] Click Ok
• [ ] Export
  • [ ] Export fbx
  • [ ] Select folder
  • [ ] Change name
  • [ ] Configs:
    • [ ] Limit to: Selected Objects
    • [ ] Geometry → Smoothing: Face
    • [ ] Armature → unlcik Add leaf bones ; click Only deform bones
  • [ ] Export
• [ ] Open in Blender and play to confirm