Join the Space Switching Revolution!

Just $349. A fraction of the cost of other online animation training institutions, and information you can't find anywhere else!

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Course curriculum

Below is a list of lecture topics

  • 1

    Space Switching Part 1: Core Fundamentals

  • 2

    Space Switching Part 2: Rigging Concepts, Workflow Optimizations and Practical Usage

    • #11: Rotation Distribution
    • #12: Prop Animation
    • #13: Animating in Aim Space
    • #14: Two Point Pivots
    • #14.5: Download the Hammer Prop for Baqir
    • #15: Caber Toss - Working in-depth with Aim Space
    • #16: Animating Quill's Tail - Embedded Aim Space String (Works with Baqir too)
    • #17: Building IK Over Existing Animation
    • #18: Inverse Hierarchy of Motion
    • #19: Building FK Controls Over IK
    • #20: Organic Offsetting and Changing the way Time Solves
    • #21: Animating with Particle Physics
  • 3

    Space Switching Part 3: Creating and Using the Center of Mass Tool as Part of Your Rig

    • #22: Center of Mass - Create
    • #23: Center of Mass - Use as a Control in your Animation Rig
  • 4

    Space Switching Part 4: Dynamically Generating Animation (Automation)

    • #24: Automation - Animating Quill's Ears
    • #25: Aim Space Spine
    • #26: Automation - Baqir's Backpack
    • #27: Automation - Creating a Snake Slither from One Rotation Curve
    • #28: Automation - Generating Butterfly Motion from a Wing Flap and Position in Space
    • #29: Automation - Generating a Walking Robot From Basic Foot Motion
    • #29.5: Download the Walking Robot
  • 5

    Space Switching part 5: Using all we’ve learned

    • #30: Animating Baqir - Using Space Switching in a Production Animation
    • Workflow Script Vault:
  • 6

    Bonus Lectures

    • Bonus Lecture #1: Group Animation Via Scale
    • Bonus Lecture #2: Freeform Foot Pivots
    • Bonus Lecture #3: Aim Space String (Without a hierarchy change)
    • Bonus Lecture #4: Multi-point Ground Contacts

What is Space Switching and what will I learn?

Gain access to 30+ pre-recorded, streaming lectures that will change the way you animate! Information you can't find anywhere else!

You'll learn how to speed up the animation creation process by simplifying your animation rig:

  • Never counter animate again!
  • Control rotation using a visual motion path.
  • Make your animation curves much easier to understand.
  • Create your own pivot points anywhere. 
  • Animate tails, ropes, or any chain of bones in minutes.
  • Learn how to add missing rig features on top of any rig.
  • Manipulate space and time to create overlapping action for free.


You'll improve your quality: 

  • Create visualization for the center of mass and use the center of mass in your animation!
  • Learn how to put your rig into the proper space for easy feedback iteration.
  • Easily add animation detail and nuance to your performances using anatomy and physics.
  • Learn how to create more organic looking animation. 


You'll learn how to generate animation using existing motion in your scene: 

  • Learn how to automate some of the animation process!
  • How to automate secondary motion.
  • Create automation for physical detail and overlapping action. 
  • Learn automation principals you can use to build entire movement sets and dynamic motion capture. 


You'll learn how to write your own workflow scripts and gain access to many of Richard's personal workflow scripts: 

  • Learn how to script using the steps you take when animating!
  • Gain access to Richard's scripts which include helpful comments for easy breakdown. 
  • Build a set of useful workflow buttons or hotkeys you can rely on regardless of the animation rig. 

How will I benefit from learning Space Switching?

By the end of the course, you should expect:

  • Regardless of your industry be it games, film, VFX, etc... You'll improve your animation quality and speed using a bevy of new concepts you can add to your existing workflow. Results that will bolster your career! 
  • You'll benefit from information you cannot find anywhere else, from the source. Your fellow animators may ask "How'd you do that?"
  • A deeper understanding of technical concepts that work with any animation rig, which will allow you to better problem solve. 
  • Seeing animation in a new way that makes the process subjectively more fun! 
  • Lifetime access* means that this info will be available for you in the future. A resource you can come back to. 

Is Space Switching right for me?

Space Switching is focused on 3D animation workflow training via pre-recorded lectures.

This course may not be right for you if:

  • You're brand new to animation and want to learn the basics. One (1) year or more of experience using an animation package is ideal. 
  • You're looking for 1-on-1 mentorship or live classes. We keep costs lower than other online animation training sites by removing the live component.
  • You're looking for game engine training. Though Richard works in the games industry using Unreal, this is not a course about Unreal or Unity engine use. 
  • You're a 2D animator looking to improve your process. 
  • You're looking for information on the principals of animation. This will be the topic of future courses. 
  • Your looking for a course on rigging. Though Richard does teach some basic scripting, this is an animation workflow course, focused on animators, that will not teach you how to rig a character. 

Does this Richard guy know what he's talking about?

Online training is only as good as the instructor(s). The best way to determine the value of online education is to judge the results of the person providing the education. Judge for yourself: 

Click Image to see Richard's Animation

Two-time Annie Award nominated, and DICE Award nominated Director, Animator and Game Developer. 

20 Years of experience directing & animating over 12 shipped titles. From Halo: Reach, to Destiny 2, to Moss. If you've played games recently, you've likely encountered his work. His core strength lies in his ability to mix emotionally resonant characters with fluid gameplay. 

Richard helped create two of gaming's most influential IP's, Moss and Destiny. As the original animator for both franchises, it was Richard who defined the animation style, animation tone, animation tech and characters. He has a proven track record for creating new worlds and filling them with fluid, appealing, interactive life.  

Richard's signature animation style is well known. His unique animation workflow concepts and approach to character direction have been subjects of his highly rated lectures at venues such as the Game Developers Conference, Siggraph, Montreal International Game Summit, and more. This workflow is also the subject of his online school, Animation Sherpa. 

Richard is an experienced leader with a proven track record of mentoring others. Many of his former students and co-workers have become key talent and leadership within the gaming industry.

Games I've Contributed To

My Professional Experience

* Lifetime access = the lifetime of the "Space Switching" course. Upon closure of the course, access to materials will no longer be available. The duration of the course is indefinite.