Using the Animation View in Unity

Using the Animation View

The Animation View is used to preview and edit Animation Clips for animated GameObjects in Unity. To open the Animation view in Unity, go to Window > Animation.

Opening the Animation View

To open the Animation View in Unity, go to the menu bar and select Window > Animation. This will display the Animation View panel, where you can edit and preview animation clips for the selected GameObject.

Relation with Other Views

The Animation View is tightly integrated with the Hierarchy, Project, Scene, and Inspector views. When you select a GameObject in the Hierarchy or Scene View, the Animation View displays and allows editing of that GameObject's animation clips. Likewise, if you select an animation clip resource in the Project window, it can also be edited in the Animation View.

Viewing GameObject Animations

The Animation View displays the animation of the selected GameObject as well as its child objects. On the left side, you'll see a list of all properties being controlled by the animation. For newly created animation clips with no recorded animation, this list will be empty.

Animation Properties List

The left side of the Animation View shows a list of all properties being controlled by the animation. For example, if an animation clip is controlling a GameObject with multiple child objects, the list will display properties for the root object and each of its children.

Collapsing and Expanding Properties

Each property can be collapsed or expanded to show the exact values recorded at each keyframe. When the Playhead (red line) is between two keyframes, the value field shows the interpolated value. You can directly edit these fields to modify keyframe values or create new keyframes.

Hierarchy Considerations

When animating a GameObject hierarchy in one animation clip, ensure that the animation is created on the root GameObject. This ensures that all changes in the hierarchy are captured and synchronized correctly.

Editing Keyframes

In the Animation View, you can edit keyframes by entering values directly. If changes are made at the keyframe's position, the keyframe's value will be updated. If changes are made between keyframes, a new keyframe will be created at that position with the new value.

Conclusion

The Animation View in Unity offers a powerful and intuitive way to preview and edit GameObject animations. By mastering its functionality, developers can create and optimize animations more efficiently. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, mastering the Animation View is an essential skill for working in Unity.