--- title: "How to Rig a 3D Model with AI: Rigging Guide" description: "Rig a 3D character automatically with AI: skeleton and skin weights in 1-2 minutes. Works for humanoids, animals, birds and serpents, with 12 animations." source: https://docs.3daistudio.com/processing/rigging --- # AI Rigging & Animation Rig a 3D character automatically with AI: skeleton and skin weights in 1-2 minutes. Works for humanoids, animals, birds and serpents, with 12 animations. [Open AI Rigging and Animation Tool](https://www.3daistudio.com/Tools/RiggingTool) The Rigging tool adds a skeleton and skin weights to a 3D character automatically, so it can be animated. Rigging takes about 1-2 minutes and costs 15-20 credits, and a free pre-rig check tells you beforehand whether your model can be rigged. | | | | --- | --- | | **Cost** | 20 credits (Prism) or 15 credits (Meshy), animations 15 credits each | | **Time** | About 1-2 minutes | | **Input** | GLB or FBX character model | | **Body types** | Biped, quadruped, avian, serpentine (Prism); humanoid (Meshy) | | **Output** | GLB or FBX with skeleton and skin weights, Mixamo-compatible (Prism) | | **Animations** | 12 presets with automatic retargeting | ## How do I rig a 3D model with AI? Upload the character, run the free pre-rig check, pick a provider and body type, and click **Rig Model**. The AI places the joints and paints the skin weights for you, which replaces hours of manual work in Blender or Maya. 1. Upload your 3D model (GLB or FBX) in the [Rigging tool](https://www.3daistudio.com/Tools/RiggingTool), or open it from your Dashboard 2. Run the free **pre-rig check** to confirm the model can be rigged 3. Choose a provider and the rig type that matches your character 4. Click **Rig Model** and wait about 1-2 minutes 5. Inspect the result in the rigged model viewer 6. Download the rigged model or apply an animation ![Rigged model showing skeleton overlay](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/proc-rig-result.jpg) *A rigged character model with the AI-generated skeleton visible. Joints are placed at natural positions for realistic movement.* ## Which rigging provider should I use? Use **Prism** for anything that is not a standard humanoid and when you want a Mixamo-compatible rig. Use **Meshy** for humanoid characters when you want the cheaper option with walk and run animations included. | Provider | Credits | Body types | Extras | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Prism** | 20 | Biped, quadruped, avian, serpentine | GLB and FBX export, Mixamo-compatible rig | | **Meshy** | 15 | Humanoid only | Walk and run animations included | ## How do I prepare a model for rigging? Use a single-mesh character in a T-pose or A-pose with clean geometry. Arms held away from the body give the AI a clear separation between limbs and torso, which leads to more accurate joints and skin weights. - **Pose:** T-pose or A-pose works best. Other poses can be rigged, with less precise results for arms close to the body. - **Single mesh:** one connected character rigs better than a model made of many separate parts. - **Textures:** textured models are preferred, because surface details help the AI recognize body parts. - **Clean geometry:** if the topology is messy, run the [Remesh tool](https://docs.3daistudio.com/processing/remesh) first. - **Pre-rig check:** run it before spending credits. If it reports the model as unsuitable, remesh it and check that the limbs are clearly defined. ## How do I animate a rigged model? After rigging, pick one of 12 preset animations. Each costs 15 credits and is retargeted to your character's proportions automatically. | Animation | Animation | Animation | | --- | --- | --- | | Idle | Walk | Run | | Jump | Dance | Wave | | Salute | Boxing | Sword Slash | | Sitting | Yoga | Celebration | ![Animation presets grid](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/proc-rig-animations.jpg) *The 12 animation presets available after rigging. Click any to preview and apply.* The rigged model viewer lets you check the result before downloading: - **Skeleton overlay** to see where the joints are - **Play, pause and scrub** through the animation - **Speed controls** to slow down or speed up playback - **Lock position** to keep the model centered during movement animations ## Can I use the rig in Mixamo, Unity or Unreal? Yes. Rigged models export as GLB or FBX with the skeleton and skin weights embedded, and Prism rigs follow the Mixamo bone naming convention. That means they work with Mixamo's animation library, Unity's Humanoid system and Unreal Engine's mannequin retargeting. For your own animations, export the rig as FBX and animate it in Blender, Maya or your game engine. The preset animations are optional. Engine-specific import steps are in the [Unity](https://docs.3daistudio.com/integrations/unity), [Unreal Engine](https://docs.3daistudio.com/integrations/unreal) and [Blender](https://docs.3daistudio.com/integrations/blender) guides. ## What's next Add or replace textures with the [Texture Generator](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-generator), or manage your rigged models in the [Dashboard](https://www.3daistudio.com/Dashboard). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How much does AI rigging cost? 15 to 20 credits. Prism costs 20 credits and supports every body type, Meshy costs 15 credits for humanoid characters. Each preset animation applied afterward costs another 15 credits, and the pre-rig check is free. ### Can I rig animals, birds or dragons? Yes, with the Prism provider. Choose quadruped for four-legged animals, avian for birds and winged creatures, and serpentine for snakes and similar bodies. The AI adapts the bone placement to the creature's anatomy. --- > Documentation index for AI agents: https://docs.3daistudio.com/llms.txt