Import and Animate an FFXIV character

Full end-to-end rigging & animation example video (using SAMPLE Au Ra Female):

2023-11-05.14-51-01-00.00.07.749-00.02.36.421.mp4

Prerequisites

In addition to having this plugin (FFXIV MMD Tools Helper) installed and running in Blender, you need:

• an .fbx file exported from TexTools (Guide) - There are other ways to do it but, the guide is by far the fastest and easiest imho.
• a .vmd (MMD animation) file to animate it in Part 2 of this guide

Part 1: Rigging your FFXIV Character using this plugin

On the FFXIV MMD tab

1. On the Import an FFXIV Model panel, click on Import your model FBX File
2. Click on Initialize MMD Structure
3. With your model's bones (read: armature) selected, on the Language and Translation panel, click on "Mass Rename Bones" (from FFXIV to MMD English)
4. On the Bones and IK panel, select "Run steps 1 to 12" -> Run

5. Go to Rigid Bodies Panel -> Click on From FFXIV Template
6. Go to Joints Panel -> Click on From FFXIV Template

Note: Step 7 skipped because the images are out of date

8. On the Bone Morphs (Facial Expressions) Panel, select your model's race and click on Generate

Your character is now rigged and ready for animating using MMD Tools!

I may suggest saving your Blender file at this point so you can easily switch between different motion files in Part 2 below.

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Part 2: Animating your FFXIV Character using MMD Tools

Note: Step 9 skipped because the images are out of date

10. On the Scene Outliner View, click on New MMD Model
11. Go to MMD tab
12. Under Assembly section click on All

13. On the Scene Outliner View, click on n_root
14. Click on MMD tab
15. On the **Scene Setup tab, click on Motion -> Import

16. Use MMD Tools to import a motion dance VMD file:
    • 'Treat Current Pose as Rest Pose' should be checked

Your character's body will now be animated.

17. On the Scene Outliner View, click on .placeholder, and click on Motion Import again

18. Use MMD Tools to import a motion dance VMD file:
    • 'Treat Current Pose as Rest Pose' should be checked

Your character's face will now be animated.

19. In the Scene Setup panel -> Click on Rigid Body Physics: -> Update World

20. Press play to watch your character dance. All done!! :D