Go into setup mode, select the bone deform effect and press the "+" key on your keypad. This will add a bone to your model.

Reposition the bone to become the first bone of your spine.

With the first bone selected, hit the "+" key a bunch of more times. Arrange your bones into a spine then rename them.

Add a bunch of support bones so the mesh will deform correctly when you move them. Once done lock them and hide them.

Create a Null, make it a child of the head, drag the support bones under it and hide it. This will clean up your workspace.

To rig a head for facial animation check out my other tutorial.


Optional

Go to the Command tab, create 2 new Variables and drag them under the main Commands variable. Align Neck_A and Neck_B to the head bone, then multiply Neck_A by .33 and Neck_B by .66. If you do this you can animate the head bone and the neck bones will follow. You get better rotation in the neck but you also lose a bit of control.. so its up to you.


Optional

Just like the previous paragraph, this lets you animate the chest bone and have the lower spine bone follow.


Select Spine_A, hit the "+" key and create another bone. Flip it around 180 degrees so it's pointing down, place it below Spine_A to form the Pelvis.

If you're using the optional commands listed above you can hide the Neck bones and Spine_B.

Note: While creating this tute I accidentally hid Spine_A as well and didnt notice.. its supposed to be visible but isnt, just use your imagination hehe)

That does it for the spine.

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