Started the first lesson of Creating and Rigging a character for animation in After Effects. (Link). I have also found some interesting plugins, as well:
Free-Form V2 (Free Form Pro does not work on Mac-BOO!) Bend, Warp and Displace After Effects Layers in True 3D. Up to 8 times faster than bundled CS5 FreeForm. The 3D Mesh Warp controls give you broad intuitive control over the shape of your mesh. Displacement Mapping gives you the ability to create detailed organic shapes quickly and easily.
DuDuF IK Tools for After Effects (Free) The essential tools for the animation on After Effects: Inverse kinematics (IK), Cameras, Morphers... Animation becomes handy and easy on After Effects!
Lesson files: http://www.mettle.com/dan_gies_free_puppet_download/
I got the first lesson down. I will try and do something nuts and do a lesson a day. Just so I can get a hold of the concepts. Once i do all 17 lessons, Maybe i will try it again with a character I create.
