Rigging & animation · Intermediate

Control rig

The handles animators grab to pose a character without touching bones

What is a control rig?

A control rig is the set of handles an animator grabs to pose a character, such as rings around the wrists, a box under each foot and sliders for the face. The controls drive the skeleton underneath through constraints, so animators rarely touch the bones directly.

Think of it like this

Like the strings and wooden cross of a marionette: the puppeteer only holds the controls, and the puppet’s body follows.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Rig: Adding a skeleton and controls so the model can move.

How a control rig works

  1. 01The rigger builds the skeleton that bends the mesh.
  2. 02Easy-to-grab shapes are added as controls around key joints.
  3. 03Constraints link each control to the bones it should drive.
  4. 04Extras such as IK and FK switches and foot roll are wired in.

Control rig vs skeleton

PropertyControl rigSkeleton
PurposeHandles for the animatorBones that bend the mesh
Seen while animatingYes, as shapes and curvesUsually hidden
Exported to gamesUsually notYes

The skeleton does the bending and the control rig makes it practical to pose; animators work with controls, and engines read the skeleton.

Where a control rig is used

  • Character animation for film, games and ads
  • Face controls with sliders for brows, lips and eyes
  • Vehicles and machines with one control per moving part

Beginner tip

Keyframe the controls, never the bones underneath. If you key the bones directly, the controls stop matching them and the pose can snap back when you touch a control.

Terms related to a control rig

Control rig FAQ

What are rig controls?
The visible handles on a rigged character, often colored rings, arrows or boxes. Each one moves, turns or blends part of the skeleton, so the animator can pose the character without selecting bones.
What is the difference between deform bones and control bones?
Deform bones bend the mesh and are what a game engine exports. Control bones are only handles: they move the deform bones through constraints but change no vertices themselves.
Can a control rig be reused on another character?
Often, yes. Rig templates and auto-rigging tools build the same control layout on any character that shares the skeleton, so animators get familiar handles every time.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms