Rigging & animation · Beginner

Skeleton

The full set of linked bones that decides how a 3D model can bend

Also called Armature

What is a skeleton in 3D?

A skeleton is the full set of connected bones inside a 3D character or object, arranged as a family tree that grows from one root bone. Blender calls it an armature. The skeleton decides how the model can bend, and every pose is stored as bone rotations on it.

Think of it like this

A skeleton is like the wire frame inside a puppet: you never see it, but it decides exactly where the puppet can bend.

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.

Rotate each jointForward kinematics: the hand follows the arm
With FK you rotate each joint in turn, from the shoulder down.

How a skeleton works

  1. 01A root bone, usually at the hips, sits at the top of the tree.
  2. 02Chains for the spine, legs, arms and head branch out from it.
  3. 03Moving a parent bone carries every bone below it along.
  4. 04The mesh is skinned to the skeleton so it follows each pose.

Skeleton vs rig

PropertySkeletonRig
What it isThe bones that bend the meshBones plus controls, constraints and switches
Who handles itMostly the riggerThe animator, through the controls
Exported to gamesYesUsually only the skeleton part

The skeleton is the part that moves the mesh; the rig is the skeleton plus the handles that make it practical to animate.

Where a skeleton is used

  • Characters, creatures and animals that need to move
  • Sharing one set of animations across matching characters
  • Game characters, where the engine reads the bones every frame

Beginner tip

Build the skeleton with the character in a neutral pose, arms out in a T or A shape. Bones are easier to place there, and the mesh bends more evenly from it.

Terms related to a skeleton

Skeleton FAQ

What is an armature in Blender?
It is Blender’s name for a skeleton: an object that holds a set of bones. You build the bones in Edit Mode, pose them in Pose Mode, and parent a mesh to the armature so it follows.
Can one skeleton be used for different characters?
Yes, if the characters share bone names and roughly similar proportions. Games often give many characters one standard skeleton so the same animations play on all of them. Very different bodies need retargeting.
What is the root bone?
The bone at the top of the skeleton’s tree, usually at the hips or on the floor between the feet. Moving it moves the whole character, which is how a walk travels across a scene.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms