What is a good and simple way to setup a character so that the feet roll and look like there planting solidly to the ground? I've seen some tutorials with all of these elaborate rigs using expressions but since I'm a begining animator too much of that stuff just gets in my way and confuses me even more. I setup a pretty nice working rig but I keep having the same feet problems. I've been using the mixer for most of the movements but if the feet require a more straight forward approach I'm all for it. What do ya think Rafe?
Rolling the foot as seen from front: Rolling the foot can be done easily by using FK. Just select the bone that goes through the foot and rotate it in the X-Direction. Then save a key for the X rotation only. This will not interfere with the effector (IK) that controls the foots pitch (bend). You can also use an up vector constraint, using a null object to make the foot roll. However, I would reserve this for legs and arms.
Planting the foot around the toes: Here's a little secret...If the character's foot or shoe has a good bend in them you don't have to actually bend the foot. If you notice on your on own shoe, there is already a very pronounced bend. Notice the toe of the shoe doesn't even touch the floor when your weight is down. Now walk, and you will notice that the bend of the shoe is so slight that it is hardly noticable. Exploit this in your animation, by simply making the character "rock" over the balls of his feet. I get by all the time, by simply having only an effector for the pitch of the foot and just rocking the foot as they walk. If you have to make the bend, there really isn't an easy way, but brutally keying it, which is very difficult to control. This is why most resort ot expressions etc.