Rubber hose rigging

러버 호스 리깅

Rigging a character's limbs as freely bending tube-like curves instead of rigid bone joints — a look inherited from 1930s cartoon style.

Also known as: Noodle limb rig고무호스 리깅

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html

<svg class="rig" viewBox="0 0 200 140">
  <circle class="shoulder" cx="60" cy="40" r="10"/>
  <path id="arm" class="arm" d=""/>
  <circle class="hand" id="hand" r="9"/>
</svg>

css

.rig{width:min(78%,300px);aspect-ratio:200/140}
.shoulder{fill:var(--accent)}
.arm{fill:none;stroke:var(--accent);stroke-width:12;stroke-linecap:round}
.hand{fill:var(--accent-2)}

const arm = document.getElementById('arm');
const hand = document.getElementById('hand');
const shoulder = { x: 60, y: 40 };
const start = performance.now();
function loop(now) {
  const t = (now - start) / 1000;
  const hx = 150 + Math.sin(t * 1.4) * 22;
  const hy = 95 + Math.cos(t * 1.9) * 18;
  const mx = (shoulder.x + hx) / 2 + Math.sin(t * 1.4 + 1) * 26;
  const my = (shoulder.y + hy) / 2 - 14;
  arm.setAttribute('d', 'M' + shoulder.x + ',' + shoulder.y + ' Q' + mx + ',' + my + ' ' + hx + ',' + hy);
  hand.setAttribute('cx', hx);
  hand.setAttribute('cy', hy);
  requestAnimationFrame(loop);
}
requestAnimationFrame(loop);

Named after the exact look of early cartoons like Mickey Mouse's earliest shorts — no elbow or knee, just a limb that bends smoothly anywhere along its length. After Effects rigging tools (Duik, or dedicated plugins like Limber) produce this joint-free bend using bezier curves rather than traditional inverse kinematics.

With no joints to worry about, the animator only sets where a limb starts and ends; the curve in between is handled automatically by spring physics. That pairs naturally with squash and stretch — the whole limb can stretch and snap back like a rubber band, with no awkward joint kink to fight.

In modern motion graphics it shows up constantly in explainer videos and icon-style character animation, where bounce and charm matter more than anatomical realism.

When to use

It clashes with a serious, realistic brand tone — reach for it when the project needs to feel friendly and light, like an explainer video.