Two worlds

(the picture links to the photo album page)
So, while texturing and trying out normal mapping (you can notice it best around her thigh), I've found it to be quite annoying not being able to see well what I changed on the model. Like, for instance, if I painted on her palm. Rotating and positioning the camera to see it would be a real pain. Therefore, I decided to pause the texture development (since all I do there anymore is paint in an external editor), and rig the model with a biped. I'd have to do it anyway, so I thought, why not now? Another thing to learn and have fun with.

Well... I certanly am learning things. As for the fun part... not so much. So far it has been a real pain, with the envelopes behaving in the most ridiculous ways, the bones moving equally, if not even more insanely, and vertices often being connected to the furthest bones (I found a vertice in her neck that would move with her foot bone!). Still, I'm slowly fixing these little quirks and moving forward. The screenie there confirms it, I suppose.
But, as far as I have heard, no one likes rigging characters. I guess I won't be an exception to the rule, as is so often the case with me

As for the model itself - it still requires quite some work. Her face especially - she barely looks like the Leira I imagined. I am yet to find good 3D reference for an anime face... Once I do, I'll put some details there. Or maybe I'll try to feel my own way around it. We'll see.
And yeah, her hands look rough as well, though I don't think I'll be putting anymore details there (other than proper textures, that is). In the intended media, I doubt you'll see her this close up.