Production: Rigging (3D)

In 3D computer animations, rigging is very essential for making a character move in the animation part of the production pipeline. Rigging a character can determine how they move and at what speed, as well as keeping in mind the principles of animation (secondary motion, follow throughs, timing, arcs etc.) so that the model can move well. The rigging is always done with the wire mesh so that the animator can pick out the specific areas of that model and move them around (like an arm, or a leg). Below is what a rigging looks on Kitty Softpaws from Dreamworks animation Puss in Boots.

Notice how the arms and legs have a skeleton like structure inside the model itself, these are the body parts that get rigged by the animator. 

Production: Modelling (3D and Stop Motion)

Once everything in the pre-production pipeline has been completed (Planning, Story Arcs, Scripts, Mood Boards, Concept art, Storyboards and Animatics), production of the film/game/cartoon can now begin.

It is always essential that the modeller has the concept and the final designs of the character or the scene they are modelling in either 3D computer animation or Claymation.

3D
Models for a computer animated film, game or cartoon always start off with a clay base (without any textures or colours added) before moving on. This is so the animators can see if the model works well and if not, go over that specific area (maybe an arm looks very misshape and needs to be modelled better). The picture below shows Dreamworks models from their different films.

Stop Motion

The other side of modelling is Claymation (stop motion animations done with clay models). This also has to be modelled but around a wire skeleton for armature movement. This method is always used in Aardman animations for Wallace and Gromit. Below is what Gromit looks like under a wire skeleton and his model.