Check out Character Design Blog for some awesome character designs, reference and goodies!
Reference Resources
Useful Muscle Reference
CG Papers and Abstracts Dealing with Muscles / Skin Deformation by Christopher Evans: http://chrisevans3d.com/reference.htm
Basic concepts behind the muscle rigs by Peter Shipkov : http://petershipkov.com/development/muscles/tutorial.htm
Some resource and reference video on muscular anatomy :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WFiE-jDZ0g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=Xu4Htf2Ds9w&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcZ8OVTsi7E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOxpS18KOQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Krn9dIabk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Rayocdgyc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSelrhJzKJ4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNnZDGihJDs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os2zuEuGCIw&feature=related
How Wings Work
In this video the presenter goes over how bird’s wing work in detail. This is a really good resource to see how the bird’s wing is articulated!
Useful Tips/Techniques on Rigging a Bird/Feather
~ Nice tool created by Ismail to setup a bird (wing/feather) rig!
~ This is a really good resource to see how the bird’s wing is articulated
More Useful Links:
http://www.jackals-forge.com/tutor/tut1.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jUKOMGKfOM&feature=related
http://www.3dtotal.com/ffa/tutorials/maya/bird_tutorial/bird.asp
http://www.hartworks.net/blender/jared/