Over the next two blockouts I concentrated on improved the actions, making the timing more accurate, changing camera angles and reducing the amount the tree shook after the plum is picked off. I also tried to make the boys purpose more clear by having him notice the goat when he is screaming at the start, then getting the idea to ride it and visualising this by galloping around using his stick as a horse.
I have been successful in fixing my parenting problem from earlier blockouts. There is a parenting constraint option under the Animation menu set, which allows me to do exactly what I need without causing any problems. I do not know why this has next to no mention on the Internet and why any parenting help suggests other temperamental ways to solve it. The only explanation would be that this is a relatively new feature to Maya.
