Rigging

Lower Body:

I've created IKs for the leg as well as a reverse foot setup to aid the animation process. Ive also added a few more attributes to the foot including a heel roll, pivot and lean, ball roll, toe roll and pivot, all of which are checked. Since i will be completing a walk cycle i think these are sufficient enough attributes for the animation. Whilst I have been rigging i have been checking that the joints would bind correctly via smooth skin to the model.

IK demonstration on the leg showing the pole vector contraints parented to the foot control so they follow the rig and geometry. 

demonstration of the reverse foot setup, very helpful for animation.

checking the joint orientations for IK set up. X should always be pointing towards the child. 

Upper Body:

For the Upper body i have created an IK spline handle for fluid movement of the spine during animation, was quite simple to make and parent controls to the cluster handles. Since i like working with FK on the arms i've gone for that. Its common practice in the industry to create both and provide a switch so the rig can be used for any animators preference, however with time running out at least the FKs are in and working. As i haven't created a separate set of bones for the clavicle i have no IK control for this, however there is no need for it. Neck and head FKs have been added. Whilst i have been rigging these sections, i have been checking how they would bind to the model via smooth bind. Its becoming increasingly frustrating working on Maya on my laptop as the darn thing just crashes left right and centre...especially during the making of the hands. 

Correct working practice: even though my model isn't being handed over to another animator, im still pushing myself to complete correct working methods such as naming all my joints.

creating attributes for set driven keys for the fingers. To be honest i could spend days adding endless amounts of attributes but this will be sufficient for my animation...i can always go back add/tweak after the project if i wish.
Set driven keys really is the best method for good finger/thumb control without cramming your screen with controls...ease for the animator, a key goal of the rigger which i think i have demonstrated here. All the attributes can be found on a smaller control parented to the wrist:

demonstration of the set driven keys including individual finger and thumb flex, finger and thumb spread and grab.

I also played around with the jiggle deformer on Poco's hair and decided it was not needed for this project...although it does generate some nice secondary animation...i feel it would be reflecting too much realism instead of the plasticine stuck on look im going for...apologies there is no test to put on here, i did play around with the weighting for a while then made a gut decision and moved on...