Cascadeur is AI-assisted 3D keyframe animation software from Nekki for character animation, mocap cleanup, AI motion generation and editing.
About
Cascadeur is a standalone 3D animation application for physics-based character animation, built around AI-assisted keyframe tools. It addresses a common bottleneck in character work: creating believable motion with correct weight, balance and secondary movement normally requires years of animation skill and heavy cleanup. Cascadeur automates much of that through AI interpolation, automatic posing and physics simulation, while keeping the artist in control of the keyframes.
The software is developed by Nekki Limited, the Cyprus-based studio behind the Shadow Fight game series, and its own combat animations were produced in Cascadeur. Users can pose characters with a reduced set of control points, let the AI fill in motion between keys, apply procedural ragdoll physics, retarget animation between characters with different skeletons, and stream results live into Unreal Engine. It also handles motion capture cleanup and AI-generated motion for actions such as running, jumping and acrobatics, targeting game developers, previz artists and independent animators.
Key Features
Pricing & Fees
- Pricing: A Free plan costs $0 for non-commercial use; Indie is $19/month or $8/month billed annually (for those earning under $100k per year); Pro is $49/month or $33/month billed annually; Teams is $49 or $33 per user per month billed annually.
- Free plan limits: The Free tier includes the full animation toolset, rigging, physics tools and inbetweening, but exports only to the .casc format and is restricted to non-commercial use. .fbx and .dae export require a paid plan.
- Perpetual license builds: Yearly Indie, Pro and Teams subscriptions grant access to perpetual builds, so major versions released during the subscription remain usable after it expires.
- File compatibility: Cascadeur imports and exports .FBX, .DAE, .GLB/.GLTF and .USD files (export formats depend on the plan), allowing it to fit into existing pipelines.
- Trial: Pro and Teams plans include a free 14-day trial, and a separate student license is available.
Who It's For
Cascadeur is aimed at game animators and indie developers who need character motion — combat, locomotion, acrobatics — without a large animation team. It also suits previz and prototyping artists, mocap editors fixing issues like foot sliding and knee pops, and 3D generalists animating humanoids or quadrupeds. A free non-commercial tier and a student license make it practical for animation learners, while the Pro plan's unlimited commercial license serves studios and freelance professionals shipping games or other 3D projects.
FAQ
What is Cascadeur?Cascadeur is a 3D animation software from Nekki Limited for character animation, motion capture cleanup, AI motion generation and animation editing, using AI-assisted keyframe tools and physics simulation.
Is Cascadeur free to use?Cascadeur offers a free-forever plan for non-commercial use that includes the complete animation toolset, but it exports only to .casc; commercial use and .fbx/.dae export require a paid Indie, Pro or Teams subscription.
Does Cascadeur work with Unreal Engine and other software?Yes, Cascadeur streams animation live into Unreal Engine via UE Live Link and works with .FBX, .DAE, .GLB/.GLTF and .USD files, so it integrates with common 3D pipelines.
Can Cascadeur animate animals as well as humanoids?Yes, it supports quadruped characters such as cats, dogs and horses with quick rigging, quadruped AutoPosing and one-click retargeting, though some quadruped features are limited to the Pro plan.
What happens if a paid subscription expires?Yearly Indie and Pro licenses include perpetual builds: major versions released during the subscription remain usable after it expires, on the selected released versions.
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