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AccuRIG 2 vs Mixamo: Smarter Auto-Rigging for 3D Animators

July 30, 2025June 12, 2026 bridgettepanLeave a comment

School of Motion: Elevating the Art of Motion Design

School of Motion has long been a trusted authority in digital creativity, known for transforming how artists learn motion design and animation tools. Founded by Joey Korenman, the platform was created to cut through the noise of YouTube tutorials and bring foundational, career-level training to aspiring and professional creatives alike. From After Effects and Cinema 4D to Photoshop and 3D workflows, School of Motion’s mission is simple: break down the barriers to learning, mastering, and working in motion design.

In a recent Motion Mondays episode, the team gave a first-look reaction to AccuRIG 2, the latest upgrade to Reallusion’s free auto-rigging tool. What caught the attention of School of Motion? A powerful, user-friendly rigging tool that not only rivals Mixamo—but actually surpasses it in key ways.

Let’s unpack what makes AccuRIG 2 a standout option for 3D animators and motion designers.

What Is AccuRIG 2?

AccuRIG 2 is Reallusion’s upgraded character auto-rigging solution designed to provide fast, intuitive rigging for static 3D models. Think of it as a smarter Mixamo alternative—with modern features tailored to today’s animation pipelines.

According to the review, AccuRIG 2 builds upon the core auto-rigging tech of its predecessor, but now integrates deeply with Reallusion’s ActorCore motion library—enabling creators to quickly rig characters and preview animation packs before exporting.

Key Features of AccuRIG 2

1. ActorCore Motion Integration

One of the headline features is direct integration with Reallusion’s ActorCore, a massive library of professionally captured animations.

“It adds the ability to apply animations from their ActorCore motion library to your rigged characters.”
EJ Hassenfratz | Creative Director @ School of Motion

This allows you to preview, test, and apply motion clips to your characters—no export/import hoops required.

2. Group Motion Support

AccuRIG 2 supports group animations, allowing users to assign synchronized motion clips to multiple characters in the same scene. This is a big win for game developers and filmmakers working with ensemble scenes.

“One thing that AccuRIG 2 adds is group motion support for animations involving multiple characters.”
EJ Hassenfratz | Creative Director @ School of Motion

3. Natural Language Search

Finding the right animation is often a time sink. AccuRIG 2 solves this with natural language search, letting you type “run forward,” “jump and land,” or “angry walk” and immediately find matching clips.

This feature isn’t just convenient—it’s workflow-transforming for teams with tight deadlines.

4. DCC Export Presets

AccuRIG 2 supports custom export presets for nearly every major DCC platform:

Blender
Cinema 4D
Unreal Engine
Maya
3ds Max
Unity

No more fidgeting with export settings or retargeting rigs post-import. AccuRIG does the work for you.

“Export presets for pretty much every major DCC software like Blender, Cinema 4D, Unreal… you name it.”
EJ Hassenfratz | Creative Director @ School of Motion

Why It Beats Mixamo

While Mixamo has long been a staple for beginner rigging and mocap, its development has stalled, and the toolset hasn’t seen meaningful updates in years.

Here’s how AccuRIG 2 compares:

Feature	AccuRIG 2	Mixamo
ActorCore motion integration	✅ Yes	❌ No
Group animation support	✅ Yes	❌ No
Natural language search	✅ Yes	❌ No
Active development	✅ Frequent updates	❌ Rare updates
DCC-specific export	✅ Presets for Blender, UE, etc.	⚠️ Basic FBX export
Price	✅ Free	✅ Free

“It’s definitely worth checking out—especially if you need more power and more recent updates than Mixamo provides.”
EJ Hassenfratz | Creative Director @ School of Motion

Ideal for Indie Filmmakers, Game Devs & Studios

Whether you’re an indie developer working solo or a team of animators building cinematic sequences, AccuRIG 2 offers a significant productivity boost:

🚀 Previz Pipelines – Quickly rig characters and test animation packs
🎮 Game Development – Use ActorCore motions and group syncing in Unity or Unreal
🎥 Virtual Production – Export to DCCs like C4D or Blender for final animation
💼 Studios – Integrate seamlessly with production tools via FBX, USD, or native formats

Free to Use, Easy to Learn

One of the most impressive aspects is the pricing: AccuRIG 2 is completely free. You can download it now without any licensing fees. While ActorCore animations come in both free and premium options, the rigging software itself doesn’t cost a thing.

This makes it an ideal choice for:

Indie studios
Students
Freelancers
Educators

Conclusion: A Smarter Rigging Alternative Is Here

Reallusion’s AccuRIG 2 is more than a Mixamo competitor—it’s a next-gen auto-rigging tool built for today’s fast-paced creative pipelines. With ActorCore integration, natural language search, multi-character animation, and DCC-ready exports, it solves the common pain points 3D artists face when rigging and animating characters.

For 3D animators, game devs, and content creators, this tool isn’t just worth checking out—it’s worth integrating into your daily workflow.

👉 Try AccuRIG 2 for Free

FAQs

Is AccuRIG 2 better than Mixamo?

Yes, AccuRIG 2 offers features Mixamo doesn’t, including ActorCore animation integration, group motion, and native exports for DCC software.

Is AccuRIG 2 free?

Yes, the software is 100% free. You only pay for premium ActorCore animation packs if needed.

Can I use AccuRIG 2 with Blender or Unreal?

Absolutely. AccuRIG 2 includes export presets for Blender, Unreal Engine, Cinema 4D, and more.

Does AccuRIG support mocap animations?

Yes, you can apply mocap-style animations from ActorCore’s motion library directly to your characters.

Who should use AccuRIG 2?

Anyone working in 3D—animators, indie game devs, motion designers, and students—will benefit from AccuRIG 2’s efficiency and features.

Related Posts

Product Release

AI Render for iClone & Character Creator Enters Open Beta with ComfyUI Workflow

July 28, 2025October 30, 2025 bridgettepanLeave a comment

Discover how AI is used to reimagine 3D visuals, and how you can win a FREE CC5!

We’re excited to launch the Open Beta of AI Render plugin, a powerful and completely free tool that bridges real-time 3D animation with AI-powered rendering, seamlessly integrated into the ComfyUI workflow.

Whether you want to explore creative, stylized AI generations or need consistent, frame-accurate results for production, AI Render is built to deliver both. It’s a flexible, scalable solution designed to meet the full range of creator needs — from fast, artistic exploration to precise, professional fine-grain control.

▼ Download & Get Started ▼

Join Open Beta Now

ComfyUI + Reallusion = Speed, Accessibility, and Ease

The ComfyUI workflow is a powerhouse in the AI art community, known for its flexible, node-based system that supports ControlNet, LoRA, and fully customizable pipelines. Combined with Reallusion’s fast, beginner-friendly tools like Character Creator and iClone — which offer intuitive slider-based design, drag-and-drop assets, and real-time scene editing. To make this integration possible, AI Render uses custom nodes that connect Reallusion’s 3D environments directly into the ComfyUI ecosystem.

For Reallusion users, AI Render works seamlessly within familiar tools — no ComfyUI experience needed. For ComfyUI users, it enables precise 3D-guided generation and full freedom to build custom workflows with added control and consistency.

22 Style Presets, Endless Possibilities

AI Render includes 22 professionally tuned style presets across three types: Realistic, 3D, and 2D.

It offers 11 AI Image Generation models for still renders and 11 AI Video Generation models optimized for consistent frame-by-frame results, giving you a quick, creative head start for both image and video projects.

By default, AI Render runs locally using Stable Diffusion 1.5, Wan2.1 Fun 1.3B Control, and Wan2.1 VACE 1.3B models, which are optimized for quality and performance on accessible hardware.

For users seeking more advanced or cinematic results, AI Render also supports third-party high-end models such as Flux, HiDream, and FusionX. These require significantly more GPU power or access to a cloud GPU platform like RunPod or RunComfy. More details are available on the [official forum].

Prompt to Precision: Fine-Tune AI Gen with Text

You can further customize your results using text prompts, which offer more detailed control. Use positive prompts to guide the AI toward desired styles and features, and negative prompts to filter out unwanted elements or distortions.

Style It with a Reference: Customization Using IP Adapter

If you struggle to find the exact style you want or find prompting difficult, AI Render supports reference-based generation with the use of IP Adapters. This feature lets you upload an image, and the AI will follow its style, lighting, and tone — delivering consistent visual results without the need for perfect prompt wording.

Beyond Pixel Control: Precision with 3D-Generated ControlNet

ControlNet guides AI generation using structural inputs in addition to prompts. With AI Render, these inputs are generated directly from your 3D environment in iClone and Character Creator, including characters, scene layout, camera framing, and lighting. This delivers accurate, frame-by-frame guidance the AI can follow, without relying on error-prone 2D estimations.

With a massive asset library in the Reallusion ecosystem — featuring drag-and-drop characters, motions, props, and environments — all easily searchable with Deep Search directly in the software, it’s quick and effortless to build a strong foundation for generating high-quality ControlNet inputs.

ControlNet Modes Supported in AI Render

Depth — Spatial layering and facial accuracy

Depth maps from 3D data ensure stable shot distance and accurate layering across frames. Unlike 2D-estimated maps, 3D depth can be manually adjusted for close-ups or wide shots, maintaining correct focus and detail — essential for consistent facial expression control at any distance.

Pose — Reliable skeletal tracking, even with occlusion

2D OpenPose often fails when faces or limbs are obscured or off-frame. 3D OpenPose maintains accurate skeletal tracking throughout, even in complex scenes with multiple interacting characters, ensuring precise timing and body alignment from frame to frame.

Normal — Surface lighting and shading

3D normals offer smooth surface angles for stable lighting and consistent shading. Combined with iClone and Character Creator’s lighting tools, you get clean forms, cinematic highlights, and professional visual quality every frame.

Edge (Canny) — Clean outlines for stylized renders

3D-generated canny edges produce clean, geometry-based outlines — perfect for stylized renders like anime, ink, or line art. When paired with 3D depth, they provide strong compositional control for layered characters and environments.

Prompt: Oil Painting,Bearly,masterpiece, best quality, cyberpunk alley, glowing neon signs, wet floor, vending machines, old pipes, rusty walls, robot citizens, futuristic graffiti, orange and teal lighting, cinematic atmosphere, high detail

Multi-Inputs + Camera Control

You can combine multiple ControlNet inputs for stronger character and scene control. Each input is adjustable via threshold sliders, giving you precision over structure, influence, and visual style.

Pair this with iClone’s powerful camera tools — including lens control, framing, and automated paths — to shape your AI compositions with cinematic perspective and storytelling precision.

Create, Own, and Scale: Build Your Own IP and LoRAs

With Character Creator and iClone, you can create fully rigged, original characters ready for games, animation, virtual production, merchandise, and more. These are professional assets you own and can use across all industries.

Now, with AI Render, your original characters can easily step into AI-powered storytelling to star in AI-generated movies, commercials, and creative projects. By bringing your 3D characters into the ComfyUI workflow, AI Render enables fast, stylized video generation that maintains consistency and gives you full creative control.

Your characters don’t just look good — they behave with the consistency, emotion, and presence of a real person, making them ready for any story you want to tell.

To achieve this high-quality, consistent result in AI generation, LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) training is essential. LoRAs are lightweight AI models that preserve your character’s unique look and style across frames, scenes, and creative variations.

With batch rendering, pose libraries, and automated camera paths in iClone, you can quickly build LoRA training datasets from multiple angles and motions.

Whether you’re creating one character or an entire IP universe, Character Creator, iClone, and AI Render provide a creator-owned pipeline.

🎉 AI Makeover Challenge: Chance for Free CC5!

To celebrate the arrival of the AI Render Plugin, we’re launching a special community challenge from July 28th to August 29th!

This is your chance to recreate your favorite CC4 characters using AI Render — give them a fresh look, a new style, or a completely reimagined story through AI-powered generation.

How to Participate

Let your creativity fly as you reimagine your CC4 character with AI Render in the form of an image or video.

We’ll randomly select one winner each week to receive a free copy of CC5.
Winners will be announced on August 11th, 18th, 25th, and September 1st via the official forum thread and Reallusion’s Instagram account.

1st Entry Window: Jul 28 – Aug 8, the winner will be announced on Aug 11

2nd Entry Window: Aug 8 – Aug 15, the winner will be announced on Aug 18

3rd Entry Window: Aug 15 – Aug. 22, the winner will be announced on Aug 25

4th Entry Window: Aug 22 – Aug 29, winner will be announced on Sep 1

The first entry window lasts two weeks to give everyone time to get familiar with the plugin.

How to Submit Your Entry

Post your work in the official forum thread (required to be eligible).
Share it to your Instagram Story (optional bonus)
- Tag @Reallusion
- Use hashtags: #CC4ever and #ReallusionAIRender
- Make sure your account is public

Submitting to both channels earns you two entries total — one from the forum, and one bonus from Instagram. Each person can only win once and will be excluded from future draws.

Get Started

Visit the Reallusion Official Forum to:

Download the AI Render Plugin Installer
Access the installation guide and product demos
Stay up to date with official announcements
Report bugs and get technical support
Connect with fellow creators in the growing AI Render community

Looking to explore the Open Beta or join the community challenge? The Reallusion forum is your gateway to it all. Join us and help shape the future of AI-powered 3D creation with the full force of the ComfyUI integration.

Learning

A Smarter Way to Search & New 3D Content Pricing Plan

July 25, 2025July 28, 2025 WarLordLeave a comment

Over six months ago Reallusion released AI Smart Search for its users. AI Smart Search is a tool that changed the way we searched the Content Store, ActorCore and the Marketplace inventory for project assets. This included what we had already purchased. It is a quick and easy way to find the assets we need without wasting time with long and sometimes fruitless old school search methods.

A lot has happened behind the scenes since then with Smart Search, Trial content and the introduction of iContent with a HUGE discount. Let that sink in… HUGE DISCOUNT so read on as it is covered later in this article along with One Click purchasing and a recap of Keyword and Deep Search features.

Try Before You Buy

Reallusion is well aware of Buyer’s Remorse as mentioned on their website and they want users to be happy with what they purchase. They know what it’s like to buy something only to find out, for whatever reason, it doesn’t exactly fit all aspects of a project. They are working actively to reduce this extremely frustrating experience with Trial content.

It’s not just the Trial content but the simple methods devised to test the Trial content and if needed, to purchase it quickly and directly to keep moving on without having to stop and jump through some hoops then get back to work.

This includes over 130,000 premium 3D assets to cover just about any situation or genre. By being able to download and test (with a watermark) the assets you can make a better decision as to how and if it fits your project needs.

You can test content from the Reallusion Content Store, ActorCore and Marketplace for worry free purchases. We can use AI Smart Search to look for individual items or packs tailored to our specific needs.

Once you have decided on what trial assets you wish to purchase you can do so in app without the hassle of jumping through several hoops to get back to those items, cart them and checkout.

As an added bonus if you are subscribed to PRIME you can try out ten times more items simultaneously.

When searching we can also use the filters provided to show trial content only to speed testing up and eliminate clutter that wastes our creative time.

Trial content is easy to download and evaluate by clicking the item or pack thumbnail which downloads and installs the trial content. It is as simple as that. We can build our entire project and animate it with trial content then purchase what we need to keep as we cannot render trial content in image or video form and the purchase will remove the watermark.

There is little reason now to be hesitant about 3D asset purchases from Reallusion when so much content is available for free download and testing with the trial program.

For more information, this video will start with this topic.

3D iContent License – 70% Savings

This new license is a boon for users that work and render it within iClone or Character Creator. It does not support third-party tools like game engines or 3D Software like Blender, Maya and 3DS Max.

The big feature is the significant price reduction costing only 30 percent of the standard license. You read that right. It’s a whopping 70 percent discount! Below is a summary of the information available regarding iContent.

NOTE: It is important to note that that iContent is for mesh content only, like models, hair, shoes, etc. Motions are excluded from iContent.

Assets purchased with an iContent license are limited to rendering-only use, meaning they can only be used to create still images or videos within the Reallusion software ecosystem. Users cannot export these assets to third-party applications such as Unreal Engine, incorporate them into games or real-time content, or utilize them for 3D printing purposes.

For users who later need expanded functionality, an upgrade option is available that allows conversion to a standard license by paying only the price difference between the two license types. These iContent assets are conveniently accessible through the AI Smart Search feature integrated into both iClone and Character Creator, enabling users to browse and trial assets directly within the applications.

Learn more information about this topic in the video.

One-Click Purchase

One-Click/Instant Purchase allows users to right-click on a desired asset in iClone or Character Creator and choose an instant purchase option. We do not have to leave the application to hunt down the asset and add it to our cart.

It’s easy, convenient and less intrusive, allowing you or your team to focus on the work at hand and not get sidetracked hunting down assets again just to purchase.

Select the items to purchase. right click and choose Instant Purchase. We are now almost finished completing the transaction and removing the watermark.

On the right is the menu that pops up next for completing the purchase. You can see the iContent option if available for that particular item.

For more information, the video will start with this topic.

License

For clarity here is a breakdown of Reallusion’s new iContent license compared to the Standard License:

iContent License

Format: Proprietary, used exclusively within iClone and Character Creator.
Availability: Only accessible via Smart Search inside Reallusion apps—not through the Marketplace or Content Store.
Usage Rights:
- Can be used for image and video creation within Reallusion software.
- Cannot be exported to third-party 3D tools.
Pricing: Costs only 30% off the Standard License, making it a budget-friendly option.
Upgrade Path: You can upgrade to a Standard License by paying the price difference if export is needed later.

Standard License

Format: Exportable content usable in Reallusion tools and third-party software like Blender, Unreal Engine, Maya and 3D Max.
Permits rendering for images and videos.
Allows export for use in games, apps, and AR/VR projects (with some restrictions on CC components).
For commercial use of one specific character, the Standard License is sufficient. For mass character deployment, an Extended License is required.

Deep Search and Keyword Search

It has been several months since AI Search was initially released, and many users are becoming accustomed to its AI-powered search abilities which continue to improve.

Deep Search relies on AI training to create an intuitive method of searching that saves time searching only for the items you are looking for based on your input. No need for remembering names or other info as AI helps power the results without the need to remember such details.

Deep Search analyzes the meaning of your text query or the visual features of an image to find similar assets even if the keywords or tags are not present. It not only supports many languages it also takes the frustration and anxiety out of not knowing exactly what to search for or what phrase will help you stumble across the item you are looking for.

The video on the right provides a comprehensive demo.

Deep Search also has Find Similar which can open up even more opportunities to easily search similar assets. This tool alone can save a lot of time and cut non-animating to a minimum. A detailed walkthrough is also presented in the video, starting at 3:14.

Deep Search excels at finding content you may have never thought of to search for. Even then we may not have phrased the keyword search right. So many places to go wrong that are completely eliminated by Deep Search.

Keyword Search is familiar to most of us as we have all used keywords or phrases in various ways to achieve things ranging from internet search to finding items on our own computer.

Like any search engine input, we can search with words or simple phrases but since this is a dedicated search feature we can also search by Name, Tag or Author.

Deep Search Features:

Natural Language with over 100 languages
Intuitive AI-powered search function
AI-powered semantic and visual matching
Multilingual support (100+ Languages)
Image-Based Search supported
Find Similar Content support
Advanced Category filtering
Best for Discovery, visual similarity, flexible queries

Keyword Search Features:

Fast for known exact terms
Standard familiar search methods
Basic category filtering
Text, English only
No Multilingual support
No Image-Based search
No Find Similar Content
Best for known asset names and or tags

Let’s Not Forget Cartoon Animator!

I’ve almost done it again by forgetting to include iClone’s close cousin in the 2D world, Cartoon Animator! While I’m a huge fan of Cartoon Animator and 2D work in general, I’m not an expert on it but rest assured these AI-powered search features are available there too. Just like iClone, the stores are full of Cartoon Animator-related content just waiting to make your next 2D masterpiece and Smart Search along with Trial content is there to help you find and evaluate those 2D assets.

Summary

With over 130,000 trial assets in the Content Store, ActorCore and Marketplace it is simply impossible to search the entirety of the combined stores effectively without Smart Search and in particular, Deep Search. I’ve often wondered how many times I have missed great assets in the past due to the explosion of iClone and Character Creator content in the last ten years or so.

The Content Store, ActorCore and the Marketplace contain thousands of items that would be difficult to search for unless you know the tags or keywords associated with them which are next to impossible for most of us to remember without extensive notes.

With all this content and in particular Trial content which any iClone or Character Creator user can try out for free on their own system or in their custom project… legacy search simply isn’t enough at times and those times are becoming more frequent.

If you have never tried out iClone, Character Creator and Cartoon Animator… now might be the time to give the free trials a try and take a dip into the Reallusion animation ecosphere where simplicity and continued development are guiding factors bringing you the most intuitive and simple to use animation tools in 2D and 3D.

Manual

Trial before Purchase

Purchasing Content

Launching Smart Search

Deep Search vs. Keyword Search

Courses

Getting Started with In-App Smart Search

Introduction to Search Methods

Smart Search: Seek, Try and Purchase

How to Search for Animations Using Deep Search

MD McCallum – WarLord

Digital Artist MD “Mike” McCallum, aka WarLord, is a longtime iClone user. Having authored free tutorials for iClone in its early years and selected to write the iClone Beginners Guide from Packt Publishing in 2011, he was fortunate enough to meet and exchange tricks and tips with users from all over the world and loves to share this information with other users. He has authored hundreds of articles on iClone and digital art in general while reviewing some of the most popular software and hardware in the world. He has been published in many of the leading 3D online and print magazines while staying true to his biggest passion, 3D animation. For more information click here.

WarLord’s Workshop

Product Release

Character Creator 5 Release Rescheduled to August 27

July 18, 2025August 28, 2025 bridgettepan2 Comments

Making Way for a More Powerful and Polished Edition

To ensure the highest level of quality and performance, Reallusion has decided to move the official launch of Character Creator 5 to August 27, 2025. This buffer time will allow us to deliver a more refined user experience, introduce even more powerful features, and update key plugins to enhance third-party integration and workflow compatibility.

Exciting new additions include the all-new ActorMIXER system, which enables both custom and random character generation directly within the application. CC5 will also offer seamless MetaHuman compatibility, unlocking a unified workflow for Unreal Engine developers and artists.

To reward your extended patience, all CC5 Prelaunch Offer qualifiers will now receive the ActorMIXER PRO plugin (a $199 value) completely free—on top of the previously promised complementary Character Creator 5 license ($299 value). This deal upgrade is our way of saying thank you for sticking with us through thick and thin.

>> Check the Reallusion Software Store for more details

A free powerful new plugin and an enhanced CC5—now that’s real value for your patience!

Introducing ActorMIXER, the Future of Character Generation

The brand-new ActorMIXER will bring major innovation to CC5, dramatically expanding the creative possibilities of character design with greater ease and flexibility.

Non-Destruction mixing between characters to generate entirely new looks
Mix by full heads, individual facial parts, or full bodies
Seamlessly blend between stylized or realistic characters

Unlock Advanced Capabilities with ActorMIXER PRO

Upgrade to ActorMIXER PRO to access powerful features and the complete ActorMIXER CORE Library, designed for serious creators who want full control and flexibility in character creation.

ActorMIXER PRO Plugin

Make Any Character Mixable: Make any character mix-ready by converting it into mixer sliders and mixer skins.
One-Click Randomization: Instantly generate unique and diverse characters with a single click.
ActorMIXER Packages: Use the ActorMIXER Packager to create and package your own mixer-ready assets for sharing or for profit.

Create custom mixer- Convert any character into mix-ready sliders and skins.

ActorMIXER CORE Library

40+ Hyper-Realistic Scanned Heads: Ready-made for full head or facial-feature mixing.
Diverse Ethnic and Facial Variants: A wide range of facial structures, and ethnicities for endless combinations.
Optimized Texture Workflow: Includes both low-resolution textures for fast previewing and high-resolution assets for final rendering and HD export.

Secure FREE CC5 & ActorMIXER PRO by August 27!

All CC5 Prelaunch Offer qualifiers will receive a FREE copy of Character Creator 5 (a $299 value) and ActorMIXER PRO (a $199 value)!

This exclusive plugin giveaway is available only until August 27, 2025, so don’t miss your chance to claim it. It’s the ultimate reminder that we’re excited to have you with us as we unlock the full potential of Character Creator 5 together!

Additional Enhancements in CC5 and iClone 8

Beyond the introduction of ActorMIXER, Character Creator 5 and iClone 8 bring a host of powerful new upgrades designed to elevate animation quality, improve Unreal Engine integration, and streamline character workflows.

Enhanced iPhone and AccuFACE Support

Improve non-linear facial performance, add precision to lip movements for natural speech animation
Add corrective morphs to existing CC characters for enhanced mocap quality, especially for intense emotional expressions.

Extended Eyelash & HD Eye System

Upgraded 3D eyelashes feature adjustable lash density, refined mesh structures, and greater shaping possibilities.
Smart hair-compatible color controls enable natural lash color transitions from root to tip, with realistic reflectivity adjustment.
Automatically repositions eyelashes after intense eye shape editing.
Enhanced HD Eye library delivers outstanding detail in the pupil, blood vessels, moisture, and realistic concave rendering when viewed from the side

Easy Motion Retargeting for UE5

Now supports skeleton export geared for UE4 and UE5, with bind pose presets optimized for MetaHuman and UEFN.
Enables accurate motion retargeting and real-time game control.
Character and animation can be exported together, significantly simplifying the Unreal Engine pipeline.

Expanded MetaHuman Compatibility

The upgraded CC/IC AutoSetup ensures full compatibility between CC5 characters and MetaHumans in Unreal Engine, providing identical facial controls and skeleton structures.
MetaHumans can be easily swapped with CC5 characters in Unreal Sequencer while preserving all facial and body animation data.
LiveLink integration supports real-time streaming of motion capture to CC5 characters, including MHA facial mocap, Audio-to-Face syncing, and full-body tracking.
The MetaHuman-compatible CC Control Rig plugin enables 1:1 animation matching and layered animation refinement inside Unreal workflows.

MHA Animation Import & HD Face Board Editing

A new MetaHuman-style face control panel in iClone enables fine-tuned editing of HD facial expressions for CC5 characters.
CC5 and iClone 8 now support MHA animation imports from Unreal, bringing high-quality facial capture into the ecosystem.
Existing CC3+ characters can be upgraded with the CC5 HD facial profile for full compatibility with MHA animation data.

FAQ

When exactly will CC5 be released?

CC5 will officially launch on August 27. We’ve extended the release to ensure a more polished experience and to include powerful new features such as ActorMIXER and enhanced Unreal Engine compatibility.

What is ActorMIXER, and can it mix my custom characters too?

ActorMIXER is a new system in CC5 that allows you to blend up to six characters — either full heads, facial parts, or entire bodies. To mix your custom characters, you’ll need the ActorMIXER PRO Plugin, which enables you to convert any character into mixable sliders and skins.

Do all prelaunch buyers get the ActorMIXER PRO Plugin and scanned heads for free?

Yes. As a token of appreciation for your support, all prelaunch participants — whether you’ve already purchased or will purchase before August 27 — will receive the ActorMIXER PRO Plugin and the ActorMIXER Core Library (over 40 high-quality scan heads) at no extra cost.

Can I use ActorMIXER PRO with my custom characters?

Absolutely. That’s the core value of PRO — it allows you to convert any of your custom characters into mixable sliders and skins, giving you complete creative control.

Can CC4 users use ActorMIXER PRO?

No. ActorMIXER and ActorMIXER PRO are designed specifically for CC5. You’ll need to upgrade to CC5 in order to use these new features. But you can mix your legacy CC3+ character with CC5!

Any plans for existing CC4 users to join the prelaunch offer and get ActorMIXER PRO for free?

We understand your concern, and our team is actively discussing options for existing CC4 users. Please stay tuned and keep an eye on your inbox — we’ll be sharing updates very soon.

Will there be any further delays to CC5?

We understand your concern and appreciate your patience. As of now, August 27 is our confirmed release date, and our development is in its final stage. We’re committed to delivering a stable and feature-complete version on time.

What improvements have been made for Unreal Engine users?

CC5 brings several major upgrades for Unreal workflows:

Use of MetaHuman-compatible Control Rig for precise animation in Unreal
Direct support for UE4 and UE5 skeleton export, including bind pose for UEFN
One-click export of character and animation together
Full MetaHuman compatibility, with identical facial rig and animation support
Support for LiveLink, Audio-to-Face, and MHA facial mocap streaming

Product Release

AccuRIG 2 Debuts Direct In-App Access to 4,500+ ActorCore Motions

July 14, 2025September 5, 2025 bridgettepan1 Comment

Reallusion announces a major upgrade to AccuRIG, the industry’s most popular free automatic rigging software, used by over 200,000 creators. The latest version 2 boosts productivity by integrating advanced AI search technology directly into the workflow. With the powerful in-app AI Deep Search, artists instantly browse and explore more than 4,500 ActorCore motions, dramatically accelerating the creative process. This deep integration saves valuable production time and enriches the animation pipeline with smart, intuitive tools that help creators find the best motions without ever leaving AccuRIG 2.

AccuRIG 2 Continues the Legacy of Innovation

AccuRIG 2 introduces a suite of innovative features aimed at enhancing both user experience and productivity. Over 4,500 premium 3D motions from ActorCore are now directly accessible within AccuRIG. Fully integrated motion preview and retargeting tools also enable the testing and adaptation of animations in AccuRIG’s intuitive interface, eliminating the need to switch between applications to check content fit.

Blitzing Through AI Motion Search and Preview

One of the highlights of AccuRIG 2 is its powerful AI-driven search capability, which makes discovering the perfect motion quicker than ever. With Reallusion AI Deep Search, content can be searched by category, filters, or even natural language using detailed descriptions in over 100 supported languages. This flexibility ensures that creators worldwide can easily find exactly what they need for any project. The enhanced preview window supports free navigation around the character, enabling thorough examination of rigging and motions before committing to export for 3rd-party integration.

The Pinnacle of Character Rigging: Trusted by Users Worldwide

AccuRIG remains at the forefront of 3D character rigging, revolutionizing how artists and studios approach character creation. Trusted by over 200,000 users worldwide, this free application simplifies the rigging process by transforming static 3D models into fully animatable characters—down to the finger joints—in just a few easy steps. Whether for games, films, virtual production, or interactive media, AccuRIG’s intuitive design and advanced automation dramatically lower technical barriers. Its compatibility with industry-standard platforms such as Unreal Engine, Unity, Blender, iClone, Omniverse, Maya, 3ds Max, MotionBuilder, and Cinema 4D makes it a flexible and powerful addition to any pipeline.

Multi-Purpose ActorCore Motion Integration

ActorCore offers thousands of high-quality motions tailored to meet the needs of diverse industries—from video games and filmmaking to training simulations, digital twins, and architectural visualization. Each motion is professionally produced, featuring precise foot contact, detailed finger and toe articulation, smooth transitions, adaptable stance shifts, and natural movement. By combining AccuRIG’s auto-rigging with ActorCore’s curated motion system, it’s possible to rig, animate, preview, and refine characters with unmatched speed and precision—all in one streamlined platform.

AI Search Ushers in Next-Level Augmented Productivity

By consolidating advanced AI technology with ActorCore’s extensive motion library into a single free tool, AccuRIG 2 redefines the character animation process. With instant access to thousands of retargetable motions, intelligent search features, and an intuitive rigging system, there’s no need to juggle multiple applications or get bogged down by complex workflows. Instead, users gain a seamless, end-to-end pipeline that takes them from rigging and preview to export with minimal effort. For studios and creators looking to boost productivity and achieve professional-grade results, AccuRIG 2 sets a new standard for accessible, high-quality animation.

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From 2D to 3D: My First Steps with iClone and Character Creator

July 11, 2025April 13, 2026 bridgettepanLeave a comment

Animation Journey: From Drawing Cartoons to 3D Worlds

This article is the second installment of my Garry’s ongoing journal series, From 2D to 3D. If you haven’t read the first post yet, we recommend starting there: From 2D to 3D: Why After 10 Years I Moved to 3D Animation.

In that opening chapter, I share the pivotal moment that led me to transition from a decade of 2D work into the world of 3D animation. Now, in this second entry, I dive deeper into the tools, challenges, and creative breakthroughs shaping my journey.

Entry 2 – My First Steps In A 3D World

If you’d asked me four months ago whether I could create a fully custom 3D character, I’d have laughed nervously, changed the subject, and pretended to know where my glasses were. But here I am, knee deep in polygons, sliders, and UV maps, slowly but surely learning how to bring my cartoon world into the third dimension.

This is the second blog in my series documenting my jump from 2D to 3D animation, and let me tell you, the learning curve has been more of a learning vertical wall. But we’ll get to that. First, let’s rewind to the beginning.

When I first dipped my toe into 3D, I knew I wanted to build my own characters from scratch, not just use existing assets. That meant learning how iClone and Character Creator 4 (CC4) worked, and more importantly, figuring out which tools would actually help me create characters that still felt like “mine.”

My early impressions of iClone and CC4 were honestly impressive. These tools felt powerful and professional, but at the same time, there was something familiar about them. Because I’d spent years with Cartoon Animator, I instantly recognised the DNA. The UI structure, the logic behind the sliders, even the naming conventions. That familiarity gave me a bit of a head start.

I also started exploring Headshot, which is Reallusion’s face generator plugin. At first glance, I assumed it was just for making realistic humans. I was wrong. Gloriously wrong. With some creative thinking (and a lot of morph slider nudging), I realised I could push HeadShot well into the cartoon space.

I initially thought I’d use the box modelling technique in Blender to sculpt my characters. It seemed like the “real” way to do it, the purist approach. So I experimented with that. But quickly I realised I was in way over my head. The idea of building a character from a cube with extrusion tools and loop cuts was exciting….. until it wasn’t.

Instead, I made the decision to use the tools that make sense for where I am now, not where I think I should be. That meant going all in on Character Creator and Headshot, and only jumping into Blender when I needed to tweak something I couldn’t do in CC4, like specific mesh edits or object manipulations.

Because CC4 and iClone come from the same company that makes Cartoon Animator, a tool I know backwards, the transition felt smoother. The UI language made sense. I didn’t have to relearn how to navigate the workspace or figure out where the “make head bigger” button had run off to.

So far, I’ve been using HeadShot 2.0 to create custom cartoon faces and Character Creator for the bulk of the shaping work, especially facial detail. CC4 has some wonderful tools like Edit Mesh for when I need to push shapes further than the sliders allow and for me, the all important Morph Slider Editor to build custom expressions that would let my characters unique personalities shine through.

Each day I learn something new. Just this week, I figured out how to create morph sliders for rescaling teeth during an expression. I’m not saying I’m a wizard, but if the pointy hat fits.

Coming from 2D character design, where I could sketch something and have it ready to animate in a day, 3D felt like moving through molasses. The technical side is heavier, and yes, I struggled. Hard.

There were nights where I closed the software and walked away frustrated, convinced I’d never finish even one fully custom character. But I kept going, out of sheer stubbornness. I made a promise to myself, just finish one, no matter how long it takes.

I need to point out that I am not doing this alone. Rampa Tinling and Peter Alexander, two pros in the Reallusion community, have been incredibly generous with their time. Their encouragement gave me the push I needed when I hit a wall.

I also started a Facebook group to share my progress, ask for help, and support others doing the same thing. That group has turned into an unexpectedly warm little community. We cheer each other on, laugh at our mistakes, and swap solutions freely.

The official Reallusion YouTube channel has been invaluable. And it’s come full circle for me because years ago, I learned Cartoon Animator by watching Kai DeNeve’s tutorials. And now, here he is again, guiding me into 3D. Same teacher, new dimension.

Each day, things feel a little more intuitive. I don’t have to look up how to move a vertex anymore. The fog is lifting.

When I wrote my first blog post, I wasn’t confident I could do this. I genuinely worried that I wasn’t smart enough to make sense of the 3D world. That I’d hit a wall and walk away defeated, which I had done twice already in the past.

But now, writing this second post, something’s shifted. I still have a lot to learn, and sure, it’s not going to happen overnight. But now I believe I can get to the end of this journey. I believe I can finish what I started.

And most importantly, I’m having fun.

Garry Pye – 2D/3D Animator, Cartoonist, Content Developer

Garry Pye – 2D/3D Animator | Content Developer

Garry Pye is an Australian illustrator, animator, and Cartoon Animator instructor with over a decade of experience in the animation industry. Known for his unique blend of creativity and humor, Garry’s work spans from teaching animation techniques to creating innovative content that helps both novice and experienced animators improve their skills.

Garry’s enthusiasm for storytelling and animation shines through in all his projects, whether it’s creating animated shorts, preparing educational tutorials, or sharing his expertise by teaching. With a passion for making animation accessible and fun, Garry has built a community of learners who not only appreciate his knowledge but also his infectious sense of humor and dedication to his craft.

Follow Garry Pye’s iClone Page｜2D Animation Page｜2D Marketplace

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CTA5 vs. Adobe CA: The Ultimate Showdown of Top 2D Animation Software

July 10, 2025July 21, 2025 bridgettepanLeave a comment

Scott Evans, Digital Puppets

As a professional animator with years of experience using Adobe Character Animator (CA) on projects for clients like Disney, Cartoon Network, and the BBC, I was excited to dive deep into Reallusion’s Cartoon Animator 5 (CTA5).

After being asked countless times which 2D animation software is better, I’ve created this comparison to share my honest perspective, highlighting where each tool shines and how they fit different animation needs.

Check out Digital Puppets’ YouTube Channel

Pipeline: Similar Files, Different Approaches

Both CTA5 and CA support PSD and Illustrator imports, offering flexibility for asset creation, but their workflows differ significantly.

Adobe Character Animator allows for highly customized builds, which is great for experienced riggers who need precise control over every joint and puppet behavior. However, this level of detail can be overwhelming for beginners just starting their 2D animation journey.

Cartoon Animator 5 simplifies this process with templates and a SMART Rigging system, making it much more approachable for new users. While it offers less flexibility for highly custom, unconventional builds, the streamlined approach is a huge time-saver for most animators.

Speed: Setup Time Matters

When it comes to getting animations off the ground quickly, setup time is crucial.

CA offers deep control, but setup can be time consuming, especially when tagging layers manually for head turns, IK, and lip sync. This meticulous approach can add significant hours to a project.

CTA5 is faster out of the box, with prebuilt motions and streamlined rigging. While CTA5’s auto rigging sometimes needs refinement, the learning curve is much lower, allowing animators to jump into creating compelling 2D animation faster.

Visual Advantages: FFD and Spring Dynamics

Expressive character movement is key in quality 2D animation, and the tools available for deformation and physics play a significant role.

CTA5 includes advanced Free Form Deformation (FFD) and easy-to-apply spring dynamics, allowing for expressive, cartoon-style motion with natural bounce and fluidity. CA, on the other hand, offers only basic physics and deformation capabilities. For animators wanting dynamic movement in their 2D animation projects, CTA5 clearly has the edge.

Trigger Animation: Expression & Tempo Control

Efficiently triggering animations and expressions can dramatically speed up production and enhance character performance.

CTA5’s trigger system is intuitive and powerful. The new puppet panel library lets users apply complex facial expressions and animations with remarkable ease, enabling quick iteration and nuanced performances. CA’s trigger setup is more manual and time intensive, though highly customizable. However, it lacks advanced puppeteering options like motion flocking found in CTA5.

Animation Control: 3D Motion for 2D Characters

CTA5 uniquely enables 3D-style motion in 2D characters and supports detailed motion capture, even finger tracking. Reallusion has a huge library of motion assets which provide multiple angles of 2D motion capability—invaluable for diverse scenes.

While CA focuses on webcam-based performance capture and includes a reliable walk behavior, it lacks external mocap integration and downloadable motion assets. CTA5 offers deeper, more scalable control for complex animations, particularly for studios looking to incorporate motion capture data.

Character Reusability: Streamlining Production

Efficiency in a 2D animation pipeline often hinges on how easily characters can be adapted and reused across projects.

CTA5 allows for standardized, reusable rigs, helping speed up character production, especially for series or projects requiring multiple characters. This allows for applying the same motion to several characters, drastically cutting down on repetitive tasks.

CA, meanwhile, is excellent for updating character graphics—just change the linked PSD or AI file, and the model updates instantly. CTA5’s PSD linking is effective but sometimes less intuitive compared to CA’s seamless approach.

Scene Production: Full Control vs. Focused Simplicity

The scope of your animation projects will often dictate which software is more suitable.

CTA5 is built for full scene animation with multiple characters, props, and cinematic camera movements. It offers robust tools for orchestrating complex interactions within a scene. CA is more limited here, though it does have a simple and effective camera system for zooms and pans. For anything beyond character-centric animation, CTA5 provides much more flexibility for expansive 2D animation scenes.

Timeline Animation: Flexibility vs. Clarity

The timeline is the heart of any animation software, and both tools offer distinct approaches.

CTA5’s timeline is powerful and allows for advanced edits like reordering body part layers mid-scene. This flexibility can be incredibly useful for complex layering and visual effects. However, its lack of named keyframes can make it harder to navigate, especially in intricate sequences.

CA’s timeline is clear and beginner-friendly, with an excellent swap-set system for managing triggers and timing. This makes it intuitive for quick performance-based animation.

Head Turns: CTA5 Dominates

This is where one software truly stands out for expressive character animation.

CTA5 is unmatched when it comes to creating fluid, 3D-style head turns from 2D assets. Users from LIVE2D will find CTA5’s parallax system more advanced and flexible, allowing for incredibly convincing head rotations. CA does allow head turns, but only through multiple rigged heads, which increases file size and complexity—making the process less efficient for subtle shifts.

Updates: CTA5’s Steady Evolution

The continuous development and support directly impact long-term viability.

Reallusion continues to roll out regular updates and feature improvements to CTA5, often driven by user feedback. This commitment ensures the software remains cutting-edge and responsive to animators’ needs. In contrast, CA has seen few major updates in recent years, which can be a concern for animators seeking new capabilities.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Ideal 2D Animation Software

Both tools are excellent 2D animation software solutions, but for different purposes.

Adobe Character Animator is ideal for real-time performance animation, thanks to its intuitive timeline and trigger system. It’s perfect for live streaming, creating quick reaction videos, or producing content rapidly with a single performer. However, its rigging complexity and lack of recent updates may be limiting for more advanced users seeking long-term production scalability.

Cartoon Animator 5 is designed for animators who want more control, richer visuals, and scalable production tools. With its powerful rigging, deformation, scene control, and continuous development, CTA5 is a robust solution for creating polished, professional animations, especially when working with multiple characters and cinematic sequences.

Consider your primary goals: Are you focused on live performance and rapid content generation, or are you aiming for highly controlled, cinematic 2D animation with deep feature sets? Your answer will guide you to the ideal animation software for your next project.

FAQ

Which 2D animation software is better for beginners?

Cartoon Animator 5 offers a more approachable learning curve with its SMART rigging system and pre-built templates. Adobe Character Animator is user-friendly for real-time puppeteering but requires more complex setup when creating characters from scratch.

Can I use motion capture with both animation software tools?

Yes, but differently. Adobe Character Animator excels in webcam-based facial capture for real-time puppeteering. Cartoon Animator 5 supports facial capture plus external motion capture devices for detailed full-body and finger tracking.

Which software is better for creating full 2D animated scenes with multiple characters?

Cartoon Animator 5 is designed for comprehensive scene production with multiple characters, props, and cinematic camera movements. Adobe Character Animator focuses on individual character performance and works best for single-character projects.

Do these 2D animation tools integrate with other creative software?

Both support PSD and Illustrator imports. Adobe Character Animator integrates seamlessly within Adobe Creative Cloud, while Cartoon Animator 5 offers robust PSD support and access to Reallusion’s growing content marketplace.

Which animation software offers more creative control over character deformation?

Cartoon Animator 5 provides advanced Free Form Deformation (FFD) and spring dynamics for expressive, cartoon-style motion. Adobe Character Animator offers more basic deformation tools, making CTA5 better for dynamic character movement.

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My Journey From Shorts to Props with Cartoon Animator: Shane McKnight

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 bridgettepanLeave a comment

Shane McKnight’s creative path into 2D effects, props, and the growing Marketplace community

Shane McKnight – Content Developer, Minister

Having learned many skills such as animation, special FX creation, videography, Shane McKnight is also a full time minister and father of 8. His interest in film making began at an early age when he produced his first documentary in 2004. Shane began his business called Props for Props together with Mike Martwell, his colleague from the UK , an avid photographer skilled at marketing wares and a good knowledge of animation software.

Shane now has his own themed store at the Reallusion Marketplace where he sells 2D props to Cartoon Animator (CTA) animators worldwide.

“Cartoon Animator really has opened needed doors with the tools it has. My favorite is the After Effects and Photoshop extensions. With the Photoshop pipeline, I can quickly export my work for refinement from Cartoon Animator, then to Photoshop, then back to Cartoon Animator where it is automatically updated. It’s amazing!”
Shane McKnight – Content Developer, Minister

Q: Can you tell me how you first discovered Cartoon Animator?

I came across some of the work by other 2D content developers on social media, which sparked my interest with Cartoon Animator (CTA), so I made some cartoon shorts for my ministry. I watched a number of online tutorials and video breakdowns of its abilities and the price hooked me because as an individual artist it was exactly what I envisioned I needed to create cartoon animations. I had a lot of ideas for projects and it seemed Cartoon Animator was quite the program to help me make these toons. I was right and instantly fell in love with it.

Q: How has Cartoon Animator influenced your animation workflow?

Cartoon Animator really has opened needed doors with the tools it has. My favorite is the After Effects and Photoshop extensions. With the Photoshop pipeline, I can quickly export my work for refinement from Cartoon Animator, then to Photoshop, then back to Cartoon Animator where it is automatically updated. It’s amazing! And I have created quite a few projects where I was able to animate my main scene in Cartoon Animator and then export it to After Effects to do the “spice” work in post production.

The various manipulation tools for character animation, like Facial Puppetry add expression and realism to my characters performance. And I am amazed at the volume of content readily available from the Reallusion site and 2D Marketplace that is both free and paid as well.

“Cartoon Animator makes 2D animation faster, fun, and accessible to everyone.”
Shane McKnight – Content Developer, Minister

Q: Can you tell us about any exciting projects you’re working on with Cartoon Animator?

In the beginning working with Cartoon Animator, I made some animated cartoon shorts. As I learned the software more, I started making animated props and effects which can be easily dragged and dropped to Stage Mode for instant, smooth results, saving animators hour of tedious keyframing, and I was even fortunate enough to be invited as a beta tester for some of the Cartoon Animator updates. Today, Props for Props is still making animated effects and props and animated layered scenes. And we hope to branch into new regions soon.

Q: What’s the most challenging aspect of 2D animation, and how did Cartoon Animator help you overcome it?

Even with challenging aspects of 2D animation, like characters lip synching and motion, Cartoon Animator offered me a variety of ways to approach these. I kept pushing through till I got the results I wanted, and was even able to implement the Webcam plugin for CTA, and the usable IClone motions that could be applied to 2D actors.

Q: What inspired you to start creating and selling your own content for the 2D Marketplace?

I felt there was a need for different animated effects and props. I love thinking outside of the box and taking creative risks to see if it would benefit the community. The 2D community itself has really been a big inspiration as well, which encouraged me many to join the Marketplace.

I would advise anyone with creative artistic talents to take the plunge and join the Reallusion 2D Marketplace. At first I was very skeptical, not knowing how my style of assets would sell. But I went ahead and made the big decision. The community is awesome and inspiring, and it is always rewarding when reviews pour in with positive support.

Now I see my CTA store – Props for Props as filling a niche within the Marketplace and our content fits in very well.

Q: What would you say to other artists considering starting out in the 2D Marketplace?

Overall my experience with Reallusion and the Marketplace has been very rewarding and I encourage those who are ready to bring their art and sell in the 2D Marketplace. It has an awesome community that supports it and makes selling a wonderful experience.

It would be an advantage to bring your style and artwork to this community as I am sure they will welcome it. Being in the 2D Marketplace for me in the time I have been there has really helped me hone the assets Props for props offers. There is always a need for “fresh” content that other creators can use, and I am thankful how it propels me to produce more content even if certain ones do not sell well, it is a teaching tool helping me to get a feel for what the community needs.

Q: Do you find the process of creating content for Cartoon Animator easy and enjoyable?

Very much so! When I am needing help, the Cartoon Animator 2D User Group is always there to answer any questions and walk me through certain processes. I can also access a plethora of tutorials on YouTube as well. Overall the learning process has been very exciting, both with the failures and successes. I was able to make my first short very quickly once I used the software.

Cartoon Animator makes it very easy to compile my creations, making packs and selling them. The more I worked with prop creation, the more passionate I got with the software as it matured. When the After Effects extension was added, it really blew my mind and opened more doors to creativity and pushed me to really explore the new possibilities.

“ With Cartoon Animator, an individual can create an entire show from start to finish, all on their own.””
Shane McKnight – Content Developer, Minister

Follow Shane McKnight

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/shanemcknight8

2D Marketplace:
https://marketplace.reallusion.com/cartoon-animator/author/Props%20for%20Props

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Using AI Tools to Speed Up Cartoon Animator Workflow

July 3, 2025August 27, 2025 bridgettepan5 Comments

Animation is something we all love—but let’s face it, the time it takes can be daunting. What if you could achieve professional-level results in just a few days? In this article, I’ll break down how I created a polished, high-quality animated short by combining Cartoon Animator 5 (CTA5) with AI tools, using an eight-step workflow that blends the best of automation and human artistry. This is a repeatable pipeline you can apply to client projects, contests, or personal creations.

Mark Diaz / 2DAnimation101

Enthusiastic in both animation and teaching, Mark Diaz is the CEO and Founder of 2DAnimation101. He is a passionate online instructor. He helps beginners all over the world to improve in animation and drawing. He has helped more than 52,000 students worldwide.

Mark is a speaker of TED Talks, “Can anyone become a genius.” His versatile talents also made him a Short Film Director and Editor for Autumn Leave Films.

Follow Mark’s Latest Courses

Step 1: The Story Idea

Every great animation begins with a story. Without a clear idea, there’s nothing meaningful to animate. When I started, I had no concept in mind. To spark inspiration, I turned to AI. I used a prompt generator to brainstorm ideas, and from the list of results, one immediately made me laugh: Two women in a hair salon—one claims she found a miracle weight-loss cure. The twist? She disguises herself so that “if the cake can’t recognize her, the calories don’t count.”

The concept was simple, funny, and, most importantly, feasible to produce within a tight timeline. With that spark of inspiration, I began visualizing the setting and how the characters would interact.

Step 2: The Script

Once I had the core idea, I moved to scripting. I already envisioned the setting—a hair salon—so I grabbed a reference image and fed it into ChatGPT, along with a prompt describing the scenario. In seconds, ChatGPT produced a fully fleshed-out short script, including dialogue and scene progression.

To make production smoother later on, I also asked ChatGPT to add visual descriptions for each line of dialogue—this saved me time during storyboarding. The AI even helped me brainstorm names. I went with Wilma and Rita, names that were easy to remember and fit the light-hearted, retro vibe I wanted.

Step 3: The Storyboard

Storyboarding is where the animation starts to take shape. Using ChatGPT, I designed a detailed storyboard plan structured like a spreadsheet: character actions, dialogue, shot types, camera angles, and framing. ChatGPT helped fill out this framework based on my script, which I then organized in Google Sheets for easy reference. This process is speedy, and it helps us to create the storyboard way faster than before.

When it came to visualizing panels, I decided on a drawing style inspired by Kim Possible—simple but expressive. With AI’s help, I generated consistent character designs across all panels. Big tip for you: to ensure high quality, I upscaled each image using GigaPixel, so I could zoom and crop without losing detail. This gave me the flexibility to plan shots creatively while keeping visuals sharp.

Step 4: The Animatic

The animatic is the rough cut of the animation, where you can see me putting all the puzzles together. With the storyboard in place, I moved on to creating an animatic—a rough sequence that combines images, dialogue, and music to test the pacing and mood. I generated the voiceovers with ElevenLabs, trying out different voices until I found tones that matched the personalities of Wilma and Rita.

For music, I turned to Suno AI. I recorded myself humming a tune, and Suno transformed it into a full instrumental track—fast and surprisingly good! I also generated a second track purely from text prompts. Laying everything out in Premiere Pro, I aligned the dialogue, music, and storyboard panels into a fully-timed draft that gave me confidence to proceed.

Step 5: Production

To start, I prepared the assets, drawing custom mouths and eyes in Photoshop for better expression and lip sync. I extracted clean characters, backgrounds, and key props, focusing effort where it mattered most—like the hair salon scenes.

Next came asset preparation. While I experimented with AI-generated eyes and mouths, I quickly realized they lacked the consistency and expressiveness needed for proper lip sync. So, I manually created these in Photoshop, drawing multiple mouth shapes for dialogue and expressive eye poses for key moments.

I extracted clean character layers, isolated props (like the fridge door), and kept backgrounds on separate layers. I focused most detail on the hair salon scenes, where character expressions were critical, while simplifying backgrounds and props in other scenes to save time.

Step 6: The Rigging

With the assets ready, I moved into Cartoon Animator 5 for rigging. Thanks to clean PSD layers and using Reallusion’s Photoshop template, rigging was smooth. I rigged both Wilma and Rita for full facial and body control, and created functional props, like the fridge door that could open and close easily.

For simpler scenes, I skipped complex rigs—sometimes a character or object was treated as a prop with swappable parts. This kept the setup lean and focused on what was actually needed for the camera.

Step 7: The Animation

Here’s where the magic happens! I created one Cartoon Animator 5 project file for each storyboard panel—18 in total—so that I could work efficiently and avoid bloated project files. I exported individual audio clips for each panel from Premiere, brought them into CA5, and started animating.

The earlier rigging and prep work paid off—I could reuse assets, duplicate similar panels, and just tweak them as needed. For example, panels featuring Wilma in similar poses were duplicated and adjusted rather than animated from scratch. This approach saved hours while maintaining high quality.

Step 8: Putting it all together

Once all panels were animated and rendered, I returned to Premiere Pro, swapping out the storyboard panels for the finished animation. It was a simple matter of clicking and dragging. The result: a polished 30-second short with clear storytelling, smooth animation, and engaging audio.

The result? A fast, pro-quality animation created in days—not weeks. This pipeline lets you combine AI and Cartoon Animator for client projects, contests, or just for fun, delivering top-tier results at record speed. Make sure you try it yourself, and have fun with it!

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