Thursday, November 14th, 2024 Posted by Jim Thacker

Nekki releases Cascadeur Mobile


Originally posted on 18 January 2024, and updated for the final release.

Nekki has released Cascadeur Mobile, a new mobile edition of Cascadeur, its AI-assisted character animation software.

The new app makes it possible to animate 3D characters on an iPhone or iPad, then export the animation to refine in the desktop edition of Cascadeur.

Create animations based on real-world physics, aided by AI-based tools
Launched in 2019, Cascadeur is intended as an artist-friendly alternative to conventional animation software for game development, motion graphics or visual effects work.

Although it has standard tools for rigging, posing and animating characters, its unique selling point is a set of AI-assisted, semi-automated toolsets.

Its AutoPosing system lets users quickly establish key poses for a character by positioning a small number of joints, with Cascadeur taking care of the rest of the body.

The software can then calculate a physically correct trajectory between the poses.

New mobile edition: pose and animate characters in augmented reality
Cascadeur Mobile adapts those workflows for use on mobile devices.

Users can pose characters to match a reference images or videos, using gesture controls and a simplified version of the standard Cascadeur interface.

The characters can be animated using core features from the desktop application, including the timeline, IK/FK interpolation, Ghosts, Trajectories and the Tween Machine.

The rough animation can then be converted into a physically accurate version of itself using the built-in AutoPhysics system, with a separate slider control adding secondary motion.

The app also includes an AR Mode, making it possible to animate characters in augmented reality, as shown in this video.

Price, system requirements and release date
Cascadeur Mobile is compatible with iOS 13.0+ and iPadOS 13.0+: according to Nekki, you need an iPhone 11 or better for an “optimal experience”.

The base app is free, but cannot import or export files, and lacks support for video references. To export data, you need a paid-subscription, which costs $7.99/month or $49.99/year.

The full toolset is also available free to users with Pro subscriptions to the desktop edition of the software, which have a standard price of $49/month or $588/year.

Download Cascadeur Mobile from the App Store


Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.