Nekki releases Cascadeur 2026.1
Nekki has released Cascadeur 2026.1, the new version of the AI-assisted animation app.
New features include Root Motion, a new AI-based system for generating automatically between key poses for a character, with the option to use existing animations as style reference.
Filament, Google’s physically accurate render engine, is now the default viewport renderer.
And outside the core application, users with paid Cascadeur subscriptions get Live Link for Unreal Engine, a new plugin that syncs animation sequences between Cascadeur and UE5.
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.
Key poses can be quickly established for a character via the AutoPosing system, which lets users reposition a small number of joints, and have Cascadeur take care of the rest of the body.
For a jumping character, the software can then calculate a physically correct trajectory between the key poses.
For other types of motion, a separate AI-trained system, AutoPhysics, converts an existing keyframe animation into a physically accurate version of itself.
Once generated, animations may be exported the FBX, Collada or USD format for use in other DCC applications, or game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine.
Cascadeur 2026.1: new Root Motion system automatically generates animation
New features in Cascadeur 2026.1 include Root Motion, a new AI tool for automatically generating animation between manually created key poses for a character.
Unlike the existing Inbetweening system, it doesn’t fully adhere to the source keyframes, so the results it generates are more varied, but also harder to control.
And, although it’s disabled by default, it has a Reference Mode, making it possible to use an existing animation as a style reference for the AI-generated output.
Collision Penetration Cleaning automatically finds and removes interpenetrations
Other new tools in the release include Collision Penetration Cleaning: a new automated system for removing self-collisions in animations.
It detects the frame in which interpenetration of a character’s body parts is greatest, then resolves it over a user-defined frame range.
As well as self-collisions, there are options to resolve collisions between a character and the floor, and with rigid bodies like props and scene geometry.
Physically based Filament render engine improves the visual quality of viewport previews
In addition, Google’s open-source Filament render engine becomes the default viewport renderer.
Unlike the previous viewport render engine, it supports HDRI environment lighting, and supports complete PBR materials rather than simple textures.
Nekki initially rolled out Filament in Cascadeur 2025.3 as a Windows-only alpha build.
Paid subscribers get new live link plugin for Unreal Engine
Outside the core software, Nekki has released its new Live Link for Unreal Engine.
Unlike the existing Unreal Engine integration, it’s a full live link, synching complete animation sequences between Cascadeur and Unreal Engine in real time.
It’s a separate download, and only works if you have a paid subscription to Cascadeur.
Price and system requirements
Cascadeur 2026.1 is compatible with Windows 10+, Ubuntu 20.04+ Linux and macOS 13.3+. The Live Link for Unreal Engine is compatible with Unreal Engine 5.5+.
For users earning under $100,000/year, Indie subscriptions cost $19/month or $96/year. Pro subscriptions cost $49/month or $396/year and add advanced features.
Both are rent-to-own plans, with users qualifying for a perpetual license after one year.
There is also a free edition, which is not licensed for commercial use, and saves animation in its own .casc file format, making it impossible to use in other DCC apps.
Read a full list of new features in Cascadeur 2026.1 in the release notes
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