Reallusion’s free AccuRIG tool just made entry-level rigging and animation almost suspiciously simple. The new AccuRIG 2.0 release puts an AI-powered animation browser and preview window right inside the app, giving users instant access to over 4,500 ActorCore motion clips—without ever leaving the interface. Search and filter tools (including multilingual and style-based search) mean less scrolling, more animating.

One Ecosystem, Fewer Silos

Reallusion AccuRIG 2.0’s motion retargeting pipeline now blends even more smoothly into Reallusion’s wider ecosystem. Choose an animation from the ActorCore library, retarget it to your freshly rigged character, and export everything to FBX or USD with DCC-friendly presets for Blender, Cinema 4D, Maya, Unreal Engine, Unity, Omniverse, MotionBuilder, and 3ds Max. No extra fees, no surprise licensing. You just need a free ActorCore account.

Mixamo’s Got Company

Adobe’s Mixamo still offers fast auto-rigging and a motion library. But AccuRIG 2.0’s approach—a combined body/finger rig and in-app motion browsing—leaves fewer tabs open and more time for, well, actually animating. The update introduces a 19-joint rig (plus finger rig), whereas Mixamo continues to offer only a body rig and lacks internal animation browsing.

Steady Upgrades, Steady Pace

Alongside AccuRIG, Reallusion’s development roadmap is moving at a refreshingly consistent tempo. The next major update, Character Creator 5, is scheduled for August and promises new HD base meshes (with subdivision), improved shader tech, and more advanced facial animation systems. In the meantime, AccuRIG 2.0 receives interface upgrades, performance optimizations, and various bug fixes—further smoothing out the artist’s first steps into the Reallusion workflow.

Test, Then Trust

Every new workflow promises speed, but actual production always demands proof. Always test animation and rigging exports inside your target DCC environment before sending your assets into the wild—especially if you’re working in deadline-driven settings.

All-in-One, Free, and Still in Motion

Reallusion’s latest updates confirm: it’s never been easier to experiment with 3D character animation. The real surprise is just how cohesive the Reallusion ecosystem is becoming, update by update—at a pace the rest of the industry might want to keep an eye on.

AccuRIG Release Note – ActorCore

The post Animation for All: Reallusion AccuRIG 2.0 and Friends Keep Things Moving first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

>> Check out the iClone 8.52 new features video

AccuPOSE: Revolutionizing Natural 3D Posing

AccuPOSE, an AI-powered innovation utilizing deep learning models trained on ActorCore’s extensive motion database. AccuPOSE understands human movement across countless scenarios, enabling users to create highly natural poses with minimal effort. Beyond hand-key animation, this technology plays a vital role in connecting motion clips, refining motion layers, and dramatically simplifying mocap data cleanup.

• Control Full Body Movement: Achieve full-body transformations merely from minimal inputs. AccuPOSE’s real-time body pose estimation guarantees natural postures during editing. 
• Pose-Driven Gestures: Arm adjustments naturally drive wrist movements and hand gestures, generating authentic human behaviors with minimal effort.

>> Check out the demo on the product page

Fully Controllable AI Guidance

To work in harmony with AI technology, controllability is a huge factor. The real brilliance of AccuPose lies in its unmatched flexibility and precision. You have the power to decide which parts of the body the AI adjusts and which parts remain untouched. This allows you to fine-tune every movement to your exact needs.

• Precision & Freedom: By applying Transformation and Rotation constraints to selected joints, designers can control AI pose suggestions with precision and flexibility.
• Constraints & Lock: Utilize T/R Constraints to maintain manual control flexibility. Use the Lock feature to securely fix the end effectors in place.
• AI Suggestion: You can specify which part of the body the AI should provide suggestions for, while preserving the desired sections by using locks and move/rotate constraints.
• Mirror: The Mirror feature ensures that AI-generated poses for hands or legs maintain symmetry with mirrored postures during any adjustments

>> Check out the demo on the product page

Seamless Integration with Existing Works

Getting started with AccuPose is straightforward. Simply open the tool, select an AI behavior model, and transform any pose effortlessly with the guidance of natural posing techniques.

• Works with Normal Poses: Transform existing poses into AccuPoses with selected behaviors, and experience the precision of natural posing with customizable IK constraints.
• Clip Layer Editing: By incorporating AI-assisted layer keys, users can effectively enhance motion velocity in selected motion clips.
• Keyframing from Library: Easily add dynamic poses from the AccuPOSE to arrange keyframes on the timeline, optionally filling in custom in-betweens and curves for smooth transitions. 

>> Check out the demo on the product page

Accelerates All Key Animation Workflow

Curious about how AI-assisted posing can enhance your workflow? It’s incredibly adaptable and can be applied wherever setting keyframes is needed, making it a valuable tool across various creative tasks.

• Handkey Animation: Driven by deep-learned human motions, the posing suggestion enhances the efficiency of quality keyframe posing and supports the creation of compelling animation styles.
• Connecting Clips: The intelligent posing feature simplifies the process of filling in missing poses between motion clips, creating more natural transitions.
• Mocap Correction: The natural AI posing capability can effectively solve the mocap challenges such as shoulder stiffness, motion distortion, and even enhances animations with realistic hand gestures.
• Curve & Trajectory: iClone’s motion curve and motion trail functions empower animators to refine keyframe timing and spatial trajectories, ensuring high-quality animation outcomes.

>> Check out the demo on the product page

Download AccuPOSE CORE Free and Subscribe INFINITY for All 

3D Posing with the assistance of AI might sound exciting itself, but AccuPOSE is way more than that. It comes with a big library of AI-training models that answer your diverse scenario demands. 

The same control applied to a selected joint can yield entirely different results depending on the chosen AccuPOSE model, giving users absolute control over the character’s AI reactions.

AccuPOSE is a free plugin for iClone 8.52, all users will have access to the CORE Library, it supports fundamental human body movements like stand, sit, walk, kneel, lie, prone, etc.  For those seeking advanced features, the INFINITY expansion offers an extensive library of over 1,000 AI-trained poses across 41 genres, along with continuous updates. 

>> Download & Subscribe

Elevates Motion Editing to Pro Level

The iClone 8.52 release brings four highly acclaimed professional animation features, voted by animators as essential to their workflows. These tools are meticulously crafted to serve as the foundation of daily productivity.

Motion Trail

The motion trail feature enables professional animators to visualize trajectories for selected joints. It supports real-time editing of keyframes directly on the trail or within the curve editor, providing an efficient approach to managing motion paths and animation timing. Additionally, users can adjust the path range and customize the trail’s color to improve control and visualization.

Non-Destructive Editing

Users can now break motion clips without worrying about losing data, as cut-out portions remain recoverable. Additionally, for clips edited with motion layer keys, our non-destructive approach retains all layer data for further editing. 

Curve Filters 

Several new filter options are added. These include tools that remove jitters while preserving motion details, fix peak noise, reduce keys for bezier spline editing, and smooth selected tracks seamlessly.

Curve Performance Enhancement

Motion Curve performance has been significantly enhanced for intensive editing across multiple tracks. Users can now enjoy near-instant responsiveness when selecting, moving, copying, pasting, or deleting keys in extended curve sequences.

Related Sources

iClone 8.52 full announcement

AccuPOSE Tutorials

Check out iClone 8.52 new features

iClone 8.52 release note

Learn more about iClone 8

Online manual

FAQ

The post iClone 8.52: A Major Leap for Animation Editing first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Advertorial.

 

Reallusion (R): Hello Cesar, please tell us something about yourself.

Cesar (C): Hello, let me start at the very beginning. i started my journey as a filmmaker in 2004 with my first war film about the 1982 Falklands War, for which I produced VFX close-ups that seamlessly blended real images with 3D animation. I went on to direct my first documentary film on the same subject for the History Channel, which featured over 60 minutes of captivating aerial combat animation.

As part of my creative journey of discovery, I ventured into the area of fan films and gained worldwide attention with a production about Robotech. In Japan in particular, the film received a huge response with over 200,000 views within one day.

R: How did you come up with the idea of making the science fiction film “Nick 2040”?

C: Based on my previous experiences, I ventured into my own science fiction world, which I called “Invasion 2040”. This transformative endeavour took seven years. Along the way, I secured an Epic MegaGrant and our project caught the attention of Reallusion, whereupon we participated in their Pitch & Produce programme.

With “Nick 2040” I went one step further and raised the production to cinema level, I filmed with RED cameras in 6K. The post-production was meticulously rendered in 4K, completing the trilogy of short films. This last part serves as a proof of concept for an ambitious feature-length film, which is currently in the pre-production phase.

The prerequisite for this is that a large part of the VFX preparations have already been completed before shooting begins. At the moment I am actively involved in this preparation phase – every scene, character, animation and VFX test created for the short film will be seamlessly integrated into the full feature film. This dual role allows me to act as both co-director and VFX director.

R: Please describe your workflow using the Reallusion software?

C: Phase 1 – Creating realistic characters with headshot and dynamic wrinkles

I started by scanning the robot’s face with Reality Scan. At the same time, I created a face from a photo using Headshot. In parallel, I used ZBrush to connect the two models and create a mesh that closely resembled the target face. I then imported the mesh and texture created in iClone into the Character Creator using the Headshot plugin. Once completed, I transferred all the components into the Unreal Engine to generate the robot’s face in a metahuman framework. Additionally, I scanned the clothing to improve the realism of the final rendering.

I carefully worked out the antagonist, a tall giant, and designed the facial features down to the smallest detail. I was inspired by the facial expressions of the metahumans and went beyond conventional methods. Using Blender, I seamlessly merged an AccuRIG body with a metahuman face, which led to an amazingly impressive result.

The key breakthrough was creating facial animations with Dynamic Wrinkles. This allowed us to realistically render the protagonist’s face as well as the characters in the invasion scenes.

For some scenes, the actress’s face had to be recreated, which was not possible with conventional shooting methods. I scanned the actress’s face with the Headshot plugin and optimised the mesh with ZBrush in combination with CC4. I then animated it in iClone 8 and seamlessly transferred all the data into the Unreal Engine via Live Link, which led to a fantastic result.

With CC4’s advanced dynamic wrinkle features and the use of face mocap, I was able to create complicated facial expressions effortlessly in a matter of minutes.

Phase 2 – Animating the fight scene with iClone and ActorCore

The integration of iClone played a crucial role in the development of the transformation animation for Invasion 2040. This was particularly crucial as the character seamlessly stands up and places his hands on the ground as he undergoes a dynamic metamorphosis into a robotic form.

The invasion scene in “Nick 2040” was carefully crafted in the Unreal Engine with a mix of characters from different platforms – some from Metahumans and others from iClone. Using the handy and easy-to-edit Actorcore scans retrieved via iClone’s Live Link proved ideal for seamlessly integrating the various animations from the“Run For Your Life” pack and perfectly complementing the intensity of the invasion sequences. To create a cohesive scene, I cloned the iClone animations onto the skeletons of the Metahuman characters in Unreal.

Reallusion and iClone 8 allowed me to create complex animated scenes with epic battles between giants and robots. These scenes, which are at the heart of my films, are brought to life by the powerful features in my workflow pipeline. The possibilities offered by these tools, especially in the field of computer graphics and animation, play a crucial role in realising the vision and complexity of my cinematic creations.

Phase 3 – Immediate preview of results with Unreal Live Link

The Live Link extension is truly remarkable. The process of transferring animations to Unreal is both seamless and stable. Correcting a motion is a simple task – I make the adjustments in iClone and make sure I adhere to the start and end times on the timeline. Then I simply replace the animation with the Unreal Sequencer and complete the process with a few clicks. In a few moments, the updated animation is finished and ready to render.

Timecode Sync Rendering has also revolutionised my workflow. Now I can seamlessly transfer objects into iClone, animate characters and use these objects as references. The speed at which I can send the animation to Unreal is remarkable. It only takes a few seconds. This streamlined process has made animating incredibly easy and fast, which has greatly improved my efficiency and creative ability.

The final fight between the robot and the jumper was a two-step process. Firstly, I choreographed the movements of the two characters using Mocap, executed the choreography in person and perfected the hits in iClone to achieve effective results. These animations were then sent via Live Link to Unreal for rendering. At the same time, the fight scene was supplemented with additional sequences from the Reallusion Marketplace to increase the dynamics and intensity of the fight scene.

R: Why did you choose Reallusion?

C: We are currently finalising the storyboard, shooting, budget and VFX plan for “Nick 2040” – an important task that forms the foundation of our feature film. In a compact animation studio where the tasks are inherently complex, our small animation team has developed unimagined possibilities through this process.

• Stability: The entire process is characterised by maximum stability without crashes.
• Speed: Animations with more than 1000 frames are transferred to Unreal in less than a minute. It is remarkable that the processor and GPU are often not overloaded during this fast process.
• Organisation: I streamline my workflow by storing different animations in iClone’s Content Browser. This allows for quick retrieval and use in different scenes of the film, as virtually all the sequences I need are stored there.
• Practicality: Integrating animations from various sources, including Noitom Mocap, Mixamo animations and Unreal character animations, is a breeze. Simply drag and drop these animations from Explorer into iClone and they are seamlessly integrated into the project.

Nearing completion, the trailer gives a first glimpse of our work and we look forward to the release of the final short film.

Learn more

• Episode Nick 2040 created by Cesar Turturro
• Animating 3D characters and film scenes with iClone
• Create realistic characters with the Character Creator

The post Mech vs. Giant Slugfest mit iClone & Character Creator first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In nuce: Software developer Reallusion has released Auto Setup for Unity. This is according to reports published on cgchannel.com and 80.lv. It is a free plug-in that is designed to make it easier to set up 3D characters from the software solutions Character Creator, iClone and ActorCore ( also from Reallusion) so that they can be transferred to the Unity game engine – and further processed there. Different versions of the plug-in are available; each version is aimed at a different Unity rendering pipeline. Auto Setup for Unity is orientated towards the High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP).

[FREE] Digital Human for Unity HDRP | Auto Setup | Character Creator 4 & iClone 8

In toto: Auto Setup for Unity was originally created as a tool by artist Victor Soupday; the tool is now being further developed in collaboration with Reallusion. To date, the tool has been very popular with artists to, as the message on cgchannel.com states, “transfer exported characters from Character Creator or iClone into the Unity game engine.” The handling of Auto Setup for Unity should be very simple, according to cgchannel.com: Drag the exported character into Unity, open the import tools – and start editing the imported character. It is also possible to edit Reallusion’s Digital Human Shader within the Unity Editor – this includes editing skin, hair, eyes and teeth.

Further functions: It is also possible to make corrections with the help of the plug-in: For example, artefacts in fabric simulations can be removed, and facial morphs and expressions can be previewed in the editor. According to 80.lv, citing the Reallusion website, physics, LOD, Lightroom and tessellation functions are planned for the next version of Auto Setup for Unity.

Click further: Further information on Auto Setup for Unity can be found at reallusion.com . Digital Production last reported on a software offering from Reallusion in an advertorial on 13 December 2022 . At that time, it was Cartoon Animator 5, which won over amateur and professional artists with its new functions.

Sources: cgchannel.com ( report by Jim Thacker), 80.lv ( report by Gloria Levine)

The post transferring 3D characters from Reallusion software to Unity? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Reallusion has released AccuRig – free software that automates the rigging of 3D characters.

How does AccuRig work? AccuRig generates rigs for two-legged 3D characters, which are then exported in FBX or USD format for further processing using common DCC tools such as Blender or Cinema 4D. Export in iAvatar format is also possible. The iAvatar format is used in the iClone animation software from Reallusion. For users who are already familiar with the handling of ActorCore (also from Reallusion), it is advisable to use AccuRig in tandem with ActorCore. ActorCore is a cloud-based service that allows users to access ready-made 3D models and motion capture clips. One drawback: AccuRig’s start screen recommends imported 3D characters that are scaled below 600,000 triangles. This makes AccuRig primarily suitable for rigging low-poly characters. AccuRig is available to users free of charge. However, the export function requires the (free) registration of an ActorCore account.

Click further for more information on AccuRig at actorcore.reallusion.com and in the online manual. The video tutorial below explains how AccuRig works. Digital Production reported on the release of ActorCore on 25.01.2021. On 07.06.2022 we reported it when Character Creator 4 and iClone 8 were released.

ActorCore Tutorial – Getting Started with AccuRIG

The post Reallusion releases AccuRig! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

Actorcore

Reallusion is sounding its latest release into your ear canals – and from there onto your hard drives: Actorcore. Actorcore is a cloud-based service that allows you to download motion capture clips and import them into Unreal, Unity 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, MotionBuilder, Cinema 4D or any other application.

More info

You can find all available information about Actorcore at Reallusion. The video below demonstrates the freedom of movement Actorcore gives your 3D models.

ActorCore

The post Actorcore | Release first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.