For those who do not know the tool: Cascadeur is a standalone 3D character animation application from Nekki, aimed at keyframe animation, AI-assisted posing and physics-based motion work. In practice, its niche is not “AI makes animation now”, thankfully, but “the software helps with the parts people usually fix at 2 AM while reconsidering their profession.”

Unreal Live Link

Cascadeur 2026.1 is a technical update. The release focuses on three areas that tend to determine whether an animation tool is genuinely useful or just very proud of itself: handoff to Unreal Engine, clearer scene rendering in the viewport, and less manual repair after the fact.

The biggest pipeline change is the new Live Link for Unreal Engine. Cascadeur’s documentation states that the plugin works with Unreal Engine 5.5 to 5.7 and Cascadeur 2026.1 or later. Installation is currently manual: ZIP packages for each supported Unreal version are unpacked directly into the Unreal Engine plugin folder. FAB distribution is planned for later; that is a modern way of saying “for now, please enjoy file paths.”

Filament

The second major change is the full switch to Filament for scene visualisation. According to the 2026.1 release notes, Filament is now the rendering engine used in Cascadeur for visualising scenes and provides the expected controls of a modern real-time renderer. Viewport upgrades are easy to undersell, but readable lighting and better scene feedback affect timing, spacing and posing decisions far more than marketing screenshots do. The release notes also state that switching to Filament fixed quad-mesh display issues on macOS, so this is not just a prettier viewport but also a more “stable” one. (Sorry for the very bad pun. Stable. Quad. And yes, it is time for the weekend.)

Root Motion is the new AI-assisted feature in this release, and the official wording is notably restrained. Cascadeur describes it as “a new generative tool” that produces animations based on the character’s trajectory. The workflow starts with a rough draft motion and at least two keyframes, then runs the Root Motion command. That is a much healthier framing than the usual machine-learning mysticism. The animator still defines the setup. The software does not merely arrive in a robe and demand applause.

Cleanup

The cleanup side also gets useful attention. Collision Penetration Cleaning analyses an animation and removes intersections. Cascadeur notes that older scenes require rig regeneration for the tool to work correctly, whereas scenes created in 2026.1 work out of the box. Mildly inconvenient, yes. Still preferable to hand-fixing every knee, elbow and floor contact.

AutoPosing and physics tools also get more practical. Improved AutoPosing for quadrupeds is part of the release. Point Constraints now work in AutoPosing, and they are also taken into account in AutoPhysics and Ragdoll. Additional quadruped spine switching angles have been added in Settings. In plain production terms, that means better support for non-biped rigs and more reliable behaviour for constrained objects during assisted motion passes. Or, translated into the dialect of late-night animation cleanup, fewer props quietly leave the hand and pursue an independent career.

Cascadeur on physics, AI and control

The release also lands neatly next to Digital Production’s earlier interview with Cascadeur CTO Alexander Grishanin. In that February conversation, he described Cascadeur as a standalone 3D character animation DCC focused on physics-assisted keyframe animation, AutoPosing and AI Inbetweening, with FBX and USD support for engine-oriented pipelines.

He also explained that broader integration into standard production workflows had become a core development goal. Read against that background, 2026.1 looks less like a feature heap and more like a continuation of the same agenda: better engine connectivity, better scene readability and more automation where it actually reduces labour. A rare case in which the new release more or less matches the old interview instead of contradicting it for sport.

Cascadeur 2026.1 release notes:
https://cascadeur.com/help/category/312

Cascadeur Live Link documentation:
https://cascadeur.com/help/category/268

Digital Production interview:
https://digitalproduction.com/2026/02/18/cascadeur-on-physics-ai-and-control/

The post Cascadeur 2026.1 adds Unreal Live Link, Filament rendering and AI root motion. first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

With version 2025.2, Cascadeur from Nekki introduces motion-style presets for its AI-driven inbetweening tool. Animators can now set the motion type between two poses: walk, run, crawl, jump, fall, acrobatic, or combat. The new “Style” selector appears in the Inbetweening panel, producing less generic and more context-aware inbetweens. This means less time wrestling generic curves and more time for real animation work.

AI Inbetweening: Now Up to 120 Frames

Cascadeur’s AI now handles intervals up to 120 frames (previously 88), and factors in tangents and velocities for noticeably better short-interval transitions. The days of choppy auto-generated motion are numbered, at least for mainstream motion types .

Tangent Editing Directly in the Viewport

Trajectory Edit Mode (beta) allows direct editing of Bezier curve tangents inside the viewport. Tangents can be linked or moved independently, and customized handles show up with red dots on the timeline. For those who actually like tangents, this is a major step up from menu-diving and guesswork. Tangent editing is Bezier-only: Linear and Step types don’t get handles, and likely never will. Direction Trajectories are also new, sitting alongside existing Translation and Rotation tracks.

Fulcrum Points: Automatic and Manual

The inbetweening algorithm now auto-detects fulcrum points (those all-important pivots for grounded or rotating motion) in most situations. Manual overrides remain available via the “Is Custom Logic Fulcrum Point” checkbox and new adjustable collision radius and max speed parameters. The Fulcrum Motion Cleaning tool also loses some knee-popping and can now limit its work to just keyframes.

More Automation, Fewer Clicks

AutoPhysics (Cascadeur’s ballistic/physics tool) is now always enabled and supports character interactions during ballistic motion. The constraints system and video mocap tools have been streamlined for less clicking and more animating.

3Dconnexion Support for Windows

Windows animators gain experimental support for 3Dconnexion devices. That means six-axis viewport navigation—assuming you enjoy spinning your scenes like a vinyl record.

Pricing, Platforms, and Licensing

Cascadeur 2025.2 runs on Windows 10+, Ubuntu 20.04+, and macOS 13.3+. Indie subscriptions remain at USD 12/month or USD 96/year for revenues under USD 100k, Pro at USD 49/month or USD 396/year. Both convert to a perpetual license after a year. The free edition is unchanged: non-commercial use only, with .casc export.

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New AI and UX features in Cascadeur 2025.2 offer practical, usable tools for character animators who want less black box, more real control. Test all new functions with care before deploying in critical or client-driven productions.

The post Cascadeur 2025.2 Adds Motion Styles, Tangent Editing, and Automatic Fulcrum Detection first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

HeaderNekki’s physics-based animation tool Cascadeur gets a major update with version 2025.1, bringing a new AI-powered Inbetweening tool that automatically generates motion between two poses. This allows animators to skip the manual process of setting up keyframes for transitions, saving time and improving animation flow.

What Are Inbetweens?

In animation, inbetweens are the frames that connect key poses, creating the illusion of smooth motion. Traditionally, animators would manually draw or set up these frames between key poses. With AI-driven Inbetweening, Cascadeur now handles this step automatically, producing fluid, natural movement with a single click.

Enhanced AutoPosing & AutoPhysics

AutoPosing now offers better stability and improved pelvis control, making it easier to fine-tune character movement without unwanted distortions. Meanwhile, AutoPhysics benefits from an upgraded Geometrical Constraints logic, which preserves the original pose more effectively. A newly added slider provides greater control over the Physics Corrector, allowing animators to fine-tune physical accuracy.

Ragdolls Get Smarter

The Ragdoll system receives a major upgrade, introducing improved interactions between characters and props. Additionally, it now supports custom kinematic mesh colliders, allowing for more precise physical simulations.

What Are Ragdoll Physics?

Ragdoll physics simulate the way bodies collapse and interact with their environment when force is applied. Used extensively in games and VFX, they help create realistic character falls, impacts, and unconscious body movements. The latest improvements in Cascadeur refine these interactions, making them more reliable and realistic.

File Format Updates: GLTF/GLB & FBX Improvements

With extended compatibility for Blender, Daz3D, and other software, Cascadeur now supports GLTF/GLB import—a widely used format for 3D assets in real-time applications. This makes it easier to integrate Cascadeur animations into a range of software and game engines. Improvements to FBX handling further streamline compatibility with industry-standard tools.

Software That Now Works with Cascadeur

With the addition of GLTF/GLB and improved FBX support, Cascadeur now fits more seamlessly into workflows involving Blender, Daz3D, Unreal ENgine and Max/Maya/Cinema 4D. And even the new After Effects can import Fbx!

UI & Workflow Optimizations

Various UI changes, optimized Copy Tools, and improved Unbaking functionality make their way into this release. Additionally, Roblox developers will find new sample characters included, simplifying character animation workflows for the platform. A new Right-Click Context Menu makes setting pivots and accessing functions faster. For those who prefer the old way of doing things, the previous right-click behavior can still be enabled in viewport input settings.

Price & Availability

Cascadeur 2025.1 is available now. Full release notes can be found on the official site. As always, test before deploying in production—AI is smart, but it’s still learning.

Cascadeur is available under a flexible pricing model designed to suit animators of all levels. For those just getting started, the Free version provides a complete animation toolset with rigging and physics-based features—but it only allows export in the proprietary .casc format and restricts commercial use. For hobbyists and small teams, the Indie plan offers additional export options (.fbx, .dae, and .usd) and priority support, available at approximately $12 per month (or $8 per month when billed annually), with eligibility limited to users whose annual revenue is below $100,000.

Professionals and small teams can upgrade to the Pro plan, which unlocks unlimited commercial use along with advanced features such as scene linking and animation retargeting, priced at about $49 per month—or $33 per month on an annual plan. For larger groups, the Teams plan is available at a similar rate per user, and includes extra perks like dedicated Discord support and a 30-minute onboarding call.

And, something excellent we’ve only seen with Cascadeur: As a bonus for annual subscribers, each plan automatically converts into a perpetual license after one year, meaning even if you cancel later, you get to keep using the last version released during your subscription period.

o3-mini

The post Cascadeur 2025.1 tumbles in! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Cascadeur Mobile has officially launched on the Apple App Store, offering animation professionals and enthusiasts the ability to craft detailed keyframe animations directly on iOS devices. Building on the desktop version’s reputation, this app adapts advanced features for mobile users, including AI-powered tools for natural pose creation and motion refinement.

High-Quality Tools, Now Mobile

Cascadeur Mobile integrates essential tools from its desktop counterpart while tailoring them for a touchscreen interface. Key features include:

• AI AutoPosing: Using neural networks, the app generates natural body positioning, simplifying the creation of complex poses.
• Finger Controllers: Animate intricate hand gestures with precision, ideal for character expressions and storytelling.
• AutoPhysics: Maintain lifelike motion physics while preserving original animation integrity, a feature useful for dynamic scenes.
• Secondary Motion: Add character personality with dynamic shakes, bounces, and overlapping motions.
• Video Reference: Import video clips into your scenes for accurate animation references.
• AR Mode: Place animated characters into real-world environments via augmented reality for rapid visualization.

Other tools include trajectories for motion planning, ghosts for previous frame visualization, and interpolation features like IK/FK for seamless transitions.

Flexible Access

Cascadeur Mobile follows a freemium model. It is free to download but offers advanced functionality through subscription plans:

• Free Version: Limited features for testing basic workflows.
• Full Access: Available for $49.99/year or $7.99/month (or €59.99/year and €8.99/month in the EU). Cascadeur Pro desktop users can unlock all features at no additional cost by logging in.

Designed for Production Artists

While Cascadeur Mobile introduces portable flexibility, users are advised to test its workflows extensively before integrating it into time-critical projects. Stability and simplicity remain core principles for professional animation pipelines, and testing ensures compatibility with your requirements.

For more information, download the app on the App Store!

The post Cascadeur Mobile Brings AI Animation to iOS first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.