Blender’s toolkit for phone-based control just expanded—Wanderson M. Pimenta’s Object Controller and Camera Controller add-ons have received notable updates. Android users can now steer 3D objects and cameras inside Blender using motion sensors, with upgrades spanning UDP support, advanced 6DOF world tracking, timeline controls, and even live camera streaming. As always, “beta” is the watchword—production testing is essential before trusting these tools with client work.

From Beta to Better: The Evolution

The Object Controller add-on, highlighted in June 2025, is now tightly integrated with Pimenta’s main Camera Controller tool. Early releases allowed motion-based control of Blender cameras from Android devices, while later updates—Beta 4 and Beta 5—added much-requested functionality and UI polish.

The most recent Object Controller update focuses on improved UDP communication, smoothing data transfer between phone and Blender. This not only enhances reliability but also addresses property conflicts that previously cropped up when using Object and Camera Controllers simultaneously. Compatibility issues with the Camera Controller add-on have been tackled, allowing artists to manipulate both scene objects and cameras with fewer headaches. Motion can be baked to keyframes using the paid Plus version, but the demo remains freely available.

World Tracking, Live View, and Advanced Controls

Beta 4 marked a leap for the Camera Controller: Android phones can now transmit real-world position and orientation (6DOF) data to Blender using ARCore-compatible devices. This “World Tracking” unlocks true spatial control, as your device’s movement in the physical world translates to virtual camera moves or object positioning in Blender. The feature is hardware-dependent—proper lighting and a recent Android device are prerequisites. No iOS support is listed.

An advanced settings panel was added, offering fine-tuning for scale, filter smoothing, acceleration, inertia, and a height lock toggle. Network management and onboarding advice have been expanded, and version compatibility is actively checked with status/error indicators in the interface.

Beta 5 then introduced Live View / Camera Streaming: users can now stream their phone’s camera feed directly into Blender’s viewport. This makes Blender a temporary AR window or video capture node—potentially handy for matchmoving or layout blocking.

Timeline & Keyframe Tools: For Animation Tinkerers

The updated timeline controls go beyond basic playback. Users can play/pause, navigate frames, play in reverse, jump to frames directly, and—using the Plus version—insert or delete location keyframes during “Walk” mode. Deleting keyframes is granular: left, right, or all. The add-ons support joystick-based movement overlays with real-world tracking, blending physical and virtual navigation.

Known Limitations & Testing Required

Both add-ons only work with Android devices, iOS/ARKit support is not listed. Data is sent via UDP, requiring reliable Wi-Fi. Some features, like motion-to-keyframe baking and advanced keyframe controls, are exclusive to the paid Plus version available on Gumroad.

The developer positions these as experimental—especially the Object Controller, which he describes as a fun extension of the Camera Controller rather than a polished production tool. World Tracking and Live View remain in beta and are not guaranteed for stability. Artists should be cautious: network dropouts, device compatibility quirks, and UI friction may appear. Rigorous hands-on evaluation is advised before deploying for layout, animation, or previz on live projects.

Takeaway for Production Artists

With regular updates and a growing feature set, Blender’s phone-driven control options are maturing. Motion-capture, rough layout, AR previsualization, and playful experimentation are now possible from your Android phone. Just don’t skip the testing phase—what’s fun in a demo could turn tricky in a studio pipeline.

The post Your Phone, Blender’s Puppet: Blender Object Controller & Camera Controller Add-Ons now with Live View & World Tracking first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

And while we’re still digging through the news pipeline and building up momentum, here’s something for your eyes: The ZBrush showreel!

You can find more about Zbrush at Pixologic / Maxon

The post Eyecandy von ZBrush first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In nuce: What do flagship Pokémon Pikachu, super-duper heroes Venom, Spider-man and Thor, a swarm of ostrich dinosaurs from Jurassic World, the humanoid crawling creature from District 9 and the autonomous police robot Chappie have in common? They were all painted onto cinema screens by the VFX artists at Image Engine – as can now be seen in the latest studio demo reel recently released by the girls and boys at Image Engine.

Click on: Most recently, it was the ancient Egyptian moon god Khonshu that Image Engine plucked from the sky for the Marvel series Moon Knight(09.08.2022). Man-eating theme park monsters, on the other hand, stomped through the interview with Martyn Culpitt, Visual Effects Supervisor at Image Engine. We spoke to him about the first instalment of the Jurassic World series(15/06/2022).

Studio Demo Reel | Image Engine VFX

The post Image Engine | Studio Reel first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Side FX publishes this year’s Houdini Games Reel. The almost four-minute video covers (almost) the entire spectrum of the gaming industry – from charming indie productions to big-budget AAA monsters. Among the countless gaming gems are some well-known franchise spin-offs: Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 5, Gran Turismo 7 and Sniper Elite 5 belong in the “success in series” category. Some of the insider tip titles to be discovered on Steam and consortia include: Arid by Sad Viscacha Studio ( an open-world survival game). But there are also unexpected discoveries to be made in the grey area between big-budget steamrollers and independent gems. Just take a look at the Houdini Games Reel 2022 below – and be amazed.

Click further: For a look back at the Houdini Games Reels of the past years, click below.

• 09.03.2017: Houdini Games & VR Reel 2017 – A collection of the best game and VR projects currently created with Side FX’s Houdini
• 10.04.2018: Houdini Games Reel 2018 – Houdini shows in a small compilation what their customers have been up to recently in the games sector
• 27.09.2021: Houdini | Game Reel – Whether Blizzard, CD Projekt, Sega, Ubisoft or Valve: In this three-and-a-half-minute reel, Houdini shows that – from triple-A titles to indie gems – it’s firmly anchored in the pipelines of female game developers

2022 Houdini Games Reel

The post Houdini publishes the Games Reel 2022 first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: The showreel anno 2022 of “Cinema 4D” has been published.

Artists & Studios and other creative minds – a selection: The first 20 seconds of the three-minute reel alone are packed with explosive works by ten different VFX studios and creative minds from around the globe:

The Mill Paris: The French branch of the VFX studio of “Technicolor”.

MadMicrobe Studios: A studio with branches in the USA and UK that specialises in the realistic representation of processes on a micro level.

Les83machines: A Munich-based creative boutique specialising in design & 3D.

Ian Frederick: Motion designer & 3D artist who has worked with major clients such as Amazon and Microsoft – and enjoys lifting weights in his spare time.

Aixponza: A Munich-based company made up of specialists from the fields of design and technology who are passionate about motion graphics, 3D animation, visual effects and graphic design.

0101 Production: A company from Moscow, whose web presence unfortunately exceeds our knowledge of Cyrillic.

Sasha Vinogradova: Digital artist and illustrator from Los Angeles. Sasha uses 3D elements and photo compositions to explore themes such as nature, sensuality and spirituality

Tendril : Dedicated to animation, VFX and digital innovation, working with industry representatives from the industrial, technology and entertainment sectors. The Tendril has offices in Toronto and São Paulo.

Waldemar Borth: A freelance motion designer and art director from Frankfurt am Main, who has already worked for Pixomondo.

Dyne: An animation studio from Chile, founded by the two Venezuelans Roberto González and Carlos Dordelly, who – even before the studio was founded – gained practical experience with important production companies such as HBO Latam or Studiocanal. The baby blue monster cheek in our lead picture also comes from “Dyne”.

Click further: If you want to see more eye-catching animations, VFXs, motion graphics – or even carnival for the eyes – click on Play in the “Cinema 4D | 2022 Reel” below!

Cinema 4D | 2022 Reel

The post Marvel at the 2022 reel from “Cinema 4d”! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.