Cascadeur: Everything You Need to Know About the Animation Software / ITech content

Contents:

• A Brief History of the Program
• What You Can Do in Cascadeur
• Key Features of Cascadeur
• Cascadeur and Indie Developers
• How Much Does Cascadeur Cost?
• Is Cascadeur Suitable for Beginners?
• What's Next?

When developing unique character movements, developers are faced with a choice between mocap and keyframe-based animation. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of production time, budget, and the quality of the final product. Mocap allows for more natural movements, as it is based on the actors' real actions, but can require significant investment in equipment and post-production. Keyframe-based animation, on the other hand, offers greater control over details and can be more cost-effective, but requires more time to create and fine-tune. The right choice of method depends on the specific goals of the project and the available resources.

Motion capture technology offers high accuracy, but requires a significant financial investment in purchasing or renting specialized equipment. Furthermore, it has a number of physical limitations, and the quality of performance largely depends on the skill of the actors. The services of mocap studios are not available to all developers, which can be an obstacle to the implementation of ambitious projects. It is important to consider these aspects when planning development and selecting technologies to achieve optimal results.

Keyframed animation can be quite impressive, especially when created by experienced artists. However, even the highest-quality animations can exhibit elements of the uncanny valley, which can cause discomfort in viewers. This phenomenon occurs when animation becomes too realistic while simultaneously retaining unnatural features, resulting in conflicting impressions in viewers. Animation professionals should take this effect into account to create more harmonious and visually pleasing work.

If none of the suggested methods are suitable, it's worth considering an alternative for creating animation using Cascadeur. This software minimizes all the previously mentioned difficulties and significantly simplifies the character rigging process. Cascadeur offers an intuitive interface and powerful tools, making it an ideal choice for animators looking to improve their productivity and the quality of their work.

In this article, we will review the program, its advantages, and cost. We also interviewed Evgeny Dyabin, the project's co-founder and producer, to gain a deeper understanding of its functionality and value.

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Rigging in Blender is the process of creating a skeletal structure for 3D models, which allows them to be animated. Rigging involves adding bones, defining hierarchy, and linking the mesh to the bones using skinning. Rigging is essential for animating characters and objects, ensuring realistic movement.

To prepare a rig in Blender, start by importing your 3D model. Then, create a skeleton using the Armature tool. Ensure each bone is positioned correctly within the model. After that, link the mesh to the bones using automatic skinning or manually adjusting vertex weights for more precise control.

Don't forget to test your animation to ensure the model moves naturally. Rigging is an essential step in animation creation that requires attention to detail and patience. Use available online resources and courses to improve your rigging and animation skills in Blender.

A Brief History of the Program

Cascadeur is an innovative project from Nekki, known for the Shadow Fight fighting game series and the parkour platformer Vector. The company's games are based on martial arts mechanics and dynamic jumps. To simplify the process of creating realistic animations in games, the developers decided not to use expensive motion capture technology (mocap), but developed their own tool. Cascadeur allows you to create high-quality 3D animations using physical laws and an intuitive interface, making it an ideal solution for game developers seeking to create high-quality animations without significant investment of time and resources.

A new software product based on neural networks has been created. The basic idea was that by changing the position of one of the six key skeletal points (neck, pelvis, wrists, and ankles), the program could automatically calculate a natural pose for the character, while the other key points remained unchanged. This approach significantly improves animation and the realism of character movements in various applications, including games and animated films. The software opens up new horizons for developers, providing easy integration and a high degree of adaptability in the process of creating animated content.

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To train the neural network, we used 1,300 animations from the game Shadow Fight 3. We then prepared an additional set of rare poses. We mirrored all content, doubling the dataset, resulting in 2,600 animations with a total of 220,000 poses. 80% of this data was used for training, and the remaining 20% ​​was intended for testing. This approach ensured high accuracy and diversity in model training.

Evgeny Dyabin, co-founder and chief producer of Cascadeur, gave an interview for the 80 Level portal. During the conversation, he shared his experience in the video game industry, discussed the game development process, and how the Cascadeur team implements innovative technologies in their projects. Dyabin also discussed the importance of creativity and teamwork in the creation of high-quality game content. The interview highlights the company's achievements and their commitment to excellence in game development, making Cascadeur a prominent player in the market.

Over time, the developers refined the system by implementing several internal neural networks. This allowed users to control not only the rig's six key points but also every bone in the model's skeleton. As a result, users were able to create animations that achieve a high level of realism.

The first closed beta release of Cascadeur took place in early 2019 and attracted over 20,000 participants. With each update, the tool's functionality significantly expanded, fueling user interest in this software. Cascadeur continues to evolve, offering new tools and improvements, making it indispensable for animation and 3D modeling professionals.

After three years of testing, the tool's user base has reached over 100,000 people, including both novice animators and professionals. The program was officially launched last December, and the developers continue to release regular updates. The current version of Cascadeur is 2023.1.1, released on June 26th. This tool has become popular among animators due to its intuitive interface and powerful features, allowing users to quickly create high-quality animations. Cascadeur is actively developing, and each release includes new features and improvements, making it an indispensable tool in animators' arsenal.

What you can do in Cascadeur

Creating unique character animations based on keyframes requires taking into account the physical properties of objects. First, you need to import a model in .fbx format, which must be linked to the appropriate skeleton. If the skeleton is made in a humanoid design, the program will provide the ability to quickly rig. However, for models of animals or other creatures with a non-standard skeletal structure, manual rig adjustment will be required. This approach ensures more precise animation and realistic movement of characters in the project.

The program offers the ability to import unique models and also includes template scenes with ready-made animations. Users can take advantage of rigs for humanoid characters, animals, and mannequins available in Unreal Engine 4 and 5. This greatly simplifies the process of creating high-quality content and allows for quick integration of animations into projects.

The program offers integration with popular game engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity, as well as with various rendering and 3D modeling systems, including Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Houdini, Cinema 4D, and Daz 3D. Importing animations from the Mixamo service is also supported. The results can be exported to universal .fbx and .dae formats, ensuring compatibility with other tools and platforms in the field of game development and 3D graphics.

Cascadeur optimizes data recorded using mocaps, eliminating gaps between intervals. This is achieved by creating a new interpolation, which improves the smoothness and realism of the animation.

Key Features of Cascadeur

AutoPosing is a feature that allows you to set poses in keyframes using a smart rig based on points. This technology predicts the character's position while working with keypoints, significantly simplifying the animation process. Animators can quickly and efficiently set poses for keyframes, significantly saving time and increasing productivity. Innovative AutoPosing algorithms make animation more intuitive and convenient, which is especially important for professionals in the field of animation and computer graphics.

AutoPosing is designed for animating humanoid characters rigged using the built-in Quick Rigging Tool. It works similarly to retargeting. The bones of the source skeleton are mapped to keypoints in the target rig. The program typically automatically detects the key bones, but in some cases, they must be assigned manually. This allows us to achieve high animation accuracy and ensure realistic character movement in various scenarios.

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Animation retargeting in Unreal Engine 5 is a process of transferring animation data from one skeleton to another, allowing you to effectively reuse the created animations for different characters. This method is especially useful in games that require a variety of characters with different characteristics but similar movements.

To implement animation retargeting in Unreal Engine 5, you need to follow a few steps. First, make sure you have the animations and skeletons you want to use. Next, open the Retarget Manager window for the source skeleton and configure it accordingly. It is important to correctly configure the Humanoid or Generic types for your skeleton to avoid mapping issues.

After that, select the target skeleton and use the Retarget Animation Assets function to transfer the animations to the new skeleton. Make sure all bones are mapped correctly so that the animations play correctly.

This technique significantly speeds up the development process and eliminates the need to create unique animations for each character. Proper use of animation retargeting in Unreal Engine 5 will not only save time but also improve the quality of the gameplay experience, ensuring smooth and realistic character movements.

AutoPhysics is a tool for automatically calculating character movements using artificial intelligence. It is activated after creating keyframes and enabling interpolation between them. As a result, a green duplicate of the character appears in the viewport, reproducing similar movements, strictly observing the laws of physics. This tool significantly simplifies the animation process, allowing you to create more realistic and dynamic character movements without having to manually adjust each movement. With AutoPhysics, you can focus on the creative process, leaving the technical details to the AI.

Let's take a closer look at the benefits of this approach.

Inverse kinematics is often used to create an animation or pose involving a leg lift, as shown in the screenshot. This method allows for the use of multiple groups of bones, resulting in knee flexion and the leg being lifted upward. However, it's important to consider that in real life, when lifting a leg, a person not only performs this movement but also strives to maintain balance using their arms and core. Proper animation should take these aspects into account to achieve natural and realistic character movements.

AutoPhysics optimizes previously created keyframes and interpolation frames in animation, ensuring natural character movement. This avoids unnatural skeletal bone displacements that often occur when working with keyframes. Animation becomes intuitive, and the results are more predictable. This approach significantly saves time, as most bones often don't require additional adjustments, simplifying the animation process and increasing its efficiency.

With AutoPhysics in Cascadeur, you can automatically generate a ballistic curve for a character's flight, taking into account the laws of physics. This allows you to record animations that resemble stunts from thrilling action films, while ensuring realistic movement. Using this technology helps animators achieve a high level of believability in their work, which is especially important for projects that require high-quality animation and spectacular scenes.

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Before the release of the new program, the function it performs was performed by Ballistic Trajectory. Today, developers consider it an outdated tool, but many experienced animators continue to actively use it in their work.

Video MoCap is A feature that allows you to capture motion from pre-recorded videos. For example, if a person in the video is dancing, Cascadeur can reproduce these movements. The alpha version of this tool is currently available, and the developers plan to improve it in future program updates. Using Video MoCap opens up new possibilities for animation and creating realistic characters.

A full list of tools is available in the official documentation.

Cascadeur and Indie Developers

Creating accessible and realistic animation has become an attractive prospect for indie developers. In this context, it is worth noting several projects in development that use Cascadeur technology. We will present three of them, although in reality there are many more such projects. Additional information can be found on the company's corporate blog.

Silkroad Project is a hack and slash game that draws inspiration from the combat systems of such popular games as Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. The game is being developed by Nicolas Garil, a technical artist at Invoke Studios. Specializing in 3D modeling, Nicolas encountered challenges in character animation. However, using Cascadeur during development significantly improved the quality of existing animations and simplified the creation of new ones. Silkroad Project promises exciting gameplay and high-quality graphics, which will make it attractive to fans of the genre.

Bliss is a third-person hack and slash game that offers players an immersive gaming experience. During development, the developers used Cascadeur, which significantly improved the quality of animations and simplified the process of creating new ones. This solution not only improved the game's visuals but also made character control more responsive and natural. Bliss combines dynamic gameplay with high-quality animation, making it attractive to fans of the genre.

The Last Premiere is a gripping action-adventure game with detective elements. The developers began using Cascadeur even before features like AutoPosing and the Quick Rigging Tool were available. However, even with the tools available at the time, they managed to create high-quality melee animations, which significantly improved the gameplay and immersion in the game.

How much does Cascadeur cost?

Cascadeur currently offers four different license types. Each license is designed to meet the specific needs of users, from individual developers to large studios. Licenses provide access to the full functionality of the program, including tools for creating animation and characters. Choosing the right license allows you to optimize your workflow and increase your efficiency in the field of 3D animation and modeling.

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The service is completely free to use.

The program is suitable for anyone who wants to get acquainted with its functionality, as well as for amateur animators and small indie studios with an annual revenue of up to $100,000.

There are certain limitations when exporting animations to Cascadeur: the maximum number of frames cannot exceed 300, and the number of bones used cannot exceed 120. However, these limits are more than sufficient for creating short animations used in games and visualizations. It is also important to remember that the project credits should indicate that the animation was created using Cascadeur. This not only respects copyright but also demonstrates professionalism in the use of animation tools.

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Using "Pro" in marketing emphasizes the benefits and differences of the product from standard offerings. This helps attract the attention of the target audience who are looking for higher quality and more functional solutions. It is important to note that achieving "Pro" status requires not only knowledge but also experience that allows you to apply theory in practice.

Thus, "Pro" becomes more than just a name, but a symbol of reliability and professionalism. It's important to choose "Pro" solutions to ensure high quality and maximum efficiency in your work.

Subscriptions cost $30 per month or $300 per year.

Text is ideal for professional animators.

After one year of use, the license automatically becomes lifetime. The Pro version also includes an expanded set of features, including AutoPosing for fingers, which greatly simplifies the process of modeling and creating animations.

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The subscription price is $100 per month or $1,000 per year.

This product is ideal for large companies looking to optimize their business processes and improve efficiency. It offers solutions tailored to the needs of large organizations, enabling improved resource management and increased productivity. Large companies seeking robust scalability and automation tools will find this offering valuable.

Cascadeur license holders receive access to personalized support and the ability to influence the program's development. This means that if users are experiencing feature shortages, the development team will prioritize their implementation.

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Is Cascadeur suitable for beginners?

3D animation is a complex field that requires careful study. For a thorough understanding of all processes, it is important to familiarize yourself with the key principles of rigging. However, novice users can easily master the software thanks to its intuitive interface and automated processes that simplify the workflow. When mastering 3D animation, it is important to focus on practice and experimentation, which will help you quickly develop skills and confidence in your work.

The developers have created a detailed course of lessons that walks you through the program's interface and functionality step by step. A section with answers to frequently asked questions is available on the official website, allowing users to quickly find the information they need. For video enthusiasts, there's an extensive playlist of training videos on YouTube, hosted on the official Cascadeur channel. This makes learning more accessible and convenient, allowing each user to master the program in a format they're comfortable with.

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Evgeny Dyabin recommends starting with these lessons.

• A 15-minute introduction to the program for beginners - from understanding the interface to creating your first animation.
• An extensive lesson on working with AutoPosing, AutoPhysics, and Secondary Motion.
• Creating a cyclical walking animation.

What's next

At the time of writing, a new version of Cascadeur is being actively developed. Evgeny Dyabin reports that a number of significant innovations will be introduced in the 2023.2 update. These improvements are aimed at optimizing the program and expanding its functionality, which will make the animation process more efficient and intuitive. Users can expect interface improvements, new tools for creating animations, and optimization of existing features.

• Video MoCap tool update.
• Automatic markup of baked animation, that is, automatic placement of keys and interpolation types. Depending on the settings, this function can be used to "clean up" mocap or to transform baked animation obtained from any source. According to Dyabin, such a tool is essential in work, as in the future there will be many animation generators, programs for recording mocap from video, as well as services with assets like Mixamo.
• Parent-switching alpha version. This function allows you to switch Parent-Child links at different intervals.

The palm can act as a child element of the hilt of a two-handed sword, and the sword itself can be a child element of the scabbard or the body of an enemy. These parameters can be adjusted and toggled on the timeline for any given interval.

Evgeny Dyabin is the co-founder and lead producer of Cascadeur. He plays a key role in the project's development, combining his knowledge and experience in game design and production. Cascadeur is known for its innovations in video game animation, and under Evgeny's leadership, the team has achieved significant success. He is actively involved in the development of technologies that help animators create more realistic and expressive character movements. Evgeny's contribution to the gaming industry is invaluable, and his work continues to inspire new professionals in this field.

• Audio track support. The ability to upload music or any sound to the timeline for easy adjustment of animations.
• USD format support.
• The ability to upload FBX animation files to the Cascadeur service and share the link with other users. This animation can be viewed directly in the browser as a 3D scene, with the camera rotating.
• An alpha version of character interaction with the environment, taking physics into account. The character will be able to interact not only with the floor, but also with stairs, walls, and any objects with collision. Moreover, all these elements can be movable.

The program community is seeing growing interest in creating facial animations. However, for Nekki, this represents a completely new challenge, requiring additional effort and resources.

We plan to implement support for blendshapes in the near future. This will allow users to upload animations with blendshapes that will display correctly. However, this feature will not be implemented in the next version. Editing facial animations is a new task for us and does not quite correspond to our core specialization. We are currently discussing this direction and will most likely use machine learning methods to implement it.

Evgeny Dyabin is a co-founder and chief producer of the Cascadeur project. His experience and professional skills play a key role in the development and promotion of this unique product. Cascadeur is an innovative solution in the field of animation, which allows you to create high-quality 3D animations for video games and films. Under Evgeny's leadership, the team is working to improve the technology and expand the user experience, which makes Cascadeur an essential tool for animators and developers.

With each update, the Cascadeur team improves existing tools and introduces new features. You can follow the developers' progress on the open Trello board, where all updates and improvement plans are displayed.

Read also:

• Blender Tutorials: Animation Basics
• How Facial Animation of Characters in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Was Created
• How Animation for the World of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart