Cascadeur Early-Access-V2 now available!
29.7.2021
Company Press Release - With today's release of Early-Access-V2 (EA-2), Nekki expands the function scope of its character animation tool Cascadeur by a row of long-awaited features. Firstly a new Graph Editor offers Cascadeur users a more intuitive approach to manipulating animation curves and keys in scenes. Secondly the software now also contains its own integrated Tween Machine function, which cuts down the amount of work it takes to create good breakdown poses. Both newly introduced functions - especially the Graph Editor , which is still in alpha stage - will be improved in future updates.
Furthermore, the developers improved the Interval Edit mode in EA-2 to support copy & paste functionality - which makes it possible to mix and blend animations inside the tool. Cascadeur's unique AutoPhysics tools have been further enhanced as well: In addition to a general speed improvement, animations in which the character does not lift off the ground are now staged more realistically.
The list of other new features in Cascadeur EA-2 includes:.
- A character direction controller was added to the AutoPosing tool. Character parts in AutoPosing behave more independently now.
- A new mode for the direction controller ("pole vector"), which fixes its global position
- New templates for standard rigs in Cascadeur's Q uick Rigging tool
- Hotkeys will now work with different language keyboards
- Mirror planes visualization
- New AutoPhysics feature: fulcrum groups
- An early alpha version of Spline IK interpolation
- ... and much more!
The following product teaser shows the most important new features:
Nekki has always emphasized that Cascadeur is a productive tool for professionals, but that it is also aimed at animation beginners. With this in mind, the company is also presenting a new entry-level animation tutorial video with the EA-2 release. Under the title "Your first animation in 5 Minutes", Cascadeur CTO Alexander Grishanin personally explains how even absolute beginners can create three highly realistic jump animations - in just a few minutes of effective working time.
Nevertheless, the tutorial can also be instructive for experienced users, as it is the first tutorial to demonstrate Cascadeur's powerful AI-controlled AutoPosing and AutoPhysics tools using concrete examples:
Cascadeur EA-2, with all new features and improvements mentioned above, is now available for download on cascadeur.com . In addition to the still valid 50% early access price discount for commercial customers, Nekki also offers a completely free version called "Cascadeur Basic" for private users, indies and students.
Without doubt, there has never been a better and more convenient opportunity to enter the world of physics-based character animation!
Подписывайтесь на блог Cascadeur
Thanks for joining!
Best Shots: How to Use References for Better Action Animation (Part 2)
What can live-action fight scenes teach us about animation? In this follow-up to Part 1, Team Cascadeur's technical wriiter Fjodor explores how references from martial arts films can be used as a foundation for impactful 3D animation. From frame-by-frame analysis to working with centers of mass, this article shows how to go beyond copying and turn reference into real animation craft.
Indie Game Spotlight: Deformed
In Deformed, solo developer Deformed Studios throws players into a tense horror shooter full of biotech experiments and long-range combat. What began as a simple idea - put a monster in a game - grew into a dark, action-packed experience. Cascadeur made it possible to build complex cutscenes, gameplay animations, and even ragdoll moments. From blocking out poses to polishing final shots, it streamlined key steps in a solo dev pipeline.
Indie Game Spotlight: Eclipse Breaker
In our latest Indie Spotlight, Jorge Rodriguez, founder of Lunar Workshop Games, shares the journey behind his action-packed retro roguelike Eclipse Breaker. As a former developer of major titles like Call of Duty and Double Action Boogaloo, Jorge explains how Cascadeur helped him bring complex animations to life despite not having formal training. With Auto-Rigging and AutoPhysics, he was able to create unique characters like a spiraling water dragon and flying bosses. An inspiring story about creative freedom, technical solutions, and the power of the right tools.
Cascadeur 2025.1 introduces AI Inbetweening
With Cascadeur 2025.1 we are introducing a powerful new AI tool today that automatically generates smooth, natural animation between two poses - making your animation workflow faster and more intuitive than ever. With this new Inbetweening feature, seamless transitions are now just a click away!
Indie Spotlight: Crowned in Steel
Marko and Dusan Fajler, the duo behind indie studio Sverun Games, set out to build Crowned in Steel - a brutal action-adventure with its own unique identity. In our latest Indie Spotlight, they share how Cascadeur helped them create over 270 custom animations without prior animation experience, bringing their fluid, combo-based combat system to life with precision and control.
Indie Spotlight: Freerun AR
Our latest Indie Game Spotlight features Freerun AR, a parkour game that uses procedurally generated animations - drawing inspiration from Cascadeur’s physics engine. Developer Wray Burgess has been a longtime fan of our software and has incorporated some of its core principles into his own animation approach. While Cascadeur wasn’t directly used for Freerun AR, its influence can be seen in the game's character movement and animation systems. Learn more about Wray’s journey, his passion for action sports games, and how Cascadeur shaped his perspective on animation!
Indie Spotlight: Ninja Resurrection
From zero to the hardest fighting game: Indie developer Daniil Lyubimov, the solo creator behind Wize Studios, set out to build a fighting game from scratch - without any prior experience in animation or game development. The result? Ninja Resurrection: A Tale of Kuro - now available on Steam. In his blog article, he shares how he brought his vision to life, the challenges he faced, and how Cascadeur became an essential tool in his creative process. With over 800 animations created in Cascadeur, he was able to bring dynamic, high-quality movement to his game in record time.
Best Shots: How to Use References for Better Action Animation (Part 1)
Animation gives us full control over movement, timing, and expression - but making motion look natural and dynamic is no easy task. One of the best ways to achieve this is by using references.
In this three-part series, we’ll explore how to find and use references for action animation. Part 1 focuses on live-action scenes: what makes them useful, where their limitations lie, and how we can adapt them to create better animations.
Indie Game Spotlight: Mutation
Meet Manuel, the creative force behind Mutation, a sci-fi Lovecraftian dungeon crawler that combines roguelite, survival, and RPG elements. Developed as a solo project, Mutation challenges players to escape a dangerous, procedurally generated structure while facing ever-evolving threats. Cascadeur helped Manuel cut his animation time in half, enabling him to craft lifelike creatures and intricate gameplay. Now available on Steam Early Access, Mutation has already earned praise from critics and horror gaming enthusiasts alike.