Cascadeur is a standalone 3D animation software developed by Nekki, designed to facilitate the creation of realistic character animations through AI-assisted tools and physics-based features. Founded in 2019 by Dmitry Terekhin and Eugene Dyabin, the company operates out of Limassol, Cyprus.
In June 2021, Nekki allocated a budget of $1.5 million to further develop Cascadeur, focusing on enhancing its AI-supported Deep Physics tools and expanding its functionality.
Cascadeur offers tools aimed at streamlining the animation process:
AI-Assisted Posing (AutoPosing): Utilizes neural networks to help users create natural poses efficiently.Tech & Data VC Corp Dev
Physics-Based Animation (AutoPhysics): Ensures realistic motion by applying physics simulations to animations.
Animation Unbaking: Allows users to convert baked animations into editable formats, facilitating modifications and refinements.
Quick Rigging Tool: Enables rapid rigging of models, supporting standard skeletons from platforms like Daz3d, Character Creator, and Mixamo.
Secondary Motion: Adds life to animations by introducing realistic movements such as shakes and bounces.
Video Mocap Integration: Transforms video footage into animations, which can then be cleaned and edited within the software.
Copy/Paste Retargeting: Facilitates the transfer of animations between characters with differing proportions and skeletal structures.
The software supports formats like .FBX, .DAE, and .USD, ensuring compatibility with various animation workflows
Cascadeur consistently updates its platform with new features:Tech & Data VC Corp Dev
Cascadeur 2024.3: Introduced Ragdoll Physics and Unreal Engine Live Link, enhancing realism and integration capabilities.
Cascadeur 2024.2: Added support for blendshapes, enabling detailed facial animations, and updated AutoPhysics to allow interactions between multiple characters.
Following its Early Access launch, Cascadeur user base expanded to over 80,000 animators, including CG and VFX professionals from North America, Europe, and Asia. The company maintains an active online presence, providing tutorials, video lessons, and community engagement through platforms like Discord, YouTube, and Reddit.
