From faster keyframe editing to in-editor sculpting and dynamic rig physics, the latest UE 5.6 update brings a robust set of features that streamline animation workflows.
A growing number of studios are producing animation using game engines - the same technology used to create video games.Because game engines render visuals in real time, animators get to see the results of any tweaks or changes they make instantly, instead of having to endure the long waiting times associated with offline rendering.From a business sense, that’s better for a studio’s bottom line - projects can be turned around faster.
But it’s also a far more satisfying way for animators to work.Instant visual feedback empowers animators to quickly iterate on concepts and explore different creative possibilities.In essence, it puts the creative flow back into animation.
Of course, DCCs still play a hugely significant role when it comes to core animation authoring, but the percentage of tasks that can be completed entirely in a game engine is rapidly increasing.That’s important, because roundtripping between game engines and DCCs can pose challenges - such as lossy data exchange or incompatible naming conventions - that require an investment in time and effort to fix.It would be far easier if you could avoid roundtripping completely and do everything in one place.
Fortunately, with the rapid evolution of the animation tools in Unreal Engine 5, huge strides are being made towards achieving just that.Accelerated animation authoring in UE 5.6 Epic Games recently released Unreal Engine 5.6, bringing the most significant update yet to the engine’s in-editor animation toolsets.Motion Trails Motion Trails have been completely redesigned, enabling animations to be edited visually and intuitively.
You can adjust your arcs and spacing directly in the viewport for both actors and character controls; choose from styles like Dashed, Time-based, and Heat/Speed mode; and access features that include pinning, offsets, and spaces for even more precision.Tween Tools The Tween Tools in UE 5.6 have also undergone a transformation, enabling you to quickly fine-tune animation on controls or selected keys.There are new Hotkeys to control the sliders indirectly, as well as the ability to toggle between different slider types and switch into Overshoot mode.
And, with the addition of the new Time Offset slider, you can create and edit with even greater control.Sculpt Morph Shapes Speaking of Experimental features, UE 5.6 brings new Experimental solutions to enable more in-editor rigging workflows.You can now create and sculpt morph targets directly in-editor with the Skeletal Mesh Editor.
This Experimental feature leverages Unreal Engine’s built-in modeling tools, enabling you to easily edit pre-existing morph targets and sculpt blend shapes during PIE (Play-in-Editor).Sequencer Sequencer gives Unreal Engine users the ability to create in-game cinematics through its specialized multi-track editor.The latest Sequencer updates enable you to take better control of your timelines.
A new Sequencer Navigation Tool makes it easier to navigate complex hierarchies, while real-time Audio Scrubbing brings seamless syncing for animation, dialogue, and effects.An Experimental feature also expands Sequencer’s ability to scale relatively based on localized audio, enabling sequences to match the timing from different languages.Curve Editor It’s now easier and cleaner to manipulate key frames in Unreal Engine thanks to a redesigned Curve Editor toolbar, improving speed and performance for keyframe animation.
The Curve Editor UI has been streamlined, with consolidated icons and the new Tween tools embedded directly in the interface for quicker access.Plus, there’s a new Lattice tool and Smart Key snapping feature for greater control over dense keyframe data.Control Rig Physics Finally, bring an unparalleled amount of realism to your digital animations with Control Rig Physics - also in Experimental - making it easy to add procedural physics motion to character rigs for more dynamic movement.
In addition, there’s an Experimental new built-in ragdoll physics feature within the rig to create more lifelike responsive animations.Learn more about animation in Unreal Engine If you’re interested in learning more about animating in Unreal Engine, there are a wealth of resources to get you started.For an overview of how Unreal Engine can help transform the animation pipeline, check out the learn more here.
The Epic Developer Community has a whole bunch of tutorials, guides, and forums dedicated to animation workflows.A few key highlights for beginners are: Begin Play | Animation Get a high-level overview of Unreal Engine's Animation system from core features such as Animation Blueprints, Control Rig, and Sequencer to debugging and optimization workflows.Build a Third Person Character from Scratch Learn how to build a third-person character in Unreal Engine that includes movement, cameras, animations, and a jetpack.
Slay Animation Sample
Explore animation and virtual art department techniques for film and TV content in this sample project created by Mold3D Studio.And finally, if you're the sort of person who learns best by rolling up your sleeves and getting hands on, you can download Unreal Engine completely free of charge and explore it at your leisure.Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
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