
TVPaint Animation
The digital solution for your professional 2D animation projects.

Transform 2D illustrations into dynamic, interactive characters with seamless 3D-like animation.

Live2D Cubism is a sophisticated animation technology that enables creators to manipulate 2D illustrations through a unique deformation engine, bypassing the need for traditional 3D modeling while achieving fluid, multi-axis movement. By utilizing a system of ArtMeshes, Deformers, and Parameters, Live2D allows static PSD layers to behave as dynamic entities that can breathe, blink, and speak. In the 2026 market, Live2D remains the gold standard for the VTubing industry and high-fidelity mobile gaming (notably the 'gacha' genre), where high-quality character expression is paramount. Technically, the software operates by mapping 2D textures onto vertex meshes and applying mathematical transformations that simulate perspective and depth. The 2026 architecture has expanded its AI-assisted mesh generation and auto-rigging capabilities, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for solo creators while maintaining deep SDK support for Unity, Unreal Engine, and WebGL environments. Its market positioning is uniquely niche yet dominant, bridging the gap between flat 2D art and resource-intensive 3D assets, offering a performance-optimized solution for real-time interactive applications.
Live2D Cubism is a sophisticated animation technology that enables creators to manipulate 2D illustrations through a unique deformation engine, bypassing the need for traditional 3D modeling while achieving fluid, multi-axis movement.
Explore all tools that specialize in animate 2d characters. This domain focus ensures Live2D Cubism delivers optimized results for this specific requirement.
Explore all tools that specialize in character rigging. This domain focus ensures Live2D Cubism delivers optimized results for this specific requirement.
Uses machine learning to suggest mesh placement and basic parameter mapping based on layer names.
Parent-child relationships for deformers allow for complex, nested animations without mesh tearing.
Real-time calculation of pendulums and springs for hair, clothes, and accessories.
Simultaneous editing of multiple keyframes across different parameters.
Allows for non-linear movement paths between keyframes for more natural motion.
Native runtime support for major game engines with low CPU overhead.
Advanced alpha masking for complex eye and mouth shapes.
Prepare a layered PSD illustration with separated parts for eyes, mouth, and limbs.
Import the PSD into Cubism Editor to automatically generate ArtMeshes.
Define the Draw Order of layers to manage depth and overlapping.
Create 'Warp Deformers' for large-scale movements like head rotation.
Apply 'Rotation Deformers' for joints and pivot-based movements.
Map movements to Parameters (e.g., ParamAngleX for horizontal head turning).
Configure 'Skinning' and 'Deform Keys' for fluid organic movement.
Set up the Physics and Scene Blend settings for automatic hair and accessory sway.
Test the model using the built-in 'Physics/Scene Blend' viewer or an external tracking app.
Export as a .moc3 file for use in game engines or VTubing software like VTube Studio.
All Set
Ready to go
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The digital solution for your professional 2D animation projects.

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