AssetSifter
Control Rig
Built-in rigging and in-editor animation toolset.
Not yet verified: rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: dev.epicgames.com
Best UE5 animation tools & plugins
9 verified picks ·
UE5 ships most of what you need for animation. Learn the built-ins first, then add an external tool for creating motion.
At a glance
| # | Pick | By | Type | Price / status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Control Rig | Epic Games | Tools | Free |
| 2 | IK Rig and retargeting | Epic Games | Tools | Free |
| 3 | Motion Matching | Epic Games | Tools | Free |
| 4 | Motion Warping | Epic Games | Tools | Free |
| 5 | Sequencer | Epic Games | Tools | Free |
| 6 | MetaHuman | Epic Games | Tools | See official page |
| 7 | Mixamo | Adobe | Tools | See official page |
| 8 | Cascadeur | Nekki | Tools | See official page |
| 9 | Game Animation Sample Project (UE 5.8 update) | Epic Games | Sample Projects | See official page |
Prices are shown only when verified. “See official page” means we could not verify a current price. How we verify
The list
IK Rig and retargeting
Built-in IK solving and retargeting animations between different skeletons.
Not yet verified: rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: dev.epicgames.com
Motion Matching
Built-in pose-search animation system; Epic’s Game Animation Sample shows it in use.
Not yet verified: rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: dev.epicgames.com
Motion Warping
Built-in system that adjusts root motion so vaults, attacks and climbs line up with targets.
Not yet verified: rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: dev.epicgames.com
Sequencer
The built-in cinematic and keyframe animation editor.
Not yet verified: rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: dev.epicgames.com
MetaHuman
Epic’s digital human creator and animation tools for Unreal.
Not yet verified: price, rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: metahuman.com
Mixamo
Adobe’s online library of character animations and auto-rigger. Retarget its clips to UE5 skeletons with IK Rig.
Not yet verified: price, rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: mixamo.com
Cascadeur
Physics- and AI-assisted keyframe animation software; export animations into Unreal.
Not yet verified: price, rating, UE version, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: cascadeur.com
Sample Projects Video by Epic Games
Game Animation Sample Project (UE 5.8 update)
Epic's motion-matching animation sample, now on 5.8 with a powered-ragdoll character, multi-character interactions like shoves and tackles, and a Control Rig look-at solver. A strong base for third-person character movement.
UE 5.8
Not yet verified: price, rating, AI flag. Checked Oct 13 · Source: Unreal Engine blog
How we verify
- Sources: every item is checked against a public source we cite (Epic’s forums and docs, the maker’s own site, or GitHub). We never scrape marketplaces.
- What we show: only verified facts. Prices, ratings and engine versions appear only when we could confirm them. Summaries are written by us.
- Order: currently free items first, then items that are useful to the most projects (built-in and always-free tools rank high), then the rest.
- Updates: the “Updated” date changes only when this list’s content changes.
- Editorial independence: this list is not for sale. Sponsors cannot buy, influence or remove a placement here, and no sponsored items appear on best-of pages. Sponsorships appear only in clearly labeled spots elsewhere on the site.
FAQ
What is the best animation software for Unreal Engine 5?
Inside the engine: Control Rig and Sequencer. For creating motion outside it, Cascadeur or Mixamo clips retargeted with IK Rig.
How do I use Mixamo animations in UE5?
Import them, then retarget to your skeleton with IK Rig and the IK Retargeter.
Where can I see Motion Matching working?
In Epic’s free Game Animation Sample project, listed here.
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