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Axis Core Addon

by Antonio Solano·Workflow

Images © Antonio Solano. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Axis Core works alongside the wider AXIS ecosystem, including the AXIS Rig body control system and the Facial Widget, and requires AXIS-based rigs to function.

What is Axis Core Addon?

Axis Core is an animation and retarget system for Blender built for AXIS-based rigs. It connects Blender directly to Mixamo, ActorCore (Reallusion), Unreal Engine (Mannequin), HumanIK and DAZ Studio, covering DAZ Genesis 3, 8, 8.1 and 9. The source system is detected automatically, and bone mapping and offsets are handled for you without manual adjustments. From one panel it runs the full pipeline from retargeting to baking, cleanup and facial mocap.

Retargeted animations bake in a single step, with post-bake tools to keep actions clean: Smooth Keyframes reduces jitter and noise with adjustable intensity, Decimate Keyframes removes unnecessary keyframes while keeping the animation intact, and Push to NLA sends the baked action to the NLA editor as a strip. For facial work, it imports ARKit CSV data from Live Link Face and applies it directly to AXIS facial rigs, with body and facial animation managed independently.

Axis Core is compatible only with AXIS-based rigs, the OMNIA and VERSA characters. It is not compatible with non-AXIS rigs or legacy OMNIA versions.

Who is Axis Core Addon best for?

Axis Core Addon is best for blender artists working with AXIS OMNIA and VERSA rigs who need to retarget, bake and clean animation from external mocap sources.

How much does Axis Core Addon cost?

Axis Core Addon is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Retargets animation from Mixamo, ActorCore, Unreal Engine, HumanIK and DAZ Studio to AXIS rigs, with source detection and automatic bone mapping
  • Bakes retargeted animation in a single step, with an action name set before baking or generated automatically
  • Smooth Keyframes reduces jitter and noise from mocap data with adjustable intensity; Decimate Keyframes removes unnecessary keyframes while keeping the animation intact
  • Push to NLA sends the baked action to the NLA editor as a strip in one click
  • Imports ARKit CSV data from Live Link Face and applies it directly to AXIS facial rigs; Reset ARKit clears facial data without jumping to frame 1
  • Dual rig workflow manages body and facial animation independently, each with its own controls
  • Full installation and usage documentation available at axisproject.co/documentation

Tags

#retargeting#mocap#mixamo#daz#unreal-engine#facial-mocap#arkit#blender

Frequently asked questions

Does Axis Core work with Blender 4 and Blender 5?

Axis Core is compatible with Blender 4.x and Blender 5.x, spanning versions 4.0 through 5.0. Beyond the Blender version, it also requires AXIS-based rigs to function: it works only with the OMNIA and VERSA character lines. It is not compatible with non-AXIS rigs or legacy OMNIA versions, so those rigs must be in place before the addon's retargeting, baking and facial tools can be used within your Blender scene.

Which animation sources can Axis Core retarget from?

Axis Core transfers animation from Mixamo, ActorCore (Reallusion), Unreal Engine (Mannequin), HumanIK and DAZ Studio, with DAZ support covering Genesis 3, 8, 8.1 and 9. The source system is detected automatically, and bone mapping and offsets are handled for you with no manual adjustments needed. Facial mocap is handled separately by importing ARKit CSV data from Live Link Face and applying it directly to AXIS facial rigs.

How does Axis Core clean up baked mocap animation?

Axis Core bakes retargeted animation in a single step and includes post-bake tools to keep actions production-ready. Smooth Keyframes reduces jitter and noise from mocap data with adjustable intensity, and Decimate Keyframes removes unnecessary keyframes while keeping the animation intact. Push to NLA sends the baked action to the NLA editor as a strip in one click, and you can name your bake beforehand or leave it empty for an automatic name.

Is Axis Core free?

Axis Core is listed as free in this catalog. For current licensing terms and any details specific to the AXIS ecosystem, check the developer's page. Note that the addon requires AXIS-based OMNIA or VERSA rigs to work. The related AXIS Panel, which handles posing and rig control in the viewport, is included with every OMNIA and VERSA model at no extra cost.

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