by Terrible Junk Show·Motion Graphics
Images © Terrible Junk Show. Used for product review; image policy.
CuttanaNir2 earns its spot in the toolfarm library for handling write-on animation as a step-by-step pipeline, from splitting text into character paths to auto-generating editable line animations.
CuttanaNir2, developed by Terrible Junk Show, is a toolkit for creating write-on animations in After Effects. Its workflow moves through a sequence of tools: Text to CharacterPaths separates text into the shapes needed to reveal characters one at a time; CharacterPaths to StrokePaths divides the cross-section into a horizontal or vertical shape by selecting four, two, or a single point to slice in a chosen direction; and StrokePaths to StrokeLayers splits a layer with multiple paths into multiple single-path layers.
From there, StrokeLayers to Lines builds an animation automatically once you pick start and endpoints, using a path-trimming expression and slider-control keyframes so you can edit speed and timing. Lines to Sequences then sequences layers based on the layer name.
This version adds five features: automatic line making (cutting stays manual), rounded tips, trail paths created from Bones, an animation for the line disappearing, and conversion of an autotraced layer to Shape paths. CuttanaNir2 runs in After Effects 2020 through 2025, and a trial version limited to three divisible characters is available.
CuttanaNir2 is best for artists building write-on text animations in After Effects.
CuttanaNir2 is completely free to download and use.
CuttanaNir2 is compatible with After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020, and lists those same versions as its requirements. If you run one of these releases, the toolkit's write-on animation tools should be available to you. For any version outside that range, or to confirm the latest supported build, check the developer's page from Terrible Junk Show before installing.
CuttanaNir2 is listed as free in this catalog, so there is no cost to add it from here. Licensing arrangements can change over time, though, and the developer may set different terms directly. For the current licensing details, and to download the latest build, refer to the developer's page from Terrible Junk Show rather than relying on a cached listing. A trial version is also available if you want to test it first.
CuttanaNir2's trial version is limited to three characters that can be divided. That means you can run the write-on pipeline on a short piece of text to see how the tools separate characters, split paths, and generate line animations, but longer text is reserved for the full version. It's enough to evaluate the workflow end to end on a small sample before deciding whether the complete toolkit fits your project. For details on moving beyond the trial, see the developer's page from Terrible Junk Show.
CuttanaNir2 builds line animations through its StrokeLayers to Lines tool: you select start and endpoints, and the animation is created automatically. It uses a path-trimming expression together with slider-control keyframes, so you can edit the speed and timing intuitively. Earlier in the workflow, text is separated into character paths and stroke paths, and those are split into single-path layers before the line animation is generated. Lines to Sequences can then sequence the resulting layers based on their layer name.
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