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Mmd Anime Facerig Addon

by Skytails·Workflow

Images © Skytails. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place in the Superhive library as a simpler follow-up to Skytails' MMD Facekey Addon, trimming face control down to three main controllers with fewer bones to handle.

What is Mmd Anime Facerig Addon?

MMD Anime FaceRig Addon is Skytails' successor to the MMD Facekey Addon, built to create a face-control rig for anime characters in Blender. It uses three main controllers to drive the entire face, which means fewer bones to handle and quicker animation. The developer positions it as simpler than the earlier MMD Facekey Addon.

The add-on works by adding drivers on your model's shapekeys and linking them to the rig. If the model lacks a required shapekey, the tool adds it automatically. The panel covers importing the facerig, attaching it to the model, linking tweak bones through a lattice modifier, removing drivers from the selected model, and adding a Costume Controller based on your costume shapekeys.

Using it requires a model with shapekeys, Blender 4.0 or above, and an understanding of how drivers work in Blender. Recent updates added Vroid support, lip-corner tweak controls, auto left and right eyebrow shapekeys, and Hololive MMD model support. It's licensed under GPL and cleared for personal and commercial projects.

Who is Mmd Anime Facerig Addon best for?

Mmd Anime Facerig Addon is best for blender users rigging MMD anime characters who want face control from a small set of controllers.

How much does Mmd Anime Facerig Addon cost?

Mmd Anime Facerig Addon is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Three main controllers drive the entire face, leaving fewer bones to handle
  • Adds drivers on the model's shapekeys and links them to the rig, adding missing required shapekeys automatically
  • Panel options for Import Facerig, Attach to the Model, Link Tweak Bones (adds a lattice modifier), and Remove Driver
  • Costume Controller adds controllers based on your costume shapekeys
  • Vroid support with additional layer-panel buttons and a new Vroid controller
  • Hololive MMD model support (some controllers may not work)
  • Drag-and-drop install on Blender 4.2 or above

Tags

#Blender#rigging#face rig#MMD#anime#shapekeys#Vroid#character animation

Frequently asked questions

Which Blender versions does MMD Anime FaceRig Addon support?

MMD Anime FaceRig Addon lists Blender compatibility from 4.1 through 5.1, and the developer recommends Blender 4.0 or above. As of update 1.2, the add-on can be installed by drag and drop on Blender 4.2 or above. Update 1.4 also fixed the FaceRig layer not showing in Object Mode. If you're on a version within that supported range the add-on should load, though checking the developer's documentation for your exact build is worth doing before you start rigging.

What do I need to use MMD Anime FaceRig Addon?

MMD Anime FaceRig Addon needs a model that already has shapekeys, Blender 4.0 or above, and some understanding of how drivers work in Blender. The add-on attaches by adding drivers on your model's shapekeys and linking them to the rig, and if a required shapekey is missing it adds one automatically. A grasp of drivers helps, because that's the mechanism the rig relies on. The developer also links documentation and a tutorial for setup, which are worth reviewing before you attach the rig.

How do I install MMD Anime FaceRig Addon?

MMD Anime FaceRig Addon can be installed by drag and drop on Blender 4.2 or above, a method added in minor update 1.2. Once installed, the add-on's panel lets you import the facerig into the scene and attach it to your model. From there you can link tweak bones, which adds a lattice modifier, or remove drivers from a selected model. For older Blender versions, follow the developer's documentation for the appropriate install steps, since the drag-and-drop route is tied to Blender 4.2 and up.

Does MMD Anime FaceRig Addon work with Vroid and Hololive models?

MMD Anime FaceRig Addon added Vroid support in update 1.4, which introduced additional buttons on the layer panel and a new controller aimed at Vroid models. Support for Hololive MMD models arrived earlier in update 1.1, though the developer notes some controllers may not work with those models. Beyond those, the tool is built around MMD anime characters and works with any model that has the required shapekeys, adding missing ones automatically when you attach the rig.

Is MMD Anime FaceRig Addon free to use?

MMD Anime FaceRig Addon is listed as free here, and it's cleared for both personal and commercial projects. The add-on carries a GPL license. For current licensing terms and any conditions, check the developer's page directly, since those details can change. Skytails also offers support channels for any problems, listing contact through Twitter (X) and Discord. Reviewing the documentation and FAQ linked by the developer is a sensible step before committing to the tool for a production project.

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