by Motion Boutique·Simulation
Images © Motion Boutique. Used for product review; image policy.
Newton earns its place in the Toolfarm library as a dedicated 2D physics engine for After Effects, with a keyframe-only workflow that keeps simulations editable after the fact.
Newton is a 2D physics engine for After Effects from Motion Boutique that transforms 2D layers into simulations of real-world objects. You can fine-tune object dynamics such as density, friction, and bounce, and adjust global forces like gravity for broad control. Newton works with masks, text, and shape layers, and it only creates keyframes, so simulations stay editable afterward.
The plugin includes 7 object types and 7 joint types—Weld, Distance, Piston, Pivot, Spring, Wheel, and Blob—for building precise, complex rigs. Built-in systems cover Waterlike buoyancy, magnetism, Triggermatic collision-based animations, and teleportation. The Keyframes panel animates physical properties with five interpolation styles, looping, and a graph preview for fine adjustments.
A Samples Browser offers a curated selection of demo scenes for learning techniques or starting a project. Newton runs on Windows and macOS, with native support on Apple Silicon.
Motion Boutique Newton is best for 2D physics simulation in After Effects—dropping, colliding, and rigging layers with joints and forces while keeping results as editable keyframes.
Motion Boutique Newton is completely free to download and use.
Newton supports After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 on Windows and macOS. On macOS it requires 10.14 Mojave at minimum and runs natively on Apple Silicon (M1 and above). Users on older versions of the plugin should note that Newton3 still receives support but no longer gets bug fixes, new features, or improvements. For current release details, check the developer's page.
Newton offers native support on Apple Silicon, covering M1 chips and above, and also runs on Windows and macOS. The minimum macOS version is 10.14 Mojave. This native support applies to the current Newton4 release, while the older Newton3 remains supported but no longer receives bug fixes, new features, or improvements. See the developer's page for the latest system details.
Motion Boutique Newton is listed as free in this catalog. Licensing terms can change, so for current pricing and license details it's best to check the developer's page directly. Beyond licensing, Newton is a 2D physics engine that converts After Effects layers into physical objects and outputs the result as editable keyframes, with object types, joint types, and systems like buoyancy and teleportation included in the release.
Newton includes seven joint types for connecting layers: Weld, Distance, Piston, Pivot, Spring, Wheel, and Blob. Weld bonds two bodies with an option for controlled flexibility. Distance keeps a fixed, adjustable distance between points. Piston allows motor-driven translation along an axis while restricting rotation. Pivot forces a shared anchor point within a defined rotation range. Spring links layers as if by a spring, and Wheel combines piston and pivot behavior with suspension and a motor, suited to attaching wheels to vehicles.
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