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SPECIFICTION
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Adobe Character Animator

adobe.com

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Spec score 9.2 #1 of 40 in Motion Tracking Software

Spec sheet

What it does
Adobe Character Animator is a performance-based 2D animation application that brings layered characters to life in real time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Supported platforms
Windows,macOSRead 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Free plan
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Headquarters
San Jose, California, USARead 23 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Founded
1982Read 23 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
2D animation tools
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Activation requirement
Activation and use require an internet connection, Adobe ID and acceptance of the license agreement.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
API and SDK
Adobe's public Character Animator help presents user workflows for behaviors, rigging, recording, export and streaming but does not present a public Character Animator API or SDK section.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Auto-swap
Auto-swap selects different artwork positions during animation to combine performance capture with frame-by-frame artwork changes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · adobe.com
Automatic lip sync
The application synchronizes a puppet's mouth with recorded or live speech from a microphone.Read 15 Oct 2026 · adobe.com
Body Tracker
Adobe Sensei Body Tracker detects webcam-recorded body movement and applies it to the puppet in real time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Character rigging
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Characterizer
Characterizer uses facial expressions and reference art to generate a stylized puppet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Cloud collaboration
NoRead 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Company founded
Adobe's LinkedIn profile lists 1982 as its founding year.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company headquarters
Adobe's LinkedIn profile lists San Jose, California as headquarters.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company legal name
LinkedIn identifies the maker as Adobe, a public software-development company.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company size
Adobe's LinkedIn profile lists company size as 10,001+ employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Documentation
The help center covers setup, projects, puppet creation, rigging, behaviors, recording, keyframes, export and streaming, plus known issues and release notes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Dynamic Link integration
Dynamic Link keeps Character Animator scenes connected to After Effects or Premiere so edits flow between applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Export formats
Exports include H.264 video, Adobe Media Encoder output, PNG sequences and WAV audio.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Face tracking
A webcam tracks facial movement and expressions to control a puppet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · adobe.com
Independent review score
TechRadar rates the product 4 out of 5 for how it works, 3 out of 5 for pricing and plans, and 2 out of 5 for new features.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Latest release
Adobe lists version 26.0 as the January 2026 release, with improvements and stability updates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Licence
Adobe lists Character Animator under Creative Cloud software governed by Adobe's general terms; it is proprietary commercial software rather than open source.Read 15 Oct 2026 · adobe.com
Limit: crashes
A G2 reviewer reports occasional crashes during use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: limited control
G2 reviewers complain that the application lacks some After Effects functions and offers less fine control than more professional tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: no standalone Pro plan
TechRadar criticizes that Pro is available only through a Creative Cloud subscription rather than a standalone Character Animator subscription.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Limit: setup complexity
G2 reviewers report that preparing correctly structured artwork, naming layers and organizing files can be tedious and confusing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: sparse editing
TechRadar says editing tools are sparse and the latest version added little for Starter users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Live streaming
Scenes can be broadcast live to external devices or applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Notable news
Adobe's January 21, 2026 release notes announced Character Animator version 26.0 with improvements and stability updates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Photoshop and Illustrator import
Multi-layer Photoshop and Illustrator files can be imported, with their layer structure forming the puppet structure.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Praise: Adobe workflow
G2 reviewers value importing Photoshop or Illustrator artwork and working with After Effects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: ease and speed
G2 reviewers repeatedly describe Character Animator as intuitive, easy to learn and fast for producing 2D animation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: facial animation and lip sync
G2 reviewers repeatedly praise webcam facial capture and automatic lip syncing for saving time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Pro mode
Pro mode is the full-featured interface for professional puppet rigging, animation and live work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Puppet Maker
Puppet Maker lets users select styles and physical features to generate an optimized custom puppet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Rating on G2
4.2 out of 5 from 33 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Recording hardware
Recording requires a webcam, microphone and headphones according to Adobe's requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Security documentation
Adobe's Trust Center provides public security overviews and lists attestations, business-continuity documents, compliance certifications and penetration-test reports, while some assets require an NDA.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Self-hosting
The product is installed as a Creative Cloud desktop application and Adobe documents no self-hosted deployment option on its product or help pages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Starter mode
Starter mode provides a simplified drag-and-drop workflow for recording face and voice performances and exporting short animated movies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
System requirements macOS
macOS requires Sonoma 14, an Intel sixth-generation or newer CPU or Apple silicon, 8 GB RAM, 4 GB disk space and a Metal-capable GPU.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
System requirements Windows
Windows requires version 24H2 or later, an Intel sixth-generation or newer or AMD Ryzen 1000-series or newer CPU with AVX2, 8 GB RAM, 4 GB disk space and DirectX 12 graphics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Triggers
Users can map saved movements and expressions to keyboard shortcuts through triggers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · adobe.com

Plans and prices

Character Animator Starter Price not published Basic features for creating and exporting animations · Predesigned puppets · Real-time face tracking · Select gestures Read 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Character Animator Starter Priced on request Basic features for creating and exporting animations · Predesigned puppets · Real-time face tracking · Select gestures Read 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Creative Cloud Pro for students and teachers Priced on request 20+ apps Read 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Creative Cloud Pro for students and teachers Price not published 20+ apps Read 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Creative Cloud Pro for teams Price not published 20+ apps Read 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Creative Cloud Pro for teams Priced on request 20+ apps Read 21 Sep 2026 · adobe.com
Starter Free Free simplified mode · premade puppets · record face and voice · short animated movies Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpx.adobe.com
Creative Cloud Pro annual billed monthly $34.99 a month annual billed monthly Character Animator Pro · Creative Cloud membership required Read 15 Oct 2026 · adobe.com
Creative Cloud Pro $69.99 a month monthly Character Animator Pro · Creative Cloud membership required Read 15 Oct 2026 · adobe.com

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