Muvizu: Drag'n'Drop 3D Animation

Muvizu.
Muvizu Play is an easy to use, 3D, drag'n'drop animation software that's been around for a while but I hadn't come across it until now. It's free to download and, if you pay for a license you'll be able to access more features, content and remove the Muvizu watermark from your creations.





The software reminds me a little of the now defunct Slate the desktop version of the equally defunct 3D animation site Xtranormal (which has since relaunched as NawmalMAKE). Muvizu Play and Slate are really nothing alike though. It's just the fact that they're both 3D animation, systems that causes me to draw the comparison.

Muvizu Scene Editor.
Muvizu appears to be intended as a scene editor. Whilst you could create entire animations within a single project file, it seems like the intention is to edit scenes and then export them into you preferred video editing software.

Almost everything can be done through the mouse. Clicking to select things, dragging and dropping things into place. If you have a laptop track pad that doesn't have completely independent left and right buttons you may experience trouble operating controls that require left and right buttons to be held down at the same time (I know I certainly did).

Other than that Muvizu is very easy to learn the basics via the video tutorials. I particularly like how you can animate characters in layers e.g. animate movements such as walking first, then animate talking, then facial expressions etc. Great to have auto lip syncing as a feature too.

Muvizu characters have a very unique look to them which may be an attraction. You can actually customize them to achieve different looks and facial features. I imagine they're even more customizeable if you upgrade.

The upgrade price is very reasonable. It's low enough that I'm certainly considering the upgrade even though I already have more advanced 3D software that can do all this and more. I just think Muvizu looks like a fun alternative for those small projects that you might not animate otherwise.

Finished animations can be used for personal and commercial use so if you're looking for a system for your marketing and explainer videos this could be a great option.

I found Muvizu incredibly easy to learn and had a grasp of the main concepts from watching just the first tutorial video. It looks great for shorter productions but could do equally well for longer projects too.

I was particularly impressed by this music clip (below) for Tim Minchin's song White Wine in the Sun created by a fan. It's a great example of a longer project and was how I came across Muvizu in the first place.




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