Hi there,

my 2 cents...

I started playing a bit with Anima Lite version and I have to say that it is absolutely great.
Very easy to use: in a reasonable quick time it is possible to create crowd animation and bring the result back to iClone.
I am working with it for a scene of my current project and when I am done I will post here something to show.

Regarding the CrowdGenerator for Blender, it has the huge advantage to be FREE, but after I checked some tutorials and the doc, I got the feeling that, despite it is still very powerful and helpful, it lacks the key factor: the "easy-to-use" approach.
In fact, in order to generate a crowd with it, it is necessary to:

1. import the models of the characters
2. assign the animations to them
3. create a complicated graph and assign the actor models to the crowd agents
4. bake the simulation
5. export to 3DX

These main steps can be not that easy for everybody.

Moreover Anima focuses on real crowd situations and it makes super/easy to accomplish them, like people working in groups or gathering to a certain point, or waiting at traffic lights, bus stops, randomly sittings on benches, walking over stairs, avoiding obstacles etc. etc.

Cheers

  Roberto



My PC:
OS: Windows 10 Pro English 64-bit / CPU: Intel i7-9700 3.6GHz / MB: ASUS ROG Strix Z390  RAM: 32GB DDR4 2.6GHz / HD: 2TB+3TB  /  SSD: 2x512GB Samsung 860 EVO + 1x2TB Samsung
VB: Palit GTX2080 TI GamingPro 11GB / AB: embedded in the MB and VB (audio from the MOTU M4 I/F) / DirectX: 12

I have been watching this thread with interest but have not tried it yet. I have an important question though. If you buy the software, what benefits do you get besides longer than 4 seconds of play time? How many characters come with the basic package? I see you can buy more characters to fit your needs, but how much does it cost to have a great deal without spending a small fortune on all the extras? If I can add my own characters from Iclone, then the paid version just allows for more play time, or many other features? Just trying to decide while it is still on sale if the entry price may be all a person needs for crowd simulation on a budget. :P W
Thanks,
TS

There are really only two differences between the free and the paid -- the 4 second limitation, and the number of characters limitation (in the free version you can't use more than one imported character.  No restrictions on the number in the paid).

The second limitation isn't a big deal if you are okay with the characters provided, but I've already imported dozens of my own characters and wouldn't want to stick with only theirs.  But the first is a killer for any real animation.  And there's no way around it -- you can't, for example, render 4 seconds, and then 4 more seconds -- only the same first 4 seconds will be exported.  So unless you just want a VERY short crowd simulation you need the paid version.

But in the free one you can audition everything and determine if it's for you -- you can import your own characters and motions and, as I said, at least audition one of them to see (you may not be limited in motions -- I don't remember and don't care now that I own it).

If you ever thought you needed more than three or four background characters you need this plugin -- it works pretty seamlessly within iClone (but, again, you can test that out yourself).

---

Alienware Aurora R16, Win 11, i9-149000KF, 3.20GHz CPU, 64GB RAM, RTX 4090 (24GB), Samsung 870 Pro 8TB, Gen3 MVNe M-2 SSD, 4TBx2, 39" Alienware Widescreen Monitor
Mike "ex-genius" Kelley

Thanks for the explanation KT. That clears up all my questions. I will likely buy it while it is still on sale, I think till the end of the year.
TS

Anybody else trying out Houdini? Either the free version - Houdini Apprentice - or the paid ($199) version, Houdini Indie. These are from www.sidefx.com.

This is a lot more difficult to get your head round than Anima but much more powerful both for crowds and for fluids.

Procedural may be the future. Give it a taste.

(I am trying it out because files can be imported into PopcornFX Editor)

(I have no relationship with sidefx.com)

Home Built in Coolermaster ATX case with GigabyteGA-Z170X-GAMING 7 MoBo, i7-6700 @ 3.4 Ghz, Asus GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GraphicsCard, 32Gb DDR4 RAM, an Acer CB241HQK  & a Samsung S24D300 monitor, Huion H610Pro Graphics Tablet, Kinect v2, Logitech C920 Webcam, Win 10 64 Bit OS

I am sure glad I read through the whole thread. Thanks for the extra $40 in savings. I just bought it. :P
TS

One way to extend the 4 sec time limitation is to prepare some motion files that actually perform at higher (e.g. double) speed (this can be easily done in iClone/3DX, see below), assign them to the characters in Anima, export the FBX, then in iClone stretch the animation clip to lower the speed (e.g. half): this way the animation will last well beyond the 4 secs :cool:

Steps to double the speed in iClone/3DXChange:

1. Characterize an Anima template character in 3DXChange
2. Import an animation clip in 3DXChange and assign it to the character Perform
3. Send the character to iClone
4. in iClone, reduce the length of the animation clip so that it plays faster
5. collect it and save as iMotionPlus
7. in 3DXChange remove the original animation and import the save iMotionPlus, then assign it to perform
8. export the FBX with the new animation
9. in Anima import the FBX
10. repeat for all the needed animation clips and then assign them to the crowd, export teh FBX, re-import to 3DX/IClone and lower the speed



My PC:
OS: Windows 10 Pro English 64-bit / CPU: Intel i7-9700 3.6GHz / MB: ASUS ROG Strix Z390  RAM: 32GB DDR4 2.6GHz / HD: 2TB+3TB  /  SSD: 2x512GB Samsung 860 EVO + 1x2TB Samsung
VB: Palit GTX2080 TI GamingPro 11GB / AB: embedded in the MB and VB (audio from the MOTU M4 I/F) / DirectX: 12

Just a quick note, CGriver (aka CGWorld apparently) seems to be selling this for even cheaper ($186US) right now.
They're listed here as re-sellers so seems legit. After conversion that seems close to $40 cheaper than the black Friday price at Axyz.

Thanks for the link, I just bought it.  I had access to the product download link 30 seconds after paying with paypal, so no delay here.   :)
Thanks also to others for the feedback!

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You got lucky. I ordered mine from the same place and am still waiting and its been over 24 hours. I just checked the time in Italy and its after 10PM over there so I guess it will be tomorrow for me...Just my typical luck I guess. :hehe:

You got lucky. I ordered mine from the same place and am still waiting and its been over 24 hours. I just checked the time in Italy and its after 10PM over there so I guess it will be tomorrow for me...Just my typical luck I guess. 

Actually I was wrong the only download link I have is my invoice.  :)

Ryzen R9 5950x, RTX 3090, 128Gb Ram ,2 x 2 TB Samsung 980 Pro M.2 SSD

Horror Stories in VR
Immersive Sound VR
Immersive Sound VR on Oculus TV