Unlock your creativity with markerless motion capture

Unlock your creativity with markerless motion capture

Motion capture, often shortened to mocap, is the process of recording the movement of objects or people and translating that data into a digital format. For animators and 3D artists, this technology is transformative, offering a way to bring characters and scenes to life with unparalleled realism and efficiency. At Marionette Mocap, we believe that professional-grade motion capture should be accessible to everyone, not just large studios with dedicated hardware and massive budgets. That's why we've developed an AI-powered, markerless motion capture solution that redefines the animation workflow.

Gone are the days of needing expensive suits, complex camera setups, or dedicated studios. With Marionette Mocap, all you need is a laptop and a mobile phone to capture nuanced, production-standard motion. Our software processes all data locally on your computer, ensuring your privacy and eliminating the need for costly cloud credits. Whether you're animating body movements, intricate facial expressions, hand gestures, or even multiple characters simultaneously, our solution empowers you to create stunning animations from a single video source.

What is motion capture and how does it work?

At its core, motion capture is about translating real-world movement into digital data. Traditionally, this involved placing physical markers on a performer and using specialized cameras to track their positions in 3D space. The data from these markers would then be used to drive a digital character rig, animating it to match the performer's movements.

Our approach at Marionette Mocap leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence to achieve the same, if not superior, results without any markers. Our AI analyzes standard video footage from your mobile phone, recognizing key points on the body, face, and hands. This eliminates the need for any special equipment, making the entire process far more streamlined and accessible. The AI then translates these detected movements into a precise 3D animation, ready for your creative projects. This markerless motion capture technology democratizes access to a powerful animation technique, enabling more creators to tell their stories.

The evolution of motion capture technology

The journey of motion capture has been one of continuous innovation. Early systems were bulky and expensive, primarily used in high-budget film productions. Over time, advancements in sensor technology and processing power led to more compact and affordable solutions. However, even these often required specific hardware, such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) or depth-sensing cameras.

The latest leap in motion capture technology, exemplified by Marionette Mocap, is the advent of AI-powered markerless systems. This innovation fundamentally changes the game. By relying solely on readily available video input and sophisticated algorithms, we've removed significant barriers to entry. This means animators, game developers, and content creators can now access professional motion capture tools from virtually anywhere, fostering unprecedented levels of creative freedom.

Benefits of markerless motion capture for animators

The advantages of our markerless motion capture system are numerous, offering a significant upgrade to traditional workflows. Here's how Marionette Mocap can transform your animation process:

• Unmatched Accessibility: All you need is a laptop (Windows 10 or newer, with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 745 or newer GPU) and a mobile phone. No specialized suits, markers, or camera arrays required. We do not support AMD or CPU-only hardware at this time.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Eliminate the need for expensive hardware investments and studio rentals. Our software-only solution keeps your budget focused on creativity, not equipment.

• Speed and Efficiency: Capture motion quickly and process it directly on your local machine. Our real-time preview capabilities allow for immediate feedback, accelerating your iteration cycles.

• Privacy and Security: All data processing happens on your local computer. This means your sensitive animation data never leaves your control and there's no reliance on cloud credits or services.

• Versatility: Capture full-body, face, and hand movements, and even animate multiple people from a single video source. This comprehensive approach ensures you have all the tools for complex scene creation.

• Production-Standard Output: Our AI-powered cleanup, combined with intuitive manual tools, ensures your animations are polished and production-ready.

How Marionette Mocap simplifies your workflow

We've designed Marionette Mocap to integrate seamlessly into your existing animation pipeline. Our traditional post-to-pose workflow allows you to capture raw motion data and then refine it with our powerful tools. This blend of AI automation and manual control gives you the precision needed for professional results.

For example, Joey Lombardi, an Indie animator, and Peer Lemmers, a 3D Animator at Guerrilla Games, have both praised the efficiency and quality they achieve with our solution. It’s about empowering creators to focus on their artistic vision rather than getting bogged down by technical complexities.

Key features of our motion capture software

Marionette Mocap is packed with features designed to make your animation process smooth and efficient. From capturing your initial movements to integrating them into your preferred 3D software, we've thought of everything.

Comprehensive capture capabilities

Our software excels at capturing a wide range of human movement:

• Full-Body Motion Capture: Capture realistic and fluid body movements for any character.

• Facial Motion Capture: Bring expressions to life with detailed facial animation from video.

• Hand Motion Capture: Capture intricate hand gestures and finger movements, adding another layer of realism.

• Multi-Person Motion Capture: Animate interactions between multiple characters from a single video, simplifying complex scene setup.

With our latest software version, v33.6, released on Sept. 19, 2025, we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with markerless motion capture.

Powerful integrations and export options

We understand that animators work within diverse ecosystems. That's why Marionette Mocap offers robust export and direct streaming capabilities:

• Direct Streaming Integrations: Accelerate your workflow by streaming animations directly to control rigs using our powerful plugins for Blender, Unity, and Maya. This real-time connection minimizes import/export cycles.

• Flexible Export Formats: Export your animations in industry-standard formats such as FBX (Mixamo standard), GLTF, or GLB, ensuring compatibility with virtually any 3D application.

Artists like Alex Overby, an animator and actor, and Monika Oller, a 3D animator at Tato, leverage these integrations to seamlessly incorporate our motion capture data into their projects, boosting their productivity and creative output.

Here’s a quick overview of our direct streaming integrations:

Privacy and local processing

Unlike many other solutions, Marionette Mocap prioritizes your privacy. All video analysis and data processing occur locally on your Windows 10 (or newer) machine. This means your intellectual property remains on your hardware, and you never have to worry about data being sent to external servers or incurring cloud computing costs. This commitment to local processing is a cornerstone of our markerless motion capture philosophy.

Choosing the right motion capture plan for you

Marionette Mocap offers flexible plans to suit every creator, from aspiring students to professional studios. We believe everyone should have access to powerful motion capture technology.

Explore our plans

We provide a range of options, each designed with different user needs in mind:

• Free Plan: Get started with limited export capabilities (3 seconds) and a 30-second per month DCC copy limit. It's perfect for testing the waters and understanding our workflow.

• Indie Plan: Ideal for freelancers and students with annual revenues less than $100k/year. This plan offers unlimited motion capture and export, priced at $12.50/month when paid annually. Monthly payment options are also available.

• Studio Plan: Designed for professionals and small teams, offering unlimited motion capture and export. The annual price is $29.99/month, with monthly payment options also available.

All paid plans include access to our Discord channel for support. Studio Plan users benefit from additional dedicated chat, email, and phone support. For specific questions about our terms, you can always reach out to support@marionettexr.com.

Our commitment to creators extends to our Marionette Masters affiliate program, where you can earn a minimum of 10% revenue share on every sale's first billing, paid via PayPal or Venmo. This is another way we support the animation community.

Here's a comparison of our main plans:

Why Marionette Mocap is the future of motion capture

As a company, Marionette ApS is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of accessible animation technology. We are proud to serve a diverse range of customers, including Triband, Krafton, Maze FX, and Mediatech, among others. Our innovative markerless motion capture solution is not just a tool; it's a gateway to new creative possibilities.

We invite you to experience the freedom and power of AI-driven motion capture. Get started today and see how easy it is to bring your digital characters to life with realistic, high-quality movement, all from the comfort of your home or studio. Our community on Discord is also a fantastic place to connect with other animators and get support.

Frequently asked questions about motion capture

What hardware do I need for Marionette Mocap's motion capture?

For our markerless motion capture, you only need a laptop running Windows 10 or newer, equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 745 GPU or newer. Additionally, a mobile phone is required for video capture. We currently do not support AMD or CPU-only hardware.

Can I use Marionette Mocap for facial and hand motion capture?

Yes! Marionette Mocap supports comprehensive motion capture, including full-body, facial expressions, and detailed hand and finger movements. Our AI analyzes these elements from a single video source.

How does your motion capture solution ensure my privacy?

Your privacy is paramount. All video analysis and motion capture data processing happen locally on your computer. Your files and data are never sent to external servers or the cloud, ensuring complete control over your intellectual property.

What animation software does Marionette Mocap integrate with?

We offer powerful plugins for direct streaming into Blender, Unity, and Maya, accelerating your workflow. You can also export your motion capture animations in universal formats like FBX (Mixamo standard), GLTF, and GLB for use in virtually any 3D application.

Is there a free version of Marionette Mocap for testing motion capture?

Yes, we offer a Free Plan that allows you to capture unlimited motion and export up to 3 seconds of animation. It's a great way to explore our markerless motion capture capabilities before committing to a paid plan.

What makes Marionette Mocap different from other motion capture tools?

Marionette Mocap stands out due to its AI-powered, markerless approach, requiring only a laptop and a mobile phone. We offer local processing for privacy, production-standard cleanup, and robust integrations with popular DCCs, making professional motion capture accessible and affordable.