Cavalry
Free TierCavalry is a professional 2D animation and motion graphics software designed for advanced motion designers. It uses a node-based workflow that allows for complex procedural animations, particle systems, deformers, and reactive behaviors. Cavalry excels at data visualization, kinetic typography, and technical animation. It supports After Effects plugins, Alembic export for 3D pipelines, and offers a powerful constraint system. With its free Starter tier and affordable Pro version, Cavalry is a popular choice for independent motion designers and small studios.
Best for: Advanced motion designers and data visualization artists who need procedural animation tools
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How to use Cavalry
Download Cavalry
Visit the Cavalry website and download the free Starter version for your operating system (Windows or Mac).
Learn the node system
Open the welcome screen and explore the node-based interface. Nodes represent operations that connect to create complex animations.
Create your first animation
Start with a shape node, connect a transform node, and add keyframes. Use the preview window to see results in real-time.
Explore procedural tools
Add particle systems, deformers, and modifiers to create dynamic effects. Use constraints to link properties between elements.
Render your animation
Set your render range and output format. Export as video, image sequence, or Alembic cache for 3D pipelines.
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