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Tip: If you’re new to CAS, use the KINEMATION/Shared/Character humanoid model.

Basic Setup

Note: This tutorial relies on example content, so make sure to download the demo files first Install Demo Content.
CAS provides a preset-based character setup. First, add your character to the scene, right-click on it, and select “KINEMATION/Setup CAS”: This will open a Character Animation Setup window with preset options: Select Basic. More options appear if additional content is installed.
Tip: Use Manual only if you’re experienced. It’s covered later.
Next, follow the setup steps and assign properties:

Setup window.

1. Skeleton Type

Select the type of your character model skeleton:

Select your skeleton type.

CAS supports the most common model types:
  • Unreal Mannequin (UE4&UE5).
  • Mixamo
  • Character Creator (CC4, CC5)
  • Synty
For other models, choose Default — CAS will search bones recursively..

2. Animations

Next, we need to pick Animation Clips for our character:

Assign Animation Clips.

Base Pose is the standing idle animation. CAS uses it to compute additive motion at runtime. Overlay Pose represents the current state — an item/weapon pose (e.g., torch) or a gameplay pose (e.g., injured, unarmed). At runtime, CAS animates Overlays dynamically, turning poses into animations with natural blending. An Overlay Controller serves the same role as an Overlay Pose, but adds states, transitions, and blend trees.
Tip: Use Overlay Controllers for complex logic (e.g., draw/holster/attack/block as states).
Tip: If both are assigned, CAS prioritizes the Overlay Controller.

3. Bones

Finally, assign bone references so CAS can create Procedural Animation modifiers:

Bones.

If all bones are found, CAS shows Good to go! If something’s missing, CAS warns which bones to assign manually:

Warning example.

4. Apply Preset

This adds components, ScriptableObjects, and prefabs.
Note: The next page explains how these assets and prefabs are used in the system.

5. Assign Animator

For Generic rigs, assign an Animator Controller:

Assign an Animator Controller.