Moho 14.5's Live Mode Turns Character Animation Into a Performance

Moho 14.5 adds a Live mode, and it is the most interesting thing to happen to 2D character rigs in a while. You create a Smart Bone and assign it to a camera input, and the webcam can drive head turning and tilting, blinking, mouth closing and lip pursing. A microphone input can drive a Smart Bone from sound volume. Any Xinput gamepad works too: click Select Input in an action's settings, press a button or move a thumbstick, and the mapping is set.

A Moho Virtual Webcam lets the character appear in video meetings, and the app works with streaming software such as OBS. Moho 14 owners get the update free. Moho Pro 14.5 is $399.99 and Moho Debut 14.5 is $59.99, with discounted upgrades for owners of earlier versions.

Our take: performance capture gives you energy that hand keyframing often loses, especially in small, quick reactions. It does not give you timing that is ready to ship. Record a live pass, then tidy the poses and spacing where it matters.

For fast social character content, where a recognisable character reacts to something this week, that workflow could be the difference between making the post and missing it.