CharacterStudio

Free plan Web

What CharacterStudio is

CharacterStudio is a browser-based toolkit for building and optimizing 3D VRM character avatars. You can assemble a character with point-and-click controls, mix preloaded traits, and adjust color with a picker. You can also add your own 3D models and textures or generate avatars from a manifest.json file. Imported models must use VRM format; the avatar guide recommends version 0.0. For texture changes, drop an image into the browser to replace a trait’s texture. The guide recommends matching the replacement image’s UVs to the base mesh.

The studio exports GLB and VRM files, plus screenshots, and lists programmable animations. Its one-click optimizer can merge skinned meshes and atlas textures; the documentation says this can reduce an avatar to a single draw call. Batch export can randomize results or follow metadata schemas. CharacterStudio renders in the browser using Three.js and WebGL, and its codebase is open source under the MIT license. The project is positioned as an open alternative for people creating avatars for open-world games or studying and customizing avatar tools. JSON-based VRM assembly and export is documented for batch creation of Anata VRMs, but that workflow is still being developed for broader use.

Who it suits

CharacterStudio suits people building 3D VRM characters for open-world games, especially those who want to combine preloaded traits with their own models or textures. Its open-source codebase may also suit people who want to study or customize avatar creation tools.

What it does well

Build characters from preloaded traits with point-and-click controls and a color picker.
Bring in custom VRM models and textures or use a manifest.json file.
Export creations as GLB, VRM, or screenshots.
Optimize VRMs by merging skinned meshes and atlas textures.
Batch export can randomize results or follow metadata schemas.
The codebase is open source under the MIT license.

What to know first

Imported 3D models must be in VRM format; version 0.0 is recommended.
Replacement textures work best when their UVs match the base mesh.
JSON assembly is still being developed for general use and targets Anata VRMs.

Limits

Imported models must be VRM files, with version 0.0 recommended. JSON-based assembly is a work in progress tailored to batch creation of Anata VRMs.

Getting started

Open the CharacterStudio website in a browser.
Choose preloaded assets, add a VRM model and textures, or generate an avatar from a manifest.json file.
Customize traits and color, then export as GLB, VRM, or a screenshot.
For developer setup, clone the GitHub repository and install its dependencies with npm or Yarn.
Install the default assets separately with npm run get-assets, then run the development server.

Verdict

Choose CharacterStudio if you want a free browser toolkit for assembling and optimizing VRM characters, with GLB and VRM export and an MIT-licensed codebase. Look elsewhere if you need general-purpose JSON assembly today or need to import models in formats other than VRM.

Questions

Is CharacterStudio free?

Yes. It has a free plan.

Which platforms does it support?

CharacterStudio is web based and runs in a browser.

What file formats can it export?

It exports GLB and VRM files, as well as screenshots.

Is CharacterStudio open source?

Yes. The project describes its codebase as open source under the MIT license.

Can I import my own 3D model?

Yes, provided it is in VRM format. The avatar guide recommends version 0.0.

How can I get help?

The documentation invites artists and developers to join the M3 Discord community for discussion.

Facts from CharacterStudio's own pages

Animation: The product lists programmable animations as a feature. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Asset format: The avatar guide says uploaded 3D model files must be in VRM format and recommends version 0.0. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Batch export: Batch export can randomize outputs or follow metadata schemas. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Character creation: Users can select preloaded assets, drag and drop their own 3D models and textures, or generate avatars from a manifest.json file. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Custom assets: Users can choose preloaded assets or drag and drop their own 3D models and textures. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Customization: The studio supports point-and-click character building, mixing preloaded traits, and a color picker. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Developer setup: The quickstart documents cloning the GitHub repository and running the project with npm or Yarn. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Exports: The studio can export creations as GLB and VRM files, plus screenshots. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Implementation: The project documentation describes rendering with Three.js and WebGL and says the core logic is in the CharacterManager class. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Import limits: The avatar guide says imported 3D models must be VRM format and recommends version 0.0; replacement textures work best with UVs matching the base mesh. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Intended users: The makers describe avatar creation as useful for open-world games and position the project as an open alternative for people who want to study, improve, or customize avatar creation tools. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Open source: The project describes its codebase as open source under the MIT license. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Optimization: Its drag-and-drop VRM optimizer can merge textures into an atlas and merge skinned meshes to reduce draw calls and avatar file size. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Programmatic configuration: Loading a JSON file to assemble and export VRMs is documented as a work in progress and is currently tailored to batch assembling Anata VRMs. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Programmatic setup: The docs describe JSON-based VRM assembly as tailored to batch assembling Anata VRMs and not yet fully developed for general use. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Purpose: Character Studio is an open 3D studio for making and optimizing VRM avatars and building customized avatar creator apps with your own assets. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Setup: The project can be installed by cloning its repository, installing dependencies, and running the development server; the README says default assets are installed separately with npm run get-assets. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Support: The docs invite artists and developers to join the M3 Discord community for discussion. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Texture editing: Users can overwrite a trait’s texture by dropping an image into the browser, and the guide recommends matching the base mesh UV. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Web rendering: The about page describes rendering with Three.js and WebGL. · m3-org.github.io, 7 Oct 2026

Where CharacterStudio stands on Freedom251

3D Avatar Software#15 of 26
Game Character Creation Software#15 of 22