Freedom251 › AI Animation Makers
Charios
What Charios is
Charios is a browser-based tool for making 2D character animations by applying motion-capture clips to layered character art. It can detect alpha islands in an image and separate body parts into transparent layers for rigging. The rig uses a fixed 17-bone humanoid skeleton, and users can retarget bundled motion clips or import .bvh and .fbx files. A 3×3 preview grid displays nine clips together for animation checks. Exports include animated GIFs, PNG sequences, JSON, Unity prefabs, Godot scenes and Unreal Engine actors; the files are bundled and downloaded in the browser. Charios says character art remains in the browser during export. The Free plan costs nothing and includes three active projects, 30 credits per month and 13 bundled mocap clips. Pro costs $20 a month, while Studio costs $45 per seat per month. The editor requires a modern desktop browser with WebGL 2; mobile supports project viewing and animation previews only. Support includes community, email and in-editor bug reports, with email replies within 24 hours on business days.
Who it suits
Charios is intended for indie game developers, solo artists and animators, game-jam teams, and marketing or design teams. It suits people working with layered 2D character art and motion clips.
What it does well
- Detects and separates image body parts for rigging
- Accepts bundled clips and .bvh or .fbx files
- Previews nine animation clips together
- Exports to GIF, PNG sequence, JSON and game engines
- Free plan includes three active projects
What to know first
- Desktop editor requires WebGL 2
- Mobile supports viewing and previews only
- Free plan is limited to three active projects
Limits
The Free plan allows three active projects, 30 credits per month, and 13 bundled mocap clips. Pro costs $20/month and includes 500 credits monthly; Studio costs $45/seat / month and includes 2,000 credits per seat. The editor requires a modern desktop browser with WebGL 2; mobile supports project viewing and animation preview only.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/forever · 3 active projects · 30 credits/month · 13 bundled mocap clips · community support | Free |
| Pro | $20/month · Unlimited projects · 500 credits/month · PNG sequence + JSON export · email support | $20 a month |
| Studio | $45/seat / month · 2,000 credits/month per seat · unlimited projects · shared asset library · audit log · priority support | $45 a month |
| Lifetime | $50 one-time · Every Pro feature forever · 500 monthly credits · 5,000 signup bonus credits · 25% discount on top-up packs | $50, paid once |
As charios.com lists them, read 30 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Charios website in a modern desktop browser with WebGL 2.
- Create a project.
- Use automatic layering to separate body parts.
- Retarget a bundled mocap clip or bring a .bvh or .fbx file.
- Preview movement in the 3×3 grid.
- Choose an export format and download the bundled files in the browser.
Verdict
Charios offers a defined character rig, motion retargeting and several export options for 2D animation work. The desktop browser requirement and limited mobile editing scope are important considerations.
Questions
Is there a free plan?
Yes. Free is $0/forever and includes three active projects, 30 credits per month, 13 bundled mocap clips, and community support.
How much do the paid plans cost?
Pro is $20/month, Studio is $45/seat / month, and Lifetime is $50 one-time.
What does the Lifetime plan include?
It includes every Pro feature forever, 500 monthly credits, 5,000 signup bonus credits, and a 25% discount on top-up packs.
What devices can I use?
The editor requires a modern desktop browser with WebGL 2. Mobile supports project viewing and animation preview only.
Which formats can Charios export?
Exports include GIF, PNG sequence, JSON, Unity prefab, Godot scene, and Unreal Engine actor.
Where are account and project metadata stored, and can I delete projects?
The privacy policy says account and project metadata are stored in Supabase Postgres and uploaded PNGs in Cloudflare R2, scoped per user via row-level security. Users can delete accounts and projects from the dashboard or email Charios to request a data export.
Facts from Charios's own pages
- Animation preview
- The 3×3 anim-check grid displays nine clips at once for checking a character's animation. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Audience
- Charios describes its audience as indie game developers, solo artists and animators, game-jam teams, and marketing or design teams. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Automatic layering
- The tool detects alpha islands in an image and exports body parts as transparent layers ready to rig. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Data controls
- Users can delete their account and projects from the dashboard or email Charios to request a data export. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Device support
- The editor requires a modern desktop browser with WebGL 2; mobile supports project viewing and animation preview only. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Export processing
- Exports are bundled and downloaded in the browser; the page says character art does not leave the browser during export. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Integrations and exports
- Exports include an animated GIF, Unity prefab, Godot scene, or Unreal Engine actor. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Mocap
- Users can retarget bundled motion-capture clips or bring their own .bvh or .fbx files. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Project limit
- The Free plan includes three active projects; Pro and Studio list unlimited projects. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Charios is a browser-based 2D character animation tool that applies motion-capture clips to layered character art. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Rigging
- Charios uses a fixed 17-bone humanoid skeleton and assigns character sprites to bones. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Security and storage
- The privacy policy says account and project metadata is stored in Supabase Postgres and uploaded PNGs in Cloudflare R2, scoped per user via row-level security. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- Charios lists community, email, and in-editor bug reports as support channels, and says email responses arrive within 24 hours on business days. · charios.com, 30 Sept 2026
Where Charios stands on Freedom251
- AI Animation Makers#8 of 23