Unity Animation Rigging

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What Unity Animation Rigging is

Unity Animation Rigging is a Unity Editor package for creating rigs and constraints that add procedural motion to animated objects. Documented uses include deformation rigs for secondary animation of armor, props, and accessories, as well as world-interaction rigs for targeting or correcting animation compression artifacts. A rig uses an Animator, Rig Builder, Rig, and Constraint components; an Animator is required because the package works on top of Unity’s animation system. Rig Builder organizes rigs into layers that can be enabled or disabled, while weights control each rig’s contribution to the final pose. The constraint library includes Blend, Chain IK, Damped Transform, Multi-Aim, Multi-Parent, Multi-Position, Multi-Referential, Multi-Rotation, Override Transform, Twist Chain, Twist Correction, and Two Bone IK. These constraints are based on the C# Animation Jobs API. Two Bone IK positions a limb tip using a target and can use a hint object to set its bend direction. The documented package version is compatible with Unity Editor 2020.2 and later. Bidirectional motion transfer supports generic character hierarchies, but not humanoids. The package has a free plan.

Who it suits

It suits Unity Editor users building procedural character or object motion with layered rigs and constraints. The documented examples include secondary motion for armor, props, and accessories, and targeting interactions.

What it does well

Free plan is available
Includes a range of built-in constraints
Rig layers can be toggled and weighted
Compatible with Unity Editor 2020.2 and later
Includes Scene View rigging visualization tools

What to know first

Requires an Animator component
Bidirectional motion transfer does not support humanoids
Bone Renderer and Rig Effectors are not visible in Game view

Limits

The free plan is available. Bidirectional motion transfer supports generic character hierarchies but not humanoids.

Getting started

Open the Unity Animation Rigging documentation
Use Unity Editor 2020.2 or later
Create an Animator on the animated object
Add Rig Builder, Rig, and Constraint components
Place rigs into layers and set their weights
Use Bone Renderer or Rig Effectors in the Scene View

Verdict

Unity Animation Rigging provides layered rigs, many constraint types, and rigging utilities for Unity Editor. Check the Animator requirement and humanoid motion-transfer limitation against your intended setup.

Questions

What does Unity Animation Rigging do?

It creates and organizes animation rigs and constraints that add procedural motion to animated objects.

Which Unity versions are supported?

Animation Rigging 1.2.1 is compatible with Unity Editor 2020.2 and later.

Is Unity Animation Rigging free?

It is listed as freemium with a free plan.

Does it support humanoid motion transfer?

Bidirectional motion transfer supports generic character hierarchies, but humanoids are not currently supported.

Where are rig bones and effectors visible?

Bone Renderer and Rig Effectors provide visualization and selection in the Scene View; they are not visible in the Game view.

Facts from Unity Animation Rigging's own pages

Animation jobs: The package’s constraints are based on the C# Animation Jobs API. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Animator dependency: Animation Rigging works on top of Unity’s animation system and requires an Animator component. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Built-in constraints: The package lists Blend, Chain IK, Damped Transform, Multi-Aim, Multi-Parent, Multi-Position, Multi-Referential, Multi-Rotation, Override Transform, Twist Chain, Twist Correction, and Two Bone IK constraints. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Constraint library: The package includes predefined constraints such as Chain IK, Multi-Aim, Multi-Parent, Twist Correction, and Two Bone IK, based on the C# Animation Jobs API. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Core setup: A rig uses an Animator, Rig Builder, Rig, and Constraint components; the Animator is required because Animation Rigging works on top of Unity’s animation system. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Editor requirement: The documented 1.2 package is compatible with Unity Editor 2020.2 and later. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Editor visualization: Bone Renderer displays a transform hierarchy as bones for visualization and selection during rigging, and those bones are not visible in the Game view. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Effectors: Rig Effectors provide Scene View gizmos for transform visualization and selection, and are not visible in the Game view. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Example uses: The documentation describes deformation rigs for secondary animation of armor, props, and accessories, and world interaction rigs for targeting or correcting animation compression artifacts. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Maker: Unity describes itself as a platform for creating and growing games and interactive experiences across mobile, PC, console, and extended reality. · unity.com, 8 Oct 2026
Motion transfer limitation: Bidirectional motion transfer supports generic character hierarchies, but the documentation says humanoids are not currently supported. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Pricing information: The opened Animation Rigging documentation does not state a package price or trial offer. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: Animation Rigging creates and organizes animation rigs and constraints that add procedural motion to animated objects. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Rig layering: Rig Builder assembles rigs into layers, and multiple rigs can be stacked and enabled or disabled independently. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Rig layers: Rig Builder groups rigs into layers, which can be enabled or disabled, and rigs can be weighted to control their contribution to the final pose. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Rig setup limitation: The documentation says a control rig hierarchy should sit beside the skeleton hierarchy under the Animator GameObject, rather than inside the skeleton hierarchy. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Two Bone IK: Two Bone IK uses a target to position a limb tip and an optional hint object to specify the limb’s bend direction. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Unity data terms: Unity’s legal page says project materials will not be used for product improvements unless authorized by the user. · unity.com, 8 Oct 2026
Unity requirement: Animation Rigging 1.2.1 is compatible with Unity Editor 2020.2 and later. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Use cases: Documented examples include deformation rigs for character armor, props, and accessories, and world interaction rigs for targeting or correcting animation compression artifacts. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Visualization: Bone Renderer displays a transform hierarchy as bones for visualization and selection during rigging, and those bones are not visible in the Game view. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026
Workflow utilities: The package menu includes tools to align GameObjects, restore a skinned mesh’s imported bind pose, and set up rig components. · docs.unity3d.com, 8 Oct 2026

Where Unity Animation Rigging stands on Freedom251

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