Unreal Engine 5’s Impact on Animation and VFX: A Look at UE’s Growing Popularity and New Features for Animators

The impact of UE 5 on animation has gone beyond the gaming industry, resulting in a significant increase in the number of people using it for animation and VFX work. In 2019, only three stages in the world used UE’s in-camera visual effects, but now over 300 do. From 2015-2019, UE tracked 15 animation projects, but from 2020-2022, that number skyrocketed to 160 projects, with many more likely unaccounted for. 

UE 5.1 prioritizes the artist’s needs, with a focus on workflows and developing the next iteration of content creation. Although working in Unreal may seem daunting, hundreds of independent and solo animators are now producing animation faster and more efficiently.

 UE 5.1 has introduced significant changes that should benefit artists who use the software for animation and reduce the need for round-tripping with DCC applications. With the new Machine Learning Deformer and updates to the Sequencer, UE continues to empower animators and VFX artists to create high-quality content with ease and efficiency.