Live2D Cubism

Overview

Live2D Cubism is an editor for turning drawn illustrations into animated 2D models. It suits illustrators and character-animation creators who want to bring artwork into apps, games or VTuber workflows. Its free tier is useful for small models, but its tight caps and eligibility rules make the PRO terms worth checking before production.

Key features

Cubism builds motion from illustrated artwork rather than starting with a conventional drawn animation sequence. Its puppet-style workflow and mesh deformation let creators animate a model, while physics and lip-sync add movement and expression. Those tools make it a focused choice for expressive character work, not a general-purpose animation suite.

Exports include PNG, JPEG, GIF, MP4, WebM and MOV, as well as MOC3, model3.json and motion3.json. The range covers both rendered media and model-related files, which is useful when a project needs to move between creation and runtime workflows.

Editor files are supported by nizima LIVE and third-party applications. Live2D also supplies an After Effects plug-in and Photoshop scripts. External applications can set and retrieve model parameter values through Cubism’s integration feature; enabling remote connections carries a security risk, since Live2D warns that malicious attacks over the Internet may be possible.

Live2D provides manuals, tutorials, free sample data and Live2D Help. It also reports a vulnerability that could crash older Editor or Viewer versions when malformed MOC3 files are loaded, and provides a consistency checker for files.

Pricing

Cubism has a 42-day PRO trial, after which the Editor continues as FREE. The free version supports one texture file up to 2048 px, 100 ArtMesh, 30 motion parameters, 50 deformers and 30 parts. Exceeding those limits prevents saving, so the tier is better for learning or small models than for work likely to grow beyond its caps.

FREE commercial use is allowed only for General Users and Small-Scale Enterprises with annual sales under 10 million yen. Other users are limited to non-commercial or supervision purposes. That distinction matters: a free model is not automatically eligible for every commercial project.

PRO for indie fits general users and small-scale enterprises with annual revenue under JPY 10M. Published monthly prices include 13.26 USD per month and 13.21 USD per month. Annual options include 91.02 USD per year for year one, 74.96 USD per year for year two, and 68.07 USD per year for year three and later; another published year-three-onward option is 67.85 USD per year. Annual subscriptions cannot be cancelled during the subscription year. A three-year plan is 234.05 USD per month, includes annual-plan discounts and does not renew.

PRO for business is aimed at medium or large businesses. Monthly options are 61.32 USD per month and 61.11 USD per month. Annual pricing is 420.68 USD per year in year one, 380.91 USD per year in year two and 350.32 USD per year from year three onward. Annual plans renew and cannot be cancelled during the subscription period. Business PRO does not include an SDK release license, which is a separate licensing matter; SDK downloads have no initial cost.

Platforms

Cubism Editor is offered for Windows and macOS, including Apple Silicon and Intel Mac versions. Live2D lists SDKs for Unity, Native, Web, Java, Unreal Engine and Cocos Creator, with platform support across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and WebGL depending on the SDK.

Who it's for

Cubism is a strong fit for creators building expressive illustrated characters for mobile apps, console games, VTuber streaming or animation. It is especially relevant when physics, lip-sync and connected application workflows are part of the intended pipeline. First-timers can start in the free tier, but should keep its model caps and commercial-use eligibility in view; larger organizations need to weigh the business subscription and separate SDK release licensing.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Purpose-built character motion: Mesh deformation, puppet animation, physics and lip-sync support expressive movement from drawn illustrations.
• Broad output options: Export formats span common video and image files as well as model and motion formats.
• Learning support: Manuals, tutorials, samples and Help give new users several ways to get started.

Cons

• Restrictive free tier: The caps are low enough that exceeding them blocks saving, potentially interrupting a growing project.
• Commercial eligibility is conditional: Free use is limited by organization type and annual sales.
• Business licensing needs extra care: PRO for business excludes SDK release licensing, and annual plans cannot be cancelled mid-term.
• Remote integration has a security caveat: Enabling external connections can expose users to malicious Internet attacks.

Alternatives

Choose Rive if you want a freemium editor with collaborative files and a free plan, or need its broader listed platform coverage, including Linux. Effekseer is a free, open-source alternative. Spriter offers a free version for PNG and spritesheet animation, with basic animation features. LibreSprite is a free, open-source option under GNU GPL version 2. SkelForm is a free, open-source 2D skeletal animator.

Spine is worth considering if a paid option with an Essential tier and exports to every supported format is a better match; it has no free plan. Creature has a trial with export functions disabled and a perpetual Pro upgrade from Basic. SpineBones is a free option with a 300-frame timeline, playback up to 120 FPS, and WebM, PNG sequence and sprite sheet exports.

Browse 2D Game Animation Software, Cartoon Maker Software, 2D Character Animation Software, Game Animation Software and Animation Software for more options.

Verdict

Choose Live2D Cubism if your priority is animating illustrated characters with mesh deformation, physics and lip-sync, particularly for game, app or VTuber work. Its export range and surrounding integrations support that focused use well. Look elsewhere if your model will outgrow the free caps, your business does not qualify for free commercial use, or you need an Editor for Linux or a business package that includes SDK release licensing.