Sign in & setup

Open Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Animatica. The page has three parts: Account, Server and Poser. The version you are running, and any update, is at the top (see Updating).

#Animatica Cloud (recommended)

This is the default. Generation runs on Animatica's servers, so you don't need a powerful GPU or any model download for it.

1. Make sure Self-hosted is off (under Server)
2. Under Account, press Sign in and enter your Animatica email and password
3. The addon connects on its own and lists the available models

The Server box says Connected and how many models there are. If it cannot reach the server it says why and offers Try again. Your session renews itself; if it ends (for example, it expired), the panel says so and asks you to sign in again. Sign out forgets the session on this machine.

No account yet? Sign up at animatica.ai, then come back and sign in here.

#Your own server (advanced)

Only if you already run an MMCP motion server on your computer or local network:

1. Turn Self-hosted on
2. Enter your server address in URL (often http://localhost:8000)
3. It connects on its own — no Animatica sign-in needed

Your Animatica session is never sent to a self-hosted server. It only ever goes to Animatica Cloud, over HTTPS. Switching Self-hosted on keeps you signed in; the session just stays home.

A server on this machine (localhost) works even with Blender's online access off. A server anywhere else, including your local network, needs it on.

Most artists can skip this and stay on Animatica Cloud.

#Posing by hand

Posing with handles, and editing a take by hand, is Animatica Autoposer Pro, a separate add-on with its own preferences (its pose model, where it is kept, and the thread count). This add-on downloads nothing for it.