ELVNEKO - A Full-time indiedev

Apply Mixamo Animation to VRoid 3D models in Blender

2023-08-02T07:00:00Z

Applying animation with Blender to 3D models created in VRoid Studio will expand the scope of your creative activities.

This article explains a very simple procedure.

This Youtube video also explains the process in this article.

Apply Mixamo Animation to VRoid 3D models in Blender

Requied Add-ons

First of all, three add-ons need to be added to Blender.

VRM Add-on for Blender (FREE)

This package is for handling VRM in Blender.

The source code is maintained on Github. Thanks to the developer for a great add-on.

https://vrm-addon-for-blender.info/en/

Auto-Rig Pro ($40 USD)

This is a paid add-on, but it's worth buying as it is said to be used by professionals in the field.

https://blendermarket.com/products/auto-rig-pro

Auto-Rig Pro

Auto-Rig Pro:Quick Rig ($10 USD)

This add-on is required to automatically convert VRoid rigs to Auto-Rig Pro ones.

https://blendermarket.com/products/auto-rig-pro-quick-rig

Auto-Rig Pro:Quick Rig

Importing VRM file

Click File > Import > VRM (.vrm) from the menu to import your VRM file into Blender.

Select your VRM file from the dialog and click the "Import VRM" button.

It takes a little time for the 3D model to appear in Blender.

Quick Rig (Auto-Rig Pro) Setup

Next, let's create an Auto-Rig Pro rig from the VRoid armature automatically.

Select the armature and from the ARP menu, click VRoid from the Quick Rig Import menu.

Click the OK button in the dialog that appears.

Then, execute the Quick Rig!

Select OK in the Make Rig window and wait a moment.

A Rig in Auto-Rig Pro will be created.

Download Mixamo Animation

Download the animation data from the following URL

You must be logged in to Mixamo with your Adobe account.

https://www.mixamo.com/#/

Then choose your favorite animation and download the FBX.

Since you do not need a mesh, choose Without Skin.

Save the file to any path you like.

Remap Mixamo Animation to VRoid

Import the animation file you just downloaded into Blender.

Click the Import FBX button.

In the Remap menu of Auto-Rig Pro, select the Fbx armature as the Source Animation and the Auto-Rig Pro rig you created as the Target Armature.

Next, execute Build Bones List.

Select Mixamo from the Import menu.

Click OK in the dialog box.

When Auto Scale is run, the FBX armature fits the size of the VRoid model.

Execute the Re-Target button.

Execute the OK button on the Retarget menu.

Now that the remap is complete, change the frame in the timeline panel and you will see the animation applied to the VRoid model.

Conclusion

A very simple process allowed us to apply animation to VRoid models within Blender.

I hope that this article helped your creative works.

Pose with .vrma format in Blender3d (from VRM Posing Desktop)

2023-11-26T16:00:00Z

Hi! More than a year has passed since vrm1.0 was officially released in September 2022.

But, as of the time I'm writing this blog post, many of you are still using the vrm0.x 3D Model.

For those people, I wrote a simple way to convert vrm0.x models to vrm1.0 format using UniVRM (Unity).

You can alos learn from this youtube video!

Let's convert from vrm0.x to vrm1.0 (easy one click with UniVRM)

Why vrm 1.0

Vrm0.x relies on Unity's Humanoid mechanism in some areas.

Therefore, vrm1.0 was designed to make vrm easier to use in other game engine environments.

Advantages of using 1.0 as a 3D model user

Constraints and capsule colliders provide more advanced sway control than before.
Expression (formerly BlendshapeProxy) with an override function to prevent expression breakdown.

Environment

Unity Version: BuiltIn 2022.3.12f1 (Long term support)
UniVRM Version: VRM-0.115.0_7e05.unitypackage

Download UniVRM

We can download UniVRM form this Github webpage.

https://github.com/vrm-c/UniVRM/releases

Install UniVRM

The, drag and drop the unitypackage file to your Unity project.

Since this Unity project is a BuiltIn, there is no problem with the URP shader error in the console.

Convert 0.x to 1.0

Now that we are ready, let's start the actual conversion process.

Drag and drop your 0.x vrm file into your Unity project.

Select the vrm file and check "Migrate To Vrm1" in Inspector.

And the click apply button.

Add the generated prefab to the hierarchy and run VRM1 > Export VRM-1.0 from the menu bar.

Finally, set the meta information in the export dialog and click the export button to complete the process.

Conclusion

How was it? I hope you enjoy your vrm life.

I'm glad that this article is usefull to you.

[VRM/VRoid] Turntable making with VRM Posing Desktop

2024-01-02T08:00:00Z

If you're reading this article, I think you're a user of my app. Thank you for using VRM Posing Desktop.

I recently added Poses Loop and Video Export to my app.

This article is the tutorial that shows you how to use those functions.

I also made a youtube video.

[VRM/VRoid] Turntable making with VRM Posing Desktop

In case you don't have VRM Posing Desktop, you can see the Steam page from this link.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1895630/

Poses Loop Making

First, I'll explain a use case of Poses Loop function.

When the first and last poses are set the same, the loop will connect nicely.

Below list shows Poses Loop of the sample in detail.

the 1st pose (8 frame)
the 2nd pose (12 frame)
mixed pose between 1st and 2nd pose (6frame)
same pose as the 1st pose

If the Loop Slider value is changed after the second pose is added, a pose that mixes the two poses will be applied to the character.

In this sample, the slider value is set to 0.75 and added as the third pose.

Pose Transitions Making

It is also possible to keep having the pose transition at regular intervals.

You can see Pose Transitions example from this list.

the 1st pose (16 frame)
same pose as the 1st pose (8 frame)
the 2nd pose (16frame)
same pose as the 2nd pose (8frame)
same pose as the 1st pose

In this image, two poses are transitioned to shorten the explanation, but many poses can be transitioned by adding poses in the middle in the same way.

Props / Background

Change the background image to anything you like.

In my case, I selected a black sky from HDRI, turned off Shadow Ground, and darkened the world light.

Then, let's add Props to your scene!

In the following image I added 3 point lights, 1 stage object, and 2 particle effects.

Post-processing

You can adjust post effects as you like.

I have enabled the following parameters

Tone mapping ACES
Bloom
Lens Dirt
Ambient Occlusion

Video Export

Finaly, let's export as a MP4 file.

Select .mp4 from the menu, click the Export button, and then just wait.

Wrap Up

It's difficult to perform complex animations with Poses Loop, but it's easy to use for small movements like the ones introduced this blog post.

I wish you have a good time with these new functions of my app.

Thanks for reading until the end.

I'm happy that my app can help your creative works in some small way.

Pose with .vrma format in Blender3d (from VRM Posing Desktop)

2024-01-24T14:00:00Z

Hi, I recently added .vrma export function in VRM Posing Desktop. VRMA (VRM Animaton) Froamt is really useful for share poses or animations among various software.

In this article, we'll export .vrma file in VRM Posing Desktop and then use it in Blender.

Let's get started!!

The video turorial is here.

I hope you'll enjoy this article or this video.

Pose with .vrma (VRM Animation) format in Blender3d from VRM Posing Desktop

I hope you'll enjoy this article or this video.

What's VRMA (VRM Animation) Fromat?

VRM Animation Format is to describe animation for humanoid models. The extension is designed to be applied to the model represented with .vrma extension, which describes humanoid models.

Here is the specification link.

https://github.com/vrm-c/vrm-specification/blob/master/specification/VRMC_vrm_animation-1.0/README.md

Export .vrma file

In case you don't have VRM Posing Desktop, you can buy from this link.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1895630/

VRM Posing Desktop

First, follow the steps below, referring to the images.

Select your favorite pose from the pose presets
Click the button to display the export area

Next, we can export .vrma from this process.

Click the .vrma button in the export area.
Save a .vrma file in the file dialog.

Import .vrm1.0 and .vrma files in Blender

Finaly, we can move to Blender works.

This is my environment. Note that add-on version and Blender version.

Blender: 4.0.2
VRM Add-on for Blender: 2.20.27

You can download VRM Addon for blender from here. https://vrm-addon-for-blender.info/en/

File > Import > VRM (.vrm)

File > Import > VRM Animation

These simple process make your 3d model posing in Blender3D.

Wrap Up

Thanks to the VRM Animation Format, we will be able to share our poses and animations with a wide variety of software.

I have a positive look that these technologies will continue to develop and help our creative works.

Thank you for reading this article to the end.

VRM Animation with cool post-processing in VRM Posing Desktop

2024-02-24T09:00:00Z

Congratulations, VRM Animation Format has been officially released!

In this article, we'll import .vrma file in VRM Posing Desktop and export a .mp4 video for our creative works.

I also made a video tutorial, so you can check out that if you like.

Import VRM Animation Format and export .mp4 files in VRM Posing Desktop

VRM Posing Desktop can export VRM Animation as well, and I explained about that in this article. I'm happy you'll check this in case you're interested in.

Pose with .vrma format in Blender3d (from VRM Posing Desktop)

About VRM Animation

VRM Animation is a format for describing animations of humanoid models defined in VRM.

VRMA has following features.

VRM Animation is the common animation file can be applied for any VRM file.
This format is written in glTF and is a cross-platform format.
VRMA can contain Expression and LookAt.

Here is the official web page of VRM Animation Format.

https://vrm.dev/en/vrma/

Import .vrma files

If you don't have any .vrma file, you can download from this Booth page of VRoid Official.

https://vroid.booth.pm/items/5512385

And you can purchase VRM Posing Desktop from this link.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1895630/

VRM Posing Desktop

Well, let's import a .vrma file in VRM Posing Desktop.

Open the Loop / .vrma panel.
Click the ↑↓ button
Click the .vrma import button

Now, vrm 3d models will move or dance.

I think VRMA is a really awesome format.

Post-Processing Effect and .mp4 Exporting

Finaly, let's add Post-Processing to make the graphics richer.

Here is the post-processing option in my case. I wish you select your favorite effects.

Bloom
- Intensity: 1.000
- Threshold: 0.895
Outline
- R: 255
- G: 255
- B: 255
- Intensity: 2.00
Ambient Occlusion
- Intensity: 1.281
- ThicknessModifier: 2.0000
- R: 100
- G: 100
- B: 100
Chromatic Aberration
- 0.667

At last, click the .mp4 tab and the export button.

Wrap Up

I really like VRM Animation Format. VRM Animation Format has unlimited possibilities. Let's all take advantage of it and promote this format!

I hope this format will be more great.

I hope this article can help you in some small way.

How I achieved my first 3D modelling as a programmer in Blender

2024-08-18T12:00:00Z

Hi, I'm ELVNEKO and a full-time indie developer.

I've been do my activity as a 3d app programmer. But I'd like to become a gamedev, so I had to learn 3d modeling.

Now I learned Blender form a beginner, then I made my 3d model and my first 3d animation with Blender.

Here is the short 3d anime.

Indiedev & number of installations [3D Anime]

3D modeling contains various process such as modeling, texturing, rigging, etc.

If you a programmer, you may confuse about the complex work. I wrote this article so that you can learn 3D modelling smoothly.

I hope my experience can help your creative works.

Learning Resources

First of all, I would like to recommend some tutorials that helped my Blender learning.

Polygon Runway

Polygon Runway YouTube Channel

I think Polygon Runway is good for beginners at least for me.

Time lapse and commentary videos exist on this channel.

It is difficult to watch and work with time lapses from the beginning, so it's recommended to start with the commentary tutorials.

fusako3d (ふさこ / 3D自習室)

Fusako 3D YouTube Channel

When you try 3d character modeling, Fusako 3D is great for you.

These tutorials are in Japanese, but they explains the process from modelling to rigging and texturing in detail.

I learned from Fusako and I made my 3d avator.

I wish you also like Fusako.

What to watch out for

Some of you reading this blog post may be frustrated by 3D modelling.

I believe there are two important attitudes in learning.

1. Starting with a simple one

Remember when you started learning programming?

You would have started with Hello World.

The same applies to 3D modelling.

It is a good idea to start with a low hurdle to overcome, rather than trying to do something difficult from the beginning.

2. Don't compare yourself with others

There're many awesome 3D modellers on social media services like X, Instagram and YouTube.

But don't compare yourself with them and focus only on your own progress.

It may be a nice option to stay away from social media in the early stages of learning.

Wrap up

Thank you for reading until the end.

3D modelling is sometimes a patient process, but I hope you can achieve it.

I believe that 3D modelling will enrich our programmer's life.

If you finished your first 3d modeling, please let me know.

Good luck with your 3d modeling life.

I made my original pixel style font with FontStruct.com

2024-12-26T17:30:00Z

Hi, Thanks for reading this blog post.

I made my first font, Elv Cat Pixel.

This font includes basic latin, numbers, Japanese Hiragana and Katakana.

You can download my font for free from this github url.

GitHub Link for Elv Cat Pixel Font

Let me share with you the process of my first font making experience.

My motivation for font making

I'm now working on my first pc game project.

I respect the history of games and chose retro-style as my first one.

I wanted to tackle everything from programming to graphics, sprite sheets, tilesets all by myself, so I decided to make my own font.

FontStruct Dot Com

But font making seemed like a hurdle for a novice.

Many of the more sophisticated tools had expensive subscriptions, and the free tools seemed to have confusing interfaces.

Then, I found FontStruct Dot Com.

This tool has super good UI.

This has simple features for simple font creation.

I clicked cells and filled grids, finaly I could make my font.

Wrap Up

Font making is so fun and good for gamedev projects.

I hope my blog post will inspire you to create your own fonts.

I did re-branding from ElvCatDev to ELVNEKO

2025-01-22T02:24:00Z

Last year my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. And last year was very challenging for my family. I had to be away from my indiedev works for a long time.

Fortunately, my wife's health improved and I was able to resume my indie development.

I'd like to switch my mindset and work hard in 2025, so I changed my name from ElvCatDev to ELVNEKO.

From ElvCatDev to ELVNEKO

"Neko" means "Cat" in Japanese. I wanted to incorporate my Japanese roots into the name, so I chose the name ELVNEKO.

There are also the following reasons

When introducing myself to people or asking them to call me by name ElvCatDev is a bit long.
I want to have a more unique name for my activity to make it more memorable.

Then I designed my new logo as ELVNEKO.

The trademark is a cat's paw, and the typography is a combination of a cat's whiskers and a game controller.

The overall pixelated style means my respect to retro games and game history.

Remake of mascot character

For the mascot character, I redrew the dots with more detail.

The dots were difficult to express the curves, but I tried to make the character cuter than before.

I'm also planning to remake the 3D model and would like to model a cool cat-shaped robot like in the Armored Core works.

Designed my business card

I also created business cards because I want to communicate with many people this year.

I spend a lot of my time at home in front of the computer, so I plan to attend workshops, IndieDev communities, etc.

Wrap Up

I'm going to work hard in 2025.

I wanna make many apps and games for creators. If you have any requeat about my future products, please go ahead and message my bluesky accout.

Thank you for reading untl the end. I hope that your creative works will go well.

I remade my 3d model

2025-04-18T07:08:00Z

This year, I did rebrand everything related to my indiedev.

Last year was tough for me and I needed a new mindset.

I did re-branding from ElvCatDev to ElvNeko

I changed my name and logo, everything.

Then I decided to remake my mascot 3d model.

Before vs After

The screenshot below is comparison of the old 3D model and the new one.

The previous version had an angular design, but the new one has more curves.

I also added details while being conscious not to increase the polygon count too much!

3d modeling in Blender

I had to dive into Blender more and more.

I watched many tutorial video about robot modeling.

It took so long time but now I was able to achieve it.

I wanna know more and more about Blender.

Rendered in Unreal Engine

I had never used the Unreal Engine much, but had heard a lot about its reputation for rendering quality.

So I tried myself.

I have not mastered it that much yet, but I felt the quality of the rendering was higher than Blender.

There are so many useful functions that it is hard to remember, but I wanna actively use UE5 in my future development.

Wrap up

I used my new 3d model and learned Sequencer of UE5 for my YouTube video.

I you would like to see moving my 3d model, you can check from this video.

Last year was tough, so I changed everything.

I really like Blender and Unreal Engine.

Thank you for reading. I hope that you all have a good day.

Thanks for 20000+ lifetime users of VRM Posing Desktop

2025-07-06T19:30:00Z

Thanks for 20000+ lifetime users of VRM Posing Desktop!! I really appreciate you all for using my app.

If you're new to my app, you can check it from this link.

VRM Posing Desktop

For the past three years since launch, I've been running this app quietly, without any budget for ads.

When I first released this app, I never imagined that so many people would pick it up on Steam. I'm truly surprised.

I will continue working on new software to help with your creative works, and of course, I'm going to keep improving this app as well.

Specifically, I wanna actively keep up with the latest versions of UniVRM.

New Logo and Icon

I recently redesigned my app's logo and icon, focusing more on improving its visibility.

You can download logo data from this link.

Logo data

Recent Activities

Currently, I am studying shaders. I'm planning to develop an application that utilizes shaders in the near future.

I also actively play games because I want to deepen my understanding of 3D CG technology through game development.

Recently, I have played games such as "Kill The Crows", "Downwell", "ARMORED CORE VI", and "Sekiro".

If you have any game recommendations, I would be happy to hear them.

Wrap up

I will continue to do my best in my activities.

I hope you all have a wonderful creative time.

Thank you for reading this blog post.